The Editor,
As a child, born in Liberia, I wondered what life would look like having food every day. There were many days a meal meant a “heaven” to me.
The lack of food was not the only thing that was a conundrum to me. It was also the injustice, the poor health system (death/dying was the norm), and safety/human rights missing in my society that I did not experience or know how to feel if it were present.
I have been blessed with the same opportunity like Czech-born American politician and diplomat Madeleine Albright, Levi Strauss, and Joseph Pulitzer, which is the opportunity to live in the United States.
The severity of the problems mentioned above is so bad that my mind pushes them into an inaccessible corner of the unconscious. This action taken was required for the sake of my own sanity.
After arriving in the United States and for eight years I had to learn over again. I was like a baby learning a new norm! Quickly, I was able to assimilate the American way both culturally and structurally. I soon realized that a country as great as the U.S. had its own faults.
The average American however, consciously or subconsciously, believes it is his or her own responsibility to do what he or she can to help level the playing field for all people equally and not just for those we are most like.
I grasp that believing such an idea, has to be intentional. So, I made a purposeful effort to study the lives of great men and women who promoted aspirations of helping others equally.
After years of studying people like, Dr. King, Gandhi, Thomas Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony, I’ve made a conclusion. My decision is summed up into the words of German Physicist, Albert Einstein; “Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” I am only here on a temporary basis until God calls me home.
So, in 2010, I travelled to Monrovia Liberia to access the situation. I found that too many children were missing out simply because they do not have access or the opportunity to go to school. Only 18% of children in Monrovia could read and write.
I went searching for a place in terms of need. Troyah Town was an idea place to start the project. Troyah Town, Liberia was one of the poorest villages in the world; where no formal educational institution exists. Villagers live under $.50 a day. About 57 percent of the children under five had malaria.
And most villagers do not have enough money to get health services or buy malaria medication. Malnutrition and stunted growth are also common—most villagers eat only one meal a day and their diets lacked protein. This was an interesting place; a small village with many problems- that was in reached.
I realized to carry on my vision, I needed read and listen to people who have done it before- Nelson Mandela once said that” Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” My vision is to see less fortunate children around the world have an opportunity to receive an education which eventually help with other issues.
I came back to the States, put a team together, raised money and completed that school. I still can remember how happy those were when they saw the benches going into various classrooms. Many hours and financial sacrifices have been damaged.
I am deeply distress and can’t even fathom such a thing. I am not a big proponent of civil disobedient, but this might be first time am tempted to encourage civil disobedience. Those kids were invisible and the school brought light- and now 102 kids become invisible again.
I am deeply unhappy enough and motivate to go against the grain, and sacrifice my personal comfort, and to face unknown danger this is so wrong!! No matter what legal right the government/UL had, they have committed a moral crime against these kids. Just because something is legal, that does not make it moral!! ““An unjust law is no law at all”
What kind of country are we from? We can all sit back and point fingers or we can be part of solutions. I’m inspired now by what’s possible. I am deeply distress but motivated. Hopefully in September we will break ground on a high school— we started a gofundme.
Ebenezer Norman,
[email protected]