Happy Anniversary! FOL Celebrates 30 Years.
It was about this time of the year 30 years ago that Liberia’s Peace Corps volunteers started a little social group called Friends of Liberia. The idea was to get together once in a while in Washington, share news of Liberia in an infrequent newsletter and, of course, stories from [...]
FLI Receives Learning Materials from HIPPY USA
At the request of our wonderful Family Literacy Initiative (FLI) partner, Dr. Miriam Westheimer, Director of HIPPY International, HIPPY USA conducted a supplies drive during their recent national conference. HIPPY staff and families from all over the US brought small ziploc bags filled with basic supplies for the program -- [...]
Please Partner with Us to Improve Literacy in Liberia!
Christmas 2015 is over, but the opportunity to make a lasting difference this tax year remains. Your donation to Friends of Liberia (FOL) will help fund , a partnership between FOL and HIPPY-International plus the WE-CARE Foundation in Monrovia, to raise school-readiness, parental involvement, and literacy in both children and [...]
First Family Literacy Initiative Training a Success!
The initial training of program coordinators and home visitors has been completed successfully, and the Family Literacy Initiative (FLI) is off to a wonderful start! Read about it in this issue of Bush Chicken, whose founder and publisher is FOL's Jefferson (King) Krua.
Family Literacy Initiative Launches in Monrovia
FOL’s Barbara Kamara and HIPPY-International director Dr. Miriam Westheimer have arrived in Liberia to launch the Family Literacy Initiative (FLI). They join our implementing partners at We Care Foundation in Monrovia, Michael Weah and Yvonne Capehart, who round out the FOL-HIPPY-We Care partnership. Together, we are committed to improving literacy [...]
Family Literacy Initiative Ramps Up
FOL has launched its most ambitious education project to address the literacy crisis in Liberia. Almost half of Liberians cannot read adequately and at least 40 percent are illiterate, according to recent UNICEF statistics. This had tragic consequences in the Ebola epidemic as communities tried to grapple with a deluge [...]
Join the Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is placing an urgent call on its website and on social media for PCVs, RPCVs and those who have lived and worked in Liberia and are interested in serving as a volunteer. If you like to write, are computer savvy, enjoy creating social media communication, and are [...]
Photo Contest For Peace Corps Liberia Office
Want to show incoming Peace Corps volunteers what Liberia looked like when you served? Kevin Fleming, Country Director for Peace Corps Liberia, is asking all FOL members to submit photos to help decorate the new Peace Corps Liberia office in Monrovia. Send your high-resolution photo submissions to Alfreda Stephens by May 22 to be [...]
After 24 Years, Liberian News Service Ends
Farewell & Thanks "Daily Talk" News Board in Monrovia Photo courtesy of Ahmed Jallanzo/EPA Below is FOL's announcement of the last issue of the FRIENDS OF LIBERIA NEWS DISPATCH. As head of the Indiana University Liberian Collections, I strongly thank FOL for their support and for giving us the opportunity to distribute [...]
First Pair of Post-Ebola Grants Awarded
On behalf of the Post Ebola Committee, I am pleased to inform our members that we have approved of funding two projects thus far. Winifred J Harley College of Health Sciences, United Methodist University, Ganta Project Director: G. Clinton Zeantoe, Associate Dean Amount Requested: $2,156.00. Amount Funded: $2,156.00 Installation of [...]
FOL Reaches $100k Goal!
Kem Opperman-Torres (@SraTorres)'s November 7 tweet shows the progress of St. Martins's fund-raising. "So proud of @STMMiddle for raising $1,273.00 for @FOLiberia for #STMDay! Service is central in The Middle. " https://twitter.com/SraTorres/status/530845086167617536 Dear Members of the Friends of Liberia, the Liberian Studies Association, the Liberian diaspora and [...]
We Did It!
View image | gettyimages.com Last year, Friends of Liberia was able to raise $100,000 for mainly Liberian organizations helping their communities through the Ebola crisis. Thank you to all who were able to help through donations or encouragement! We continue to rely on your unwavering support to help Liberians reclaim [...]