In December 2019, Peace Corps Liberia reduced the number of its volunteers due to the economic crisis that closed banks, suspended salaries, and reduced resources in much of the country.  Three months later, the coronavirus was declared a pandemic and Peace Corps evacuated all volunteers from around the world, including those that remained in Liberia. 

Whenever a Volunteer leaves, especially before their time, it is jarring for everyone involved. Volunteers spend time establishing relationships in their communities so that they can assess the needs of the community, and find people to lead the charge on these projects. Evacuations such as the one due to COVID-19, cut those friendships and projects short, as well as leave Volunteers in the lurch. Many other American aid workers were also forced to return back to the U.S. sooner than expected. 

Friends of Liberia hosted an online chat for those RPCVs whose service was cut short. The objectives for this meeting included providing moral support, academic or career guidance, and introducing FOL to more RPCVs. 

In addition to recent evacuees, there was a panel of RPCVs in attendance to talk about their experiences returning home. They included Garret Mason (LR-1), Kristin Caspar, Amanda Newlove (R-20), and Rebecca Martinez (LR-3).  

Due to the nature of coronavirus, many evacuated PCVs were under self-quarantine, and some were unable to fully unite with their families and friends.  

Paye Kialin (LR-9) said “It has not really felt like home, that’s for sure. Undergoing self-quarantine alone [was] difficult, but juxtaposing this with the mental expectation of coming home to family, hugs, and laughter just [felt] weird and unfortunate.” 

Paye says he knows other people are experiencing even greater challenges, and hopes that “home will feel like home” soon enough. 

It is difficult to leave Liberia. Many Volunteers look for ways to stay in touch with friends and colleagues. It’s important to many that they continue to support those they worked alongside – the individuals and organizations that are in the country, working hard every day to improve the lives of their countrymen. 

Rebecca Martinez was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia for two years, 2012 to 2014. She served during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, left during the evacuation and came back to join community mobilization and response.

Rebecca said, “For me, this uncertain time is an opportunity for volunteers or people working in communities  other than their own to reflect on meaningful ways to support those communities, either through work, advocacy or joint advocacy with colleagues and friends.” 

As Volunteers, aid workers, or other “friends of Liberia” return home, they can connect with local groups or individuals who are in the communities, or look for national organizations that are working in public health. There are several groups who have already made great strides:

• Teach for Liberia is collecting donations and conducting an Emergency Community Feeding Program. You can donate here. 
• Kid’s Educational Engagement Project (KEEP Liberia) has been producing videos to educate people on coronavirus, and they’re also doing story hour! You can watch them here. 
• Rising Academy is supporting distance learning by recording literacy and numeracy lessons that you can share with your friends! They’re offering them for free here. Use the password: distancelearning2020
• Suma Massaley and Royda Urey are two amazing individuals who have raised over $6K to provide food to over 250 families. You can contact them through their Instagram or Facebook pages to find out how to donate. 
• Friends of Liberia welcomes your membership and is forming a Task Force to respond responsibly to needs in Liberia due to the coronavirus. FOL is working through known and trusted local groups to accomplish valid education on coronavirus and determine needs that can be feasibly met. Buckets, soap, and food are already being distributed to 200 families. Donations and/or participation in planning and monitoring would be welcome. Your knowledge from recent experience in Liberia is valued by FOL. If interested, write to liberia@fol.org or donate here.

In the meantime, we all hope for the return of Peace Corps, as well as the health of Liberia and our PCVs.

Paye says he hopes the program can reopen safely, when the time comes. 

“From my experiences in [the] country, the students deserve it, the communities deserve it, and the staff deserve it. They made our jobs as Volunteers so much easier by virtue of their welcoming attitude and their willingness to work along with us. I hope that this fruitful relationship can continue down the road.” 

To all Peace Corps Volunteers: Welcome home, and thank you for your service.