CMC - Liberia
Children's Mentoring Center
Project Director/Founder:
Steven Koffa
Liberian Refugee Helps to Rebuild Liberia
with Orphans Mentoring and Learning Center
Mentor, train and support Liberian
Refugee orphans and children.
From his own experiences as an
innocent child orphaned by the ravages of war,
Steven Koffa has a passion to help children
navigate through dire circumstances to do more
than just survive.
Steve
Koffa's specialty is mentoring and teaching
children
to understand the value of character and
integrity and the importance of being kind and
giving to others. Steven teaches children the
history of their nation and country and teaches
math skills. His desire is to bring additional
teaching such as computer skills and networking
to these children so that they will learn
valuable skills as they grow to ensure the
development of new businesses.
These children
and youth are the next generation of a country
that is now in the process of rebuilding after
decades of war.
The Facts
After civil war ravaged Liberia from 1989-2003
thousands of its citizens fled to Ghana
for refuge. Most, if not all of the refugees now
residing the Buduburam Refugee Camp have lost
homes, land, business and family members to
murder and rape.
Now, after almost 20
years of living in the camp,
they must now must relocate
back to Liberia to rebuild
their homeland.
Liberia is not ready for
these refugees as this country is not
prepared to offer housing,
education or employment for
so many in such a short time
period.
There are
over 40,000 Liberian
Refugees in the
Buduburam Refugee Camp
outside of Accra, Ghana,
Africa.
The relocation of these
refugees to Liberia has
begun. With an
unemployment rate of 85%,
the relocation program looks
bleak.
Providing
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Home, Food, Clothing, Household items
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Housing must be paid a year in advance due
to high demand. $32 a month pays for housing
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A bag of rice costs about $40 for a one
month supply, there is no fresh, clean
water. All drinking water must be purchased.
That leaves very little for meat and
vegetables for a month.
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Clothes wear out quickly as they do not have
the luxury of washers and dryers with
special soaps to make fabrics last longer.
Shoes - dirt and rocks take a toll on
footwear.
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Items such as a mattress to sleep on instead
of a grass mat. Pots and a cook stove,
dishes to eat from. Things that we take for
granted.
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Medical care*
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Information listed below.
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Educational Training
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Teachers are scarce, buildings to teach
children are even scarcer - and school
supplies are almost non-existent. The few
computers available are ancient and in need
of replacement. If a child goes to school -
they are paying tuition because of the great
need - that cannot be filled. Someone has to
pay for the teachers.
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Mentoring, Emotional & Psychological Help
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Most people can't even imagine the horrors
that these refugees have seen. Who helps
them to recover? More than that - who will
teach the children the skills and mind sets
necessary to rebuild their country?
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Entrepreneurial
Endeavors
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It would be poor stewardship to rely only on
the support of others who may or may not
remember you. These young people are
focused on building businesses that will
help them meet the needs of their daily
living as well as provide jobs to others.
Funds are needed to help jumpstart them.
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Transportation
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The only way to get around transportation
wise is to walk - or take the bus.
Everything costs something - time and energy
to walk the long distances or money to pay
for the bus.
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Relocation Assistance
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Liberia is not prepared for the influx of
refugees that are now flooding into her
borders due to the recent political
events. Ghana has officially closed
the Buduburum camp as a refugee camp.
Families moving to Liberia need money to
travel, to pay housing, buy food and to
enroll their children into schools - if
they can find one.
Medical Care
In one
year alone,
most of the refugees in
the Buduburum camp have
suffered from serious
illnesses such as
guinea worms,
malaria and
typhoid. (videos
on guinea worms) After
speaking with a doctor
there doctor I
learned that most
refugees cannot pay for
the medicine they need -
and just die.
Unlike in America
where our hospitals have
the medical supplies
they need at all times,
in a developing country,
the need is overwhelming
and only those who can
buy their medicine - get
medicine. It is clear
that we need an
emergency medical fund.
If nothing else, a small
donation will help us to
buy medical cream to
help the constant rashes
that the children suffer
from due to unsanitary
conditions in the camp.
Thank you for helping
us help others. All
funds go directly to pay
for medical services.
Only fees required to
wire the money are used
outside of paying
medical bills.
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"Train up a child in the
way he should go and he'll not
depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
King James Bible
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Your Giving
Provides:
Medical
& Daily Expenses
Relocation/Travel
Expenses
Land Purchase
Building
Daily Living
Expenses/Salary |
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Individual
Support: |
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Steven Koffa, Director |
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Bryant G. Fawey, Artist |
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