Located on the Atlantic Ocean in west Africa just north of the equator, Liberia has about three million residents and is the size of Tennessee. Its abundant rainfall and tropical climate are suitable for growing rubber trees and all types of fruits. About 80% of its population lives below the poverty level.

Liberia suffered from a 14-year civil war until August 2003 when President Charles Taylor stepped down and escaped to a neighboring country. Since then, UN troops have occupied the country and have assisted in the disarmament of the ex-combatants. Even today massive camps of Internally Displaced Persons exist throughout the country under the auspices of the UN. IDP's are war refugees who have fled to escape the fighting and now have nowhere to return. Their homes were destroyed; they have no land to farm and no reason to return to their previous location.

During the final stages of the war, heavy fighting took place in the capital city of Monrovia, a city of about 400,000. The physical infrastructure of the city was heavily damaged between the fighting, civil disruption and looting.

Telephone lines were torn down and sold for scrap copper. Now all communication is via cell phones. Today there is no electricity in the country. Each building with electricity has its own gasoline generator. With no electricity, water cannot be pumped into water towers. As a result, most restrooms have a 40-gallon barrel with water. To flush the toilet, one takes a pitcher of water out of the barrel and pours it into the toilet. Roads are in serious disrepair and public education during the war was minimal.

The YMCA in Liberia works on a much broader scope than the YMCA in the United States. Besides the normal activities focused on building youth leaders, it also provides social services to help people overcome the effects of the civil war. These include:

• Psychosocial services for people with trauma from the war
• Training for ex-combatants to learn job skills and reintegrate back into society
• Conflict resolution training for youth in their communities
• Schools to overcome inferior educational systems during the war
• AIDS screening and training
• Malaria prevention training

The YMCA of Liberia, which operates in approximately 15 communities throughout the country, uses local boards of volunteers to build support and momentum for its core philosophies and values. Its National Director, Peter Kamei, is an outstanding leader with a unique vision for the organization.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has had a strong working relationship with Peter. Besides providing about $150,000 per year in direct contributions to the YMCA, PDA has been instrumental in obtaining additional grants for about $1 million per year from the UN and European foundations…now that’s leverage! PDA wants to build the capacity of the organization, since it has an outstanding record of providing quality services on a cost effective basis.

PDA asked me to spend two weeks in Monrovia with the Finance staff and senior staff of the YMCA to provide recommendations on their financial reporting systems. I also did some training of the Finance staff and taught at a seminar for 45 of their countrywide supervisors.

The most important and immediate need of the Finance staff is to convert from a manual to a computerized general ledger and financial reporting system. While I was there, we selected and arranged to purchase a software system, identified some local consultants who can do the training, and developed a work plan to convert to the computerized system as of July 1, 2005. A recent email from them indicates that they are following through for a July 1 conversion.

While there, the YMCA arranged for me to go “up country” to visit their branches in Gbnarga, Ganta, Saclepea and Kakata. That opportunity to see the YMCA programs in action, meet with the local boards, visit the sites and talk to the staff that renders the services was most meaningful. While the travel was rigorous and the meals and accommodations rather spartan, it truly was a worthwhile experience. Liberians are very warm, gracious and appreciative people.

In summary, PDA has identified an outstanding partner in the YMCA of Liberia. Our Presbyterian benevolence funds are being spent well and leveraged most effectively — improving the lives of people who have suffered unbelievably from a 14-year civil war. Thank you for your prayer support at Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church during my trip. Your encouragement and well wishes have meant a lot to me.