NEWS RELEASE: World Change for Children is preparing to send it's next team into the country of Liberia in January of 2010. There are presently positions available for team volunteers.
June 2008 News Release - Liberia
Liberia is a country that is finding its way to continued peace after 14 years of civil war.
When peace came in 2003, there were many casualties; perhaps the most serious was the 30,000 estimated child soldiers (young boys and girls) who were coerced into that role.
World Change for Children has been involved in supporting numerous programs in the Nimba County region of that country. Supporting the Tufeia Foundation (our in-country partner) has resulted in World Change for Children sponsoring several hundred children in their quest for education, through school tuitions, uniforms, textbooks, school supply purchases, and an educational/recreational after-school program.
World Change for Children has conducted numerous programs supporting the reintegration and rehabilitation of child soldiers in Liberia. Utilizing a unique, scientifically valid, and sustainable trauma recovery program, more than 400 young people have had an opportunity to participate in the Companion Recovery Model.
In addition to programs, two significant capital projects have been completed. A school and library serving Duoyee, a very remote village in Nimba County, has been built and serves 700 children in the region.
Another team will be leaving soon to conduct trauma training programs, help build a ccommunity garden, and do various staff education conferences for the Tufeia Foundation.
September 2007 KING5 Local News
~Link to video;
July 2007 News Release- Liberia
Ex-Combatants Want Training Activities Decentralized
The Analyst (Monrovia)
NEWS
9 July 2007
Posted to the web 9 July 2007
Monrovia
Nearly 300 ex-combatants, mainly child soldiers and women, are appealing to local and international NGO's including the US-based World Change for Children and the local youth advocacy and development group, Tufeia Foundation to decentralize their activities.
They made specific mention of trauma intervention education training which is taking place throughout Liberia.
The ex-combatants occupying centers like MVTC, CESP, LEAD, A.G. and Soul Clinic communities' empowerment programs spoke to reporters Friday, June, 29 at the MVTC compound in Barnersville following a week long Companion Model Training Trauma Healing, Peace Building and Reconciliation conducted by World Change for Children and the Tufeia Foundation, working with the Monrovia YMCA.
Some of the ex-soldiers urged the government to prioritize the training programs for ex-combatants.
Commenting on the training they underwent, the trainees said the exercise was completely different from all other trauma trainings they have gone through.
According to them, they are prepared to serve as ambassadors of teaching, sharing and loving each other, and pledged to collect the broken pieces of their lives as they are preparing themselves as future leaders of Liberia with collective efforts from all Liberians to rebuild.
Some of the ex-combatants praised the training exercise. "This conference means a lot in that it helped me build my strengths," a remark one of the ex-combatants made.
An 11-man delegation from World Change for Children is in Liberia on a three week assessment mission in collaboration with the Tufeia Foundation.
The delegation which is headed by Dr. Jeni Gregory, Vice President of World Change for Children, is in Saclepea, Nimba County for weeks of development work in education, heath, trauma healing and peace building.
Prior to their departure to Nimba, Dr. Gregory told journalists, "it is a dream of World Change for Children to train as many Liberians as possible throughout the country."
For more information contact;
World Change for Children
11629 South East 67th Place
Bellevue, WA. 98006
May 2006 News Release - Liberia
Hello from World Change for Children,
Trauma Therapy team led by WCC VP Jeni Gregory returns from Liberia - here is an excerpt from the journals the team kept:
"Overall, this trip has been an absolutely smashing success. How I wish that the rest of the world could experience the resilience, the enthusiasm for life, and the value the next breath is given by the literally thousands of Liberians we have been privileged to work, live and be with. It has been our greatest honor to work alongside such noble and gracious people. Our greatest sadness is that we must leave. However, without leaving, we will not know the joy of our next return. How blessed we are! That is for sure."
Read all of the team's account of their work in Liberia here. continued...
April 2005 News Release -Liberia
World Change for Children partnered with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, sending a Trauma Therapy Team to Ganta, Liberia. Our team provided training for Peer Mentoring and a counseling program for youth who were conscripted (drafted) for Military action in the country of Liberia. continued...
