A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Taking Matters into their Own Hands
While there is significant frustration and hardship
in Buduburam, Liberians there have built
a vibrant community and have developed
structures to attempt to provide the support
their community needs. There are no less than
70 registered community-based organizations
operating in Buduburam. 276 These groups
address many issues, including orphaned
children, water, literacy, disability rights,
peacebuilding and community reconciliation,
and women’s rights. Many refugees have started
training programs to help their fellow Liberians
learn productive skills. Some of these organizations have external donor funding and significant
international volunteer support. The faith community in Buduburam is also very strong.
Despite these community structures, life for many in Buduburam has been simply a nearly two decade
waiting game. Although frustrated with life in Ghana, Liberians in Buduburam overwhelmingly told
the TRC that they did not want to return to Liberia until they were certain that the security situation
was improved and until they had had an opportunity to gain skills or savings to start over. 277 Some
noted they never wanted to go back. 278
If I ever went back, I don’t know where I would live…I want to send my
children to school, but I’m not able to. I know that my children are an
investment in the future, but I cannot afford to feed them properly. I hope
that one day my children will empower themselves and live somewhere else.
Despite my problems, I feel I would suffer more in Liberia. 279
Many said they did not want to return because they had no one and no place to go back to in
Liberia. 280 The young woman who spoke to the TRC about her sister engaging in prostitution stated
that, although she wasn’t sure whether life in the camp was worse than in Liberia, “at least in the camp
I’ve started, I know people. In Liberia I’d start all over.” 281 Another noted, “how can we go home? We
don’t even recognize it.” 282
Statement givers also expressed fear of returning to a place where they had experienced so much
trauma. Numerous individuals noted that they could not go back to a place where their loved ones had
been killed and harmed in such terrible ways. 283 Statement givers also expressed fear because faction
leaders whom they viewed as responsible for the abuses perpetrated against themselves and their
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Chapter Thirteen