A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Several statement givers and interviewees reported that they are currently working with groups on
specific projects to rebuild Liberia through non-profit organizations and foundations based in the
United States. 587 For example, the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc., the primary
association for those who identify themselves as Krahn, reports that it has run programs that put
“students on scholarships in various colleges, universities and technical institutions in Liberia, supplies
hospital beds and medications, repairing public buildings, schools textbooks/materials etc.” 588 The
National Association of Cape Mountainians in the Americas recently raised $13,000 from a U.S.based
foundation and matched that through fundraising from its members to rebuild a bridge in Cape
Mount County. 589 The President of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota told the TRC that
the Minnesota community is working “with institutions that can help us in the relief area as it relates
to two particular [issues]…revitalizing the health care and revitalizing the educational sector.” 590 A
Liberian living in Washington, DC, told the TRC that he funds a rebuilding project through a “clan”
association. The organization has “completed the reconstruction phase of a clinic in its community at
home and been involved in supplies of textbooks and school’s materials, provid[ing] monthly stipend
for teachers in its clan” as well as other activities. 591 A Liberian woman in Atlanta told the TRC
about a foundation she and her sister started to provide scholarships to young women and girls in
Liberia. Liberian Women’s Initiatives – Minnesota was founded to send money and supplies back to
Liberia and now provides services in the diaspora. Numerous other philanthropic endeavors were
also reported, including a school supplies and sanitation project in Buchanan organized by the Bassa
Action Group, for example. 592 The European Federation of Liberian Associations has instituted “The
Development Challenge for Liberia” and held a conference on the issue in Paris in summer 2008.
Proposed projects focus on health, education, agriculture, and resettlement and integration. 593
Focusing on economic opportunity is also a key part of much work among resettled Liberians. A
statement giver living in North Carolina told the TRC about his plans to begin the LIGREEID
Corporation which would build small business infrastructure and work to empower small business
start-ups in Liberia. 594 The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota and several other state and
European associations have brought Liberian ministers of trade to their states and have worked to
organize trade missions to Liberia. 595
Some individual Liberians are contributing without any organization behind their efforts. An academic
researcher documented this anecdote about a diaspora “philanthropist”:
His first visit to find relatives had required several days of journey by car,
by boat, and by foot because bridges and roads had been destroyed by the
war. During his visit it became clear that the greatest needs of the village
stemmed from its problems with lack of outside access, primarily because
the old road had been mined and three small bridges destroyed. With a
contribution of $800 USD this individual provided the villagers with tools
and resources they needed to clear a new road and build three rudimentary
370