I returned from Liberia Wednesday, February 22nd and I am already missing the closeness I always feel there. There were more needs and more joys then I expected. Optimism had everyone in positive mode. While there I did a review of all Imani House programs, the Clinic, the adult literacy, math and tailoring classes for market women, the farming demonstration sites and the administration. In between I spent time trying to meet potential allies, funders and friends, and gave trainings for our members and staff so that they could better understand the funding world, grant writing, documenting success, creating a good report, and other things.

I'd forgotten how slow things move in Africa, and I loved it. With all of the internationals and the building going on, traffic was a nightmare. It took all of 1.5 hours just to get to our office in town (6 miles away). I used to take taxis everywhere in Monrovia before, but now long lines of people are waiting on every corner and there just aren't enough, so getting around was also a nightmare. But I like to walk, and did a lot of that. It was a good way to see and meet some of my old friends and people who remembered me and greeted me warmly even though I didn't know them, and that too felt very good.

A lot of money is floating around, but as usual most of it ends up in the bank accounts of foreign nationals, and when they leave, the echo of their having been will be barely audible. We had a great strategic planning meeting with staff and members and we are committed to trying to turn our clinic into a full time hospital. World Vision opened a clinic near us, but closed. Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF) has a clinic but also will soon close. And two local clinics in our area have gone out of business because the government had no money to support the staff. The government now wants IMANI HOUSE to run those two clinics since there is no hospital in the area, and health provision will be a problem once MSF moves on. We need to raise the funds to be able to expand the programs and the potential of local Liberians to make these things happen. The staff at Imani House have worked overtime keeping these important programs alive and I want to try to find solutions.

I feel recommitted and renewed by the possibilities that could really help locals do for themselves and create a model for others. There is hope and possibilities for Liberia. The place is very safe, fun for some, but the situation for most is still poverty, but not hopelessness. I think that the ethic to work hard is prevailing more than ever and Liberians are saying never again to war, and ready to build and rebuild. It's almost 22 years since IMANI HOUSE was formed in Liberia and about 14 years since I spoke to Peter at Plenty and Chuck came to Liberia to help us set up our "Farming as a Career" program and introduce soybean multiplication and utilization. It feels like yesterday. I know a lot of Liberians have been helped and have helped others in that time and I'm very proud know that our work has not been in vain. I really believe that IMANI HOUSE Liberia is one of the best NGO's on the ground. We need to find a great volunteer to help. Visit our website at http://www.imanihouse.org or call (718) 638-2059 for more information. Thanks for everything,