Don Bosco's Mission in Liberia

Don Bosco's Mission in Liberia

(ANS – Monrovia, Liberia – May 21, 2021) – Liberia is a country of freedom, but 14 years of civil war (1989-2003) devastated the social, physical, and psychological fabric of this West African state. The conflict left the country in economic ruin. In addition to the conflict, the outbreak of Ebola in 2014, which led to the death of the parents and breadwinners in many families, rendered many young people homeless and hopeless. British and American Salesians came to Liberia in 1979 and are currently working in the capital, Monrovia, and in Tappita, a rural town located in Nimba county in the eastern part of Liberia.

The Sean Devereux Don Bosco Youth Center was founded in 1991 to care for former child soldiers and other young people in Monrovia. The youth center with its dynamic activities and the friendly spirit of Don Bosco helped many young people to recover from the effects of the war and to be rehabilitated into society.

The youth center is situated in Matadi, among some of the poorest residents of Monrovia. Most of them are petty merchants, but many others are jobless and struggling to provide for their families.

Most of the youths of Matadi come from families that can barely afford a single meal a day. Homes are poor and overcrowded, with parents sharing a room with their children, or children sharing a room with many other children. Matadi has no electricity supply. Many of the people live in darkness by night because they cannot afford a generator.

Many of the young people call the Sean Devereaux Don Bosco Youth Center their home. Every evening the youth center is packed with over 500 young people. They come to the center to acquire life skills and engage in sports and cultural activities under the guidance and supervision of Salesians, trained staff, and volunteers. The guidance of the Salesians empowers young people and helps them to regain their confidence and set positive goals for their future.

The second Don Bosco youth center is in the rural town of Tappita. 60 miles of the road to Tappita is not tarred and is very rough. Tappita is not accessible for long periods during the rainy season. It is isolated from the capital, and commercial activities are brought to a standstill. This causes great hardship for the local people: the impossibility of access to a hospital, having to travel long distances by motorbike, difficulty in procuring provisions, and an increase in the cost of fuel and other basics. The extreme material poverty in Liberia causes a wide range of physical and psychological consequences. Young people suffer many hardships.  Many are from broken families and are left to care for themselves. The youth center provides a home-like environment for them where they feel welcome, a school where they can learn, and a playground where they can make friends and interact with others.

The youth centers in Matadi and Tappita have many amazing success stories of young people who endured hardship during their childhood, and with Don Bosco’s helping hand have achieved success.

One of these is Amy Karpu, now a 21-year-old student at the Starz College of Science and Technology. As a child, she had to overcome fear and isolation. With the help of the Salesians she has improved, got back her confidence, and is now one of the most hardworking and committed animators of the youth center. She constantly expresses her gratitude to the Salesians for their support and guidance during her education.

Amounchen Dossen is currently studying economics in Stella Maris Polytechnic University. He started his journey in the youth center in 2005, after his father couldn’t pay his school fees. He received a scholarship from the youth center from 2005 to 2010 and took part in various activities and training programs. He was also very active along with other animators in reaching out to the community during the Ebola pandemic and that of Coronavirus. Amounchen is very happy with the positive impact of the Don Bosco Youth Center on him and is proud to be able to reach out to others as an animator.

Hardworking Salesians and dedicated lay people in the Don Bosco youth centers continue to bring hope. They make a great impact on the lives of poor and needy young people in Liberia.

Source: Salesians Ireland