By Bill W. Cooper
The staff and management of the Catholic Relief Services of Liberia (CRS) over the weekend, identified with two schools through the donation of assorted items and the painting of its premises in commemoration of its Community Day.
The CRS led by its Country Manager, Abena Amedormey and team during their stop at the Liberia School for the Blind in Brewerville, donated to the institution some Braille including detergent items to be used by the students as means to enhance their learning process.
While another batch of team led by its Senior Project Officer, Theophilious David also made a stop at the St. Theresa Convent institution in Monrovia, and did some work by painting, and did some artistic works on the school’s fence.
Presenting the items to the school administrator, CRS Country Manager, Abena Amedormey stated that the donation of the items to the school was part of series of activities being carried out by them every year of May which was set aside as their community day observance.
She stressed that the event is one of their priority projects fully being funded by CRS intended to help struggling citizens in the country for their operation, as well as listen to their challenges and find a way of addressing them.
According to her, in line with its plan to promote inclusion irrespective of one physical challenge, creed or background, their decision to identify with the schools was to ensure that they too benefit and feel part of society as human.
She added, “So, moving forward, we will work and ensure that CRS will be able to support their work and the school in future because that’s one of the missions and objectives of CRS in Liberia.”
Receiving the items, the Liberia School for the Blind Vice-principal for Administration, Eve D. K. Nifor lauded the CRS team for the gesture which she said was timely.
Madam Nifor said the school which hosts a number of 25 male and 21 female students is faced with numerous challenges such as; the need for more financial support to enable the smooth running of the institution which cannot be overemphasized.
She also named the lack of fuel, bed sheets, non-payment of both employed and contracted staff, instructional materials, feeding, detergents and transportation among others as the numerous challenges the school is being faced with.
“So, like I said, we can only achieve this and get into fruition when we as an institution gets the needed and required support through funding because the lack of finance is somehow hampering the smooth running of the school,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, the CRS Senior Project Officer, Theophilious David pointed out that those activities carried out by them was in commemoration of their Communication Service which is celebrated globally May of every year in various communities and institutions and places they have worked and impacted.
He added that the day being celebrated by CRS globally is very crucial because it enables CRS staff to identify and understand the numerous challenges Liberian citizens are faced with.
The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve the World War II survivors in Europe, and had since its founding, expanded in size to reach more than 130 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.
For over 75 years, its mission has been to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.
Although its mission is rooted in the Catholic faith, the CRS operations serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity, and in the United States, CRS engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering people of the world.
