How To Help Us Minister To Liberia
The needs of the people of Liberia are great — physically, spiritually, mentally, socially, and economically. Many live in the countryside where they do not have access to running water, medical care, nutritious food, education and Christian training. Hundreds of thousands of Liberian children have had little or no school due to war and displacement. There is a great need for books, crayons, pencils and other school supplies for the children of Liberia. As God directs, we earnestly entreat you to freely give and help us in the following area of needs listed below:
Orphanage Ministry
- Education (tuition, uniforms, books, backpacks, etc.)
- Food/Feeding/Clothing
- Shelter/Bunk beds/Bed sheets/Mattresses, etc.
Ministry Building/Church Planting
- Cell Groups/Small Groups-Resources/Books/Materials.
- Evangelism-Resources/Books/Materials.
- Training-Materials for leadership training, etc.
- Education/Training Ministry.
- Text books, computers, visual aids.
- Adult Literacy Materials.
Office Equipment and Supplies.
- Computers, printers, scanners
- Typewriters (manual and electric)
- Copiers, file cabinets
- Book Binding equipment
- Printer/copier paper
- Chairs, calculators, etc
Transportation.
- Pickups
- Buses, vans
- Motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, (new or used)
About Liberia
Geography
Area: 111,369 sq. km. (43,000 sq. mi.). Slightly larger than Ohio.
Cities: Capital--Monrovia (pop. 1,010,970). Principal towns--Ganta
(pop. 41,000), Buchanan (pop. 34,000), Gbarnga (pop. 34,000), Kakata
(pop. 33,000), Voinjama (pop. 26,000).
Terrain: Three areas--Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast,
wooded hills and semideciduous shrub lands along the immediate
interior, and dense tropical forests and plateaus in the interior.
Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Liberian(s).
Population (2009): 3.955 million.
Annual population growth rate (2008): 2.1%.
Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20%, Bassa 14%, Gio 8%, Kru 6%, 52% spread
over 12 other ethnic groups.
Religions: Christian 85%, Muslim 12%, other 1.5%, no religion 1.5%.
Languages: English is the official language. There are 16 indigenous
languages.
Education: Literacy (2008)--58%.
Health: Life expectancy (2008)--58 years.
Work force: Agriculture--70%; industry--15%; services--2%.
Employment in the formal sector is estimated at 15%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: From American Colonization Society July 26, 1847.
Constitution: January 6, 1986.
Political parties: 20 registered political parties.
Economy
GDP (2009): $876 million.
Real GDP growth rate (2009): 4.9%.
Real per capita GDP (2009): $128.
Average annual inflation (2009): 7.4%.
Natural resources: Iron ore; rubber; timber; diamonds; gold; tin;
possible offshore deposits of crude oil.
Agriculture: Products--coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, cassava, palm
oil, bananas, plantains, citrus, pineapple, sweet potatoes, corn,
and vegetables.
Industry: Agriculture (61% of 2009 GDP); rubber; diamonds; gold;
iron ore; forestry; beverages; construction.
Trade (2009): Exports--$148 million (rubber 61%). Major
markets--India (26.5%); United States (17.9%); Poland (13.9%).
Imports--$551 million (rice 29%; machinery/transport equipment 23%).
Major markets--South Korea (27.2%); Singapore (25.5%); Japan
(11.8%).
People
There are 16 ethnic groups that make up Liberia's indigenous
population. The Kpelle in central and western Liberia is the largest
ethnic group. Americo-Liberians who are descendants of freed slaves
that arrived in Liberia after 1820 make up less than 5% of the
population.
There also are sizable numbers of Lebanese, Indians, and other West
African nationals who comprise part of Liberia's business community.
The Liberian constitution restricts citizenship to only people of
Negro descent, and land ownership is restricted to citizens.
