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Good Samaritan Discipleship is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Welcome
From Violence To Peace And Development-
Help Us Build A School In Liberia
Purpose of Good Samaritan Discipleship
The chief mission of the Good Samaritan Discipleship is to assist in building a school and rehabilitation center in Bomi County, Liberia in order to help improve a community of strong, healthy and productive families, and to empower and nurture them, through training and education, including adult literacy, feeding programs, and economic empowerment.
Although Liberia is endowed with great natural resources, continued internal displacement of the population and the absence of infrastructure depress the productive capacity of the citizenry. The country currently has an unemployment rate of 85% and an illiteracy rate of 85.5%. Commercial activity has slowly been increasing and some stability is in place with the help of UN peace keepers and with new political leadership, but capacity is still limited. Because of this, there are mass movements of people to areas which have access to humanitarian assistance.
Nearly all youths witnessed the terrible atrocities committed during the war. These child soldiers are highly traumatized and many are afraid to return to their original communities for fear of being prosecuted. This makes an unhealthy society for child soldiers and community members. In order to return to their former lives, there is a need to de-traumatize, rehabilitate and reintegrate these children back into their communities.
Due to the traumatic situations these child soldiers faced, it has been hard to rehabilitate them. They lack the attributes of self-awareness and empathy. They remain vulnerable and there are inadequate programs to develop proactive ways of promoting academic achievements, as well as social and emotional education.
Good Samaritan Discipleship aims to develop, nurture, and educate children; and rehabilitate and integrate former child soldiers and other traumatized victims in affected communities.
Read the
Ground Breaking for School article
in June, 2010 in the Daily Observer.
How We Plan to Achieve Our Objectives
Board member and GSD director, Martha Daidii, travels to Liberia often bringing with her donated goods for distribution. Mrs. Daidii is a native of Monrovia and is familiar with the community there. She uses her familiarity with the area to hire people to help with the distribution. Special emphasis is put on children from 0-12, orphanages, special care homes and hospitals.
School and Rehabilitation Center
Groundbreaking for the school and rehabilitation center in Bomi County was held on April 13, 2007. The school land is located in the village of Kle, Bomi County, outside of Monrovia, and the town has a population of approximately 1000. Building plans and blueprints for the school and rehabilitation have been drawn up, and the village elders and leaders are in support of the school and rehabilitation project. When the construction project can be launched, Mrs. Daidii will conduct the hiring of the contractor in Liberia, and she will monitor and oversee the construction project.
Another key objective of GSD is rehabilitation. We have started a counseling program to further this objective. There are presently three counselors who work with former child soldiers to encourage them to go back to school and regain a sense of self-worth.
There is also a need to educate children and young adults in nutrition. Many young females have children of their own and malnutrition is a problem in the city.
Importance of Activities
Building of the physical structure of the school and rehabilitation center is paramount to achieving the goals of counseling, education, and rehabilitation, and is the primary objective of this organization.
We are a 501(c3) tax-exempt entity and an annual report will be available yearly.
Updates
JUNE 2011
After the progress on the foundation in 2010, board member Martha Daidii again traveled to Liberia to oversee the continued clearing of the land immediately around the school site, ordered more cement and supplies. More workers have been hired to build the cement blocks. The foundation work has continued; and now we are working on raising funds to begin building walls and the roof.
Martha was in Bomi County, Liberia from November 2010 to April 2011 directing the work on the site. The project of building the school is slowly moving forward. Martha reported that the cement blocks that were made are stored in the shed that was constructed for this purpose. Building in Liberia is very different than what we experience in Minnesota. All work is done by hand and the only machinery is a cement mixer.
Please watch for information on our next Fundraiser planned for Fall 2011. We welcome your donations anytime. Please follow the instructions from the Donations page of the web site.
Thank you for your support of this important project.
JUNE 2010
Board members Martha Daidii and David Svendahl traveled to Liberia, where they managed the building of a storage shed, continued clearing of the school site land, hired workers, purchased cement and supplies for the building of cement blocks. The foundation was dug and foundation blocks placed. Thereafter, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf attended the formal groundbreaking that was held on 6/25/10. Martha reports that the president spoke with her personally, praised the Good Samaritan program and what it is doing, congratulated Martha. Many dignitaries where there, including the Vice President and wife, US AID officials, United Nations officials, Bomi County Superintendant, and many other officials. She said there was a lot of praise by the President and other people about what we are doing there. (She said it will be in the papers. ) She urged people to do what Martha is doing, and to support the program with whatever to keep it moving. Martha and everyone who helped them over the last month were ecstatic about the events of today.
If you would like to make a donation today, please click on the
donations link and enter your name, address, and the amount you wish to donate or mail your check or money order to the address below.
Good Samaritan Discipleship
406 Third Avenue N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: 612-627-9881 or 612-729-1929
Email:
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