Background of problems in Liberia

Moses giving me a shave, bad idea

Historically Liberia was somewhat developed along the coast by the 15 or so families I'll back slaves Of America settling in Liberia in 1822. Inland Liberia remained isolated from modern life following traditional tribal customs of 16 tribal groups. These tribal groups had fought one another and were somewhat put under control by Pres. Tugman in the 1940s to 1971. 

Most missions concentrated their efforts along the coast. Education in the interior was primarily promoted by a few companies and a few missionaries working in the interior. Governmental schools we're slow to develop in and very poor and the quality of education.

With over 20 years of conflict the situation had only grown worse. Liberian business has always been controlled buy foreign investors. Today the Chinese and Indochina operate many busuiness. 

West Africa has been in the news because of Ebola and the ISIS threat to innocents.

Following the health story one thing that is apparent to me is that Liberia lacks the technical training to improve their health system. There aren't enough teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, tradesman and businessman trained to compete in the modern world. Illiteracy and the lack of a common language greatly impairs the progress in Liberia. There are too many places where there are no schools, clinics, Liberian owned businesses. The ebola crisis as been averted but there is no infrastructure of health or education in the country. So in the next crisis comes there will be too few of the Liberians able to deal with it.

Liberians who get educated make a greater effort to leave the country. It's hard to blame them in light of violence and hardship in a very hot climate. Their very desire to improve their personal situation leaves Liberia with even less human resources.

The present Liberian leadership has given the country a place in which to begin to grow again. In order to see progress there has to be security and safety. As this is taken place we have to realize that the reality is too few can read and write. There are too few who are able to go to college. Liberia has less than 3 million people, 16 tribes, and a growing urban slum that lacks the resources of their country cousins to live off the land. The first thing to do is to become aware of what is being done and not being done. 

For me,

in a practical sense, what can I do? Keep walking