casino … [Read more...]
His dream: To be a doctor
The 2011 graduating class of Cestos High School has decided as a class project to undertake the construction of a palava hut. This palava hut will be used for students to gather and discuss issues pertaining to the school. The cost of the project is estimated at $1,500 U.S. The 29 students in the class had to contribute $500 Liberian each. Donations from sponsors so far have amounted to $500 U.S., bringing the total amount raised to about $800 U.S. As senior class president, Ogache … [Read more...]
Access Denied; Girls Higher Education
Minnie Wah wants to go to college. But it's more likely that as a girl she'll end up in the local school in Cestos that teaches girls simple trades. That school is right behind Cestos High School. Forum for African Women Education is a trade school where girls go to learn skills such as pastry, tie-dye, sewing, and cosmotology. "I have been in Rivercess from my birth but I have not seen any girl leave from here to go to Monrovia to attain university," said the school … [Read more...]
Pursing Education
Kennedy Koloh worries about leaving his family to go to college in Monrovia, but his wife supports him if he can find the money. If he does leave, he will send for her and his two children to be with him. “I really want to pursue my education,” he said, “but I’m finding it difficult.” Monrovia is five hours away. Right now he can’t make the move, casino because he doesn’t have the money to enroll at the University of Liberia. If he gets there, he’ll have to pay $70 U.S. per … [Read more...]
Education Delayed, But Not Denied
Benjamin Menyongar is finally a high school graduate this summer. Now the 30-year-old from Cestos City wants the same for his three children after passing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) test. Benjamin suffered through 14 years of civil war and was abused by rebels who forced him to work for them. It delayed his education and ultimate dream — to go to college in Monrovia. That is a particular difficulty for Liberains who live in rural areas, far from the city. Benjamin returned … [Read more...]
The Radio is Coming to You
During our sojourn to the seaside town of Cestos, capital of Rivercess County, we launched the Soundbooth, an audio documentary project modeled on NPR"s StoryCorps. The idea is to have two people very familiar with each other - a mother and a daughter, a teacher and a student, a pair of friends - interview each other on a story or topic relevant to their lives. StoryCorps has been doing this for a while, and has a great archive of American stories, told in conversational, intimate style. We"re … [Read more...]
Rivercess
Cestos City is located 180 miles Southeast of Monrovia. A seven hour drive on dirt roads through remote rainforest, the county’s capital sits where the River Cestos meets the Atlantic Ocean. In the early morning groups of school kids online casino begin their long journey to class, arriving in boats from across the water, then walking two miles down the only road in town. … [Read more...]
To the media, the answer is “yes”
I continue to be amazed at the uncommon access we get here while working on our stories. Bureaucrats, as well as everyday people, haven’t caught on to what’s become the default answer to the media in America: “No.” Instead, here we ask — and our sources say “yes.” They are happy to have their stories told. Earlier this week, to start off on a set of stories about education, we walked the campus of the local high school in Cestos, south of Monrovia, without escort. And we stumbled on exactly … [Read more...]
Education in Cestos, Rivercess county
It was all about education. As media trainers, we improved the storytelling skills of our journalism students. As storytellers, our students focused on education issues in one of the poorest counties in Liberia. As foreigners, we were schooled in both the best and worst parts of traveling in Liberia. Smiles, beaches and cool breezes welcomed us to Cestos. Most locals took us in with open arms, showing us the warm hospitality of a rural community in Liberia. Unfortunately, a robber and some … [Read more...]
Images From Training
It"s been a great week. We completed our first series of training sessions yesterday. Through lectures and exercises, we guided the students through lessons on story development, interviewing techniques, audio storytelling, writing, photographic storytelling and key principles, such as ethics. Next week, we head out to the countryside to put those lessons into practice as we start producing election-related stories. … [Read more...]
Day 1 of Training In Liberia
The training sessions started today. At the end of the class, we gathered for a photo. … [Read more...]
Class Is In Session!
Our first class of students showed up Wednesday, and they put in a full morning and afternoon of work. We’ll be working with them at our headquarters in Monrovia all of this week; next week we plan to travel out into one of Liberia’s 15 counties to find stories to tell there. The idea is for our training and outing to serve as a template for two more rounds just like this one. We hope to equip our trainees with the skills (as well as some equipment) to continue this kind of work long after we … [Read more...]
Day 1: Get hauled off by Liberian police for taking photos
David Trotman-Wilkins, (center/back row), still can smile after being forced by Liberian police to erase two photographs he took of the new U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. Over my career, soldiers and police have confiscated my film and digital images in Cuba, Honduras, Armenia, Malawi and Uganda. But this last time when we arrived here, it was David Trotman-Wilkins who inadvertently broke the law. His transgression? Taking two photos of the currently under construction U.S. Embassy. Here"s what … [Read more...]
