The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia

Distributed by

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

Posted June 18, 2004

The Christian relief and development agency, World Vision International has appointed a Liberian for the first time to head its Liberia program, since establishing the program here ten years ago.

She is Etmonia Tarpeh, a certified educator and administrator. She was recruited recently in Dakar, Senegal, where she had worked for Plan International.

With BSc. Degree in Elementary Education from Cuttington College, Bong County, and a Master of Science degree in School Administration from Duquesne University in Pennsylvania, the USA, Mrs. Tarpeh takes over the World Vision/Liberia program with a reservoir of national and international work experience.

Prior to the 1980 coup, she served as Assistant Minister for General Supervision and Evaluation at the Ministry of Education, working closely with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in efforts to promote education throughout the country. Also at the ministry, Mrs. Tarpeh served as Assistant Minister for Planning and Development.

She later joined the US Peace Corps, and worked as Associate Director for Education.
Mrs. Tarpeh is a former teacher and principal for a number of private and public schools in Liberia.
In the international arena, Mrs. Etmonia Tarpeh worked for the past 14 years with Plan International in senior leadership roles. She was Field Director in the Philippines and Country Director in Cameroun at separate periods.

Mrs. Tarpeh transformed the Philippines program into a viable entity at a time when Plan International was on the verge of closing it down due to serious management problems.

She also developed the Cameroun program while managing complex and challenging relations between the Cameroun government and Plan International.

Mrs. Tarpeh has also gained Human Resource Management experience while serving from 2001 to 2004 as the West Africa HR Advisor for Plan.

Among her leadership qualities, Mrs. Tarpeh has an ability to quickly understand complex issues and the big ‘picture’. She is a hard, inspirational and achievement-oriented worker with a zero tolerance for mismanagement.
The new World Vision/Liberia boss hails from Grand Cape Mount County where she acquired her primary and secondary school education.

“It’s a pleasure to be back home”, says Mrs. Tarpeh. “I come to my new job with a lot of humility, acknowledging God’s grace which has spared my life and taken me safely to and from various parts of the world over the last 14 years”.

“I have come back home to learn from fellow Liberians what they now value for themselves and the country, after suffering from war and poverty for a long time.

“This way, and with the willingness of the people, we can work together with the available resources to make a difference”.

Mrs. Tarpeh encouraged fellow Liberians to strive and reconstruct their broken lives and war-ravaged country.
“Our willingness to rebuild our lives and country will serve as a testimony of our love for those who lost their lives during the war”, she noted.

“Our time should not be spent continuously reflecting on the suffering experienced without doing anything to change the situation. Our suffering should propel us to move on with progress in life”.