LIHEDE and Sunday Project's Delegations Headed by Dr. Syrulwa Somah Arrive in Liberia Soon
(Immediate Press Release Issued by LIHEDE and Sunday Project)
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
March 17, 2005
During the week plus long visit, Dr. Syrulwa Somah who visited Liberia in June of 2004 and proposed the Liberian Studies Program will meet with Dr. Evelyn Kandiaka, Minister of Education Ministry of Education; Dr. Al Hasan Conteh, President University of Liberia; Dr. Henrique Tokpa, President Cuttington University College; Dr. James Oliver Duncan, President United Methodist University; Dr. Levi Zangai, President African Methodist Episcopal University; Dr. Louise C. York, President, A.M.E. Zion University, and Sister Mary Laurent Brown, President Don Bosco University, and officials to officially present the proposed Liberian Studies program.
Lt. Jonah K. Tarley of LIHEDE will conduct a series of mini-workshops during the week and the grand workshop: “Mapping Out Appropriate Strategies for the Restructuring of the Armed Forces of Liberia” on March 29, 2005 at the YMCA, Crown Hill, Monrovia. Dr. Somah will help facilitate the workshop. Those expected to participate in the workshop are:
- Minister and Officials of the Ministry of Defense
- Academicians
- Interfaith Organizations
- Official Representative of the National Transition Legislative Assembly
- Other distinguished NGOs and prominent citizens, etc
The LIHEDE delegation will discuss with Liberian educators the need to establish a Liberian Studies Program at each higher institution of learning in Liberia, and use the opportunity to present a revised copy of the Liberian Studies Program Curriculum prepared by LIHEDE, as agreed during Dr. Somah’s first meeting with the educators in June of 2004, regarding the Liberian studies proposal.
The LIHEDE delegation’s meeting with the Monrovia City Mayor and the Land, Mines and Energy Minister is intended to discussion a LIHEDE proposal for the establishment of a methane extraction project in Liberia to serve as alternative energy source. Preliminary contacts for the establishment of a sister-city relationship between the cities of Monrovia and Greensboro will also be explored with the Monrovia City Mayor.
Meanwhile, Dr. Somah, in his capacity as chairman of the board of directors of the Rhode Island-based SUNDAY Project, will join a visiting delegation of the Project in scheduled talks with Chairman Gyude Bryant; USAID Liberia Mission Director Edward W. Birgells, UNMIL head, Mr. Jacque Klein, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Peter Coleman; Vivian Cherue, ESQ., and representatives of the World Health Organization; SOS Villages International; Interfaith Organizations; the Child Protection Task Force, and others. Liberian officials of government on how the SUNDAY Project could assist orphans and other war-weary children affected by Liberian civil wars.