One VisionThe Newsletter of UNV Volunteers working in support of Peace and Development in Liberia

UNV Volunteer Sarah Namuluso of Uganda walks for our planet at theIVD Walk/ Run for the Environment IVD 2009 Monrovia, Liberia

Photography by: S-J Mungo

Focus on the EnvironmentInternational Volunteer Day 2009

Commemorative Issue

Volume 1, Issue 1

01 January 2010

One Vision

Message from:

Mr. Moustapha SoumaréDSRSG (R&G)/

Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian

Coordinator& UNDP Resident Representative

As the New Year dawns in Liberia, one of the most enduring images of 2009 since my arrival here some four months agocomes to mind. That image was captured in a photograph taken on International Volunteer Day last December 2009. Itdepicts the Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteer ( UNV) Programme, Ms. Flavia Pansieri busily engagedwith UN Volunteers from across the UN family in cleaning up one of Monrovia’s well known beaches as part of UNV’sglobal campaign ‘Volunteering for our Planet’.

The image of the UN Family ‘At Work Together’ hand in hand with volunteers from Government ministries, Monrovia CityCorporation staff , members of Civil Society and students from the University of Liberia was powerful and shows just howstrong our collective efforts can be if we are united in a common purpose.

This first edition of, “One Vision” a new UNV volunteers joint newsletter, focuses on the environment and brings a wealthof experiences together from UNV volunteers serving with UNMIL,UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes to highlight thework of UNV volunteers in Liberia, particularly in the area of peace building and sustainable development . It is also areflection of the UN family’s deepening commitment to pooling our resources for a common good with maximum impact.

I personally believe that the co-relation between peace and human development is unambiguous .Where violence andconflict take root, development cannot get traction. Therefore, the importance of UNV volunteers in promoting peace andsustainable development in post-conflict countries such as Liberia is especially pertinent. By sowing the seeds of peacethrough strategic programmes such as the Peace Building Fund’s Volunteers for Peace in all 15 counties, sustainabledevelopment has a chance to grow. Under this programme, 30 National Volunteers who have been trained in conflictmitigation and resolution techniques, live among communities for one year. The Volunteers pass on their skills tocommunity members to empower them in handling disputes effectively (such as over land or property ownership) as wellas mitigate the occurrence of conflict in the first place. Similarly, one recognizes that it is equally important to build theinstitutional capacity for dialogue which can lead to the peaceful resolution of conflict and tension within society.

In considering the synergy between peace and development, women have a particularly critical role to play not only insupporting peace processes (as happened at the end of the 14year conflict in Liberia during negotiations for the Accra PeaceAgreement) but also as effective leaders for recovery after conflict and as guardians of the peace.

Women too have sometimes paid the ultimate price in the name of peace. The tragic news of the late Yah –Lydia Wonyene,a Liberian born International UNV who recently lost her life while serving with the United Nations in Afghanistan is all toofresh a reminder of the very difficult circumstances in which UN Volunteers often work.

Let us look to 2010 as an opportunity to bring Peace and Development to the forefront of our work as one UN Family. Ifstakeholders in Development can work together effectively, I am confident that we can help promote an environmentwhereby peace contributes to development and development supports the advancement of peace and stability in Liberia.

I wish the UNV Community every success with this new Joint UNV Newsletter, an initiative which I warmly embrace forbringing the spirit of Volunteerism within the UN family even closer in 2010.

Moustapha SoumaréDeputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (Recovery and Governance )Resident Coordinator/ Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

Ms: Flavia Pansieri

Executive Coordinator, United Nations Volunteer Programme,

Visits UNV Liberia

Flavia Pansieri, Executive Director of the UNV Programme paid awhirlwind visit to Liberia from 2-6 December 2009. with the primarypurpose of celebrating International Volunteer Day with UNVvolunteers in Liberia. Mrs. Pansieri knew that she was visiting aprogramme that had a history of excellence when coming to thepositive impact of the work done by UNV Volunteers. We are proudto say that we did not disappoint. There were so many moments ...Where to start?

The schedule was a hectic one. Thursday started with a courtesy visitto Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia. This wasfollowed by a visit to UNMIL’s Starbase to review the work of UNVVolunteers in Medical and Engineering Sections of UNMIL.

After lunch Mrs. Pansieri attended the finals of the UNV Liberiasponsored High School Debate, organised in conjunction with theLiberia National Youth Congress (LNYC). Students from eight schoolsacross Monrovia participated presenting arguments around thetheme “Volunteering for Our Planet : By Extension Liberia”.

Mrs . Pansieri , in her brief comments to participants said that shewas impressed with the level of preparedness of the students andtheir ability to present their arguments in a such a logical flow. AmosTaybior High School emerged winners.

Below: UNVs Benaflor (UNMIL), Masud(UNDP) and Yoshiko (VPP) listen to Mrs. Pansieri at the UNV Town Hall Meeting

Above: Mrs. Pansieri with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Left: With debate finalists, LNYC members and UNV Programme Officer, Rukaya Mohamed

Later in the day UNV volunteers got a chance to meet withMrs. Pansieri at a special town hall meeting at UNMIL HQto discuss numerous issues affecting UNV volunteers. Alsoin attendance at the meeting was Dominic Sam, UNDPCountry Director.

The meeting was followed by a reception in the UNVSupport Unit’s offices where volunteers got theopportunity to interact directly with Mrs. Pansieri and herteam.

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Flavia Pansieri cont’d

Pansieri was up at the crack of dawn on Saturday and participated fully in the day’s schedule ofactivities for IVD. These included the Run/ Walk for Peace and the Environment, Beach Clean-up,Speeches and the official handover ceremony for the fence at the School for the Blind.

Friday morning was spent at the youth parliament organised in conjunction with the University StudentsVolunteer Movement. Convened at the Joint Chamber, Liberian House of Representatives, youth fromfive universities representing all fifteen counties participated in the process themed, “PreservingLiberia’s Environment for Future Generations”. The youth parliament and the high schools’ debatewere part of satellite events leading up to IVD celebrations.

After lunch Mrs. Pansieri recorded a segment for the radioprogramme Volunteer’s Voices. During the interview Pansieriacknowledged the enormous contribution of UNV volunteersserving in Liberia to the building of lasting peace anddevelopment. She encouraged Liberians to embracevolunteerism as a way of rebuilding their country.

Next on the agenda was a courtesy call to Madame HenriettaMensah-Bonsu, Officer-In-Charge (OIC) UNMIL. MadameMensah–Bonsu stated her profound appreciation for the UNVProgramme and UNV volunteers working at in Liberia. She toldPansieri that she found them to be dedicated professionalswithout whom the mission would be a different place.

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Mrs. Pansieri was particularly impressed with the workthat the UNV Liberia volunteers had facilitated at theSchool for the Blind, so much so, she volunteered toreturn the next day [Sunday] prior to her departure, toserve the students.

The success of Mrs. Pansieri’s visit to UNV Liberiacannot be measured. She came, she saw, she waspleased. Yes. Very, very pleased indeed.

Mrs. Pansieri serves student at SFTB

With DSRSG, Madame H. Mensah-Bonsu,OIC UNMIL

Participants at Youth Parliament

Roads to reality, bridges to the futureLook away now… but I'm from UNV headquarters in Germany. Every day I sit at my comfortable desk in our comfortabletower block and leave at a comfortable hour for my comfortable house, perhaps passing by the comfortable supermarketon the way. It's a nightmare, I know. Every day I'm in touch with UNV volunteers out in the field. After nearly two years inBonn it was about time I got a dose of reality. Email and telephone can never be the same as actually being there yourself.

So early in December 2009, Programme Specialist Veronique Zidi-Aporeigah and I arrived a couple of days in advance ofthe UNV Executive Coordinator, Flavia Pansieri. Though there were meetings to attend and IVD preparations to be donebefore she came, we still had time enough to get out of Monrovia. Early Wednesday we set out for Gbarnga.

I had somehow expected to feel more nervous about Liberia. I knew nothing more about the country other than what I hadseen in the newspapers and on television some years before. However, once we were on the road, I was infused with adifferent sense, evoked by the site of groups of schoolchildren in their brightly-coloured uniforms setting out for lessons.Here was a country that was getting back onto its feet, a place that had a promising future in store.

When we arrived at our first stop, Salala clinic, Kolu Yassah Johnson, a volunteer nurse with the National Youth VolunteerService, was already holding forth, teaching a group of people about water hygiene and disease prevention. It was a bigmoment for me to finally see volunteers at work.

After the lesson, she explained her daily work routine and the difficulties shefound living in the bush. I'd heard and written such stories many times before, butat last to see the storyteller – it was something special.

After Kolu's clinic, we stopped off to meet her fellow NYVS volunteers Daniel andRomeo in Totota Town. Daniel is a schoolteacher , whom the headmastershowered in praise for his efforts. Up to the top of his wellington boots in paddywater, Romeo works at an agricultural research site near Gbarnga. His supervisorsnoted that "rain or shine" he was always there, in amongst the farmers, findingbetter ways to grow food.

Romeo in the rice paddy

Veronique chats with Daniel

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Kolu’s examines a young patient

Road Trip!.....................

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At another village, we witnessed the monthly ritual of the VolunteerSavings and Lending Association, a UNV-supported scheme that helpsrural people who have no access to banks or credit to build theirbusinesses. I saw what a difference it made to people – not just that,but how it brought the people of the village together too. I could seethe pride in their eyes as they received their account books, such asmall thing to many of us but to them so laden with meaning.

And finally to the UNMIL base at Gbarnga and a curry lunch courtesy ofthe Bangladeshi Contingent. Seeing how the UNV volunteers withUNMIL live and work – from Ernest, Santos and Oscar in the transportand fuel sections, to Yuri in communications and Livingstone in civilaffairs – opened my eyes to how things really are. How they live andwork cheerfully and with such pride in their contributions.

Though things can be dull in Bonn, though what UNV is here to dosometimes feels very far away, there can be no substitute for meetinginspirational people like these. It brought home to me how importantis the work that UNV Volunteers do and redoubled my pride that in myown small way I'm a part of it.

We covered a lot of miles that day. If I had to name a moment fromthat short trip that will live with me, however, I'd say it was when KoluJohnson showed us the bridge that she and the villagers had built overa muddy stream. The symbolism stuck with me- I myself had finallybridged the gap between the remote reality of Bonn and the truenature of volunteerism, here on the road to Gbarnga.

Philip Sen Editorial Associate

UNV Communications Unit UNV HQ, Bonn, Germany

The Volunteer Savings and Loan Association meeting

The bridge

Enjoying the moment

..............

It began with a walk............The day dawned crisp and clear with fingers of morning lightbreaking through marking the start of a new day fresh with thepromise of endless possibilities.

It’s just after 6am on December 5 2009, International Volunteer Day.There is a buzz of excitement in the air, the faithful are alreadygathering on the steps of Monrovia City Hall for the Run/ Walk forPeace, Development and Environment, the first of several activitiesplanned for the celebration of International Volunteer Day centeredaround this year’s theme “Volunteering for our Planet”.

Volunteers from several sectors of government, UN Agencies, INGOs ,NGOs and other civil society organizations from all over Liberiademonstrated their solidarity with UNV Liberia and our primarypartners Monrovia City Corporation, Liberia Ministry of Defense, theEnvironmental Protection Agency, PHP Beach Community and others,in our quest to raise awareness of the need to safeguard Liberia’senvironment for future generations by showing up in their numbers.

As the sun rises the runners/ walkers, led by Flavia Pansieri, Executive Coordinator UNV Programme andMary Broh, dynamic acting Mayor of Monrovia, appear to be in one accord, moving to the steady tattooof walking feet and the rhythmic accapella sounds of the New Liberian Army bringing up the rare.

1000+ made their way along Monrovia’s mainthoroughfare, some faster than others, all off asingular purpose- to reach PHP Beach, site of the“Beach Cleanup”, the next activity on the day’sschedule.

The PHP Beach community fully supported the day’sefforts and had strong representation at both therun/walk and the beach clean-up.

One Vision

Mrs. Pansieri with UNV volunteers

Members of the Armed Forces of Liberia participated fully

PHP Beach Community members

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PHP Beach was chosen for the clean-up campaign because the community around the beach had beendisposing household waste in and around the beach as well as using the beach for their “personal“ wastedisposal. This indiscriminate use has caused environmental pollution to the beach and posed a serioushealth hazard to the people in the area.

The official ceremony held at the ArmedForces of Liberia Pavilion started at 10.30and saw the SRSG Madame Ellen MargretheLøj reading UN Secretary General, Ban KiMoon’s International Volunteer Day Speechto the 1000 strong crowd gathered. Alsodelivering speeches were DSRSG(R&G)/RC/HC/UNDP RR Mustapha Soumaré,who read the UNDP Administrator’smessage, Flavia Pansieri, UNV EC, MaryBroh, Mayor of Monrovia. Deputy Ministerfor Administration, Ministry of Defense andDr. Alfred Amah, Executive Director EPA

In order to sustain the effort, the community services teams of MCC, EPA and youth volunteers startedan awareness campaign to sensitize the PHP community before the day and are to continue over thenext year. The business community, the army, and private contractors along with the Monrovia CityCorporation provided the sanitation equipment to clean the beach and plant trees on that day.

Attendees included SRSG Madame Ellen Margrethe Løj,Flavia Pansieri, Executive Coordinator UNV Programme,Deputy Force Commander-UNMIL, General Carl Modey,Chief of Staff, General Paul Boroh, Chief CIMIC, Lt ColBruce Arrington, Chief of Operations(Military Forces), ColNaeem Malik, CO PAK RAM6 , Members PAK RAM6,Programme Manager UNV Support Unit-UNMIL, AbigailWillmer, UNV volunteers and the children of the SFTB.

International Volunteer Day activities closed with theofficial hand-over ceremony for the fence build at theSchool for the Blind with funds supplied by QuickImpact Projects (QIP) the request of the SRSG MadameEllen Margrethe Løj.

SRSG Madame Ellen Margrethe Løj, with Ms. Pansieri andDSRSG (R&G)/RC/HC/UNDP RR Mr. Mustapha Soumaré

Mary Broh, Mayor of Monrovia

Volunteers’ Faces

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Volunteers’ Faces

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The International Volunteer Day 2009 was celebrated in Tubmanburg around the theme“Volunteering for the Planet” in a special manner. Several youth groups in Tubmanburg, namely,Western Student Assistance Program, Joseph Town Youth Association, Steward Camp YouthAssociation, Liberia National Youth Volunteer Service for Peace and the Ministry of Gender andDevelopment Youth Volunteer, gathered together to declare their commitment to protect and savethe planet by planting trees at C.H. Dewey High School and in front of Bomi Junior High School.

Participants also actively did their share for the vision impaired by brushing the site awarded by theCity Mayor for the use of the Liberia National Association of the Blind for the construction of apalaver hut. The hut is intended to be a place they can gather to interact with each other and receiveaid from benevolent persons and organizations.

Participating in the day’s events were the City Mayor of Tubmanburg, Forestry DevelopmentAuthority, Forestry Training Institute, UN Head of Field Office, MILOBS, UNMIL PIO, UN Volunteersand NYVS in Tubmanburg. The activity culminated with the feeding of the blinds.

The messages from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moonand the UNV Executive Director, Flavia Pansieri were readduring the programme. The City Mayor, in his remarks,highlighted the need to enhance the spirit of volunteerismamong the youth. He encouraged them to strengthen theirresolve and commitment to keep the environment clean andsupport the vulnerable groups of the society such as thedisabled, the blind and the old aged.

The Mayor also revealed that he will soon unveil a program to“Keep Tubmanburg Clean and Environment Friendly” andencouraged the youth to participate fully.

Ma. Inecita Montero , UNV Civil Affairs Expert (Centre)spearheaded IVD 2009 celebrations in Tubmanburg

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Tubmanburg celebrates IVD 2009

The noble action of volunteerism had itmost radiant page on InternationalVolunteer Day under the theme “Volunteerfor the Planet”. Aligned with the principlesof social inclusion and meaningfulinvolvement of vulnerable groups,volunteers in Grand Gedeh began itsactivities with the celebration ofInternational Disability Day on 3rd December2009 followed by a launching ceremony ofDisability vegetable project funded by UNVSupport Unit.

On December 5, volunteers in Grand Gedehjoined others worldwide to celebrate IVDaimed at highlighting the role of volunteersin their community. Liberians came out intheir large numbers marching through theprinciple street of Zwedru city with placardsand singling slogans all in support of thetheme for this year’s celebration“Volunteering For Our Planet”

In an effort to encourage qualityeducation, volunteers in Grand GedehCounty organized one of the bestintellectual quiz competitions betweenfour high schools in Zwedru City. Theschool quiz competition covered thegeography and general knowledge ofLiberia history which was enveloped inthe year theme of celebration.

The celebration was climax with agallery photo exhibition and socialgathering which drew the attention ofvolunteers, beneficiaries, communitiesand developmental partners.

It is my conviction that Volunteers inGrand Gedeh are passionate to aboutcontributing positively to the fight tosave the planet in ways that goesbeyond sending messages.

Grand Gedeh Marches for the Environment

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Volunteers carried placards with slogans promoting preservation of the environment

The physically challenged also took part in the march

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My work as a program officer for the National Youth Volunteer Service Programme (NYVS) in GrandBassa County has been centered on monitoring and supervising National Volunteers on the provisionof basic services and contributing to the revitalization of the county’s economy. On the other hand,we have also been involved with numerous advocacy activities that focus on environmentalactivities.

Climate Change is affecting human existence globally and the need to protect our environment cannot be overemphasized. The month of December, 2009 was set aside by us to focus specifically oncreating awareness for the environment. Coincidentally for us, this year IVD’s celebration carriedthe theme “Volunteering for the Planet”. The UNV volunteers and the NYVS programme in GrandBassa County carried out one week of environmental campaign activities in the county from the28th of November to the 5th of December, 2009.

Activities undertaken included•Cleaning the campus of Bassa Demonstration School (brushing, sweeping and painting)•Digging of a pit in the Fanti Town community to burry garbage collected from the beach.•Planting of trees on the coast to replace damaged trees•Writing environmental messages on posters and placing them on various structures in the FantiTown Community.•Providing environmentally friendly verbal messages to community members.Please see photos below

Grand Bassa County Working to preserve the environment

IUNVs NYVS and NVs plant trees, clean the beach and put up placards with environmental messages during IVD 2009 celebrations in Grand Bassa County

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In the 21st century, protecting our environment should be the concern of every inhabitant whereever we find ourselves. The signs of global warming and climate change are so acute that ifhumanity does not take necessary measures to find sustainable options, human beings would oneday perish. The poor are more likely to suffer more!

As a UNV based in Harper; Maryland County, I have been advising colleagues and individuals onefficient and sustainable use of natural resources and thought it wise to translate this into practiceas a small contribution to the environmental regeneration of Harper. So, one day I decided to raise asmall nursery of almond trees comprising about one hundred seedlings that are now awaitingplanting during the rainy season. The nursery also has four trees of African plums not found inMaryland County and even Liberia as a whole. The trees bear seeds called plums that are verynutritious for human consumption. The nursery also consist of a few stems of cabbages commonlygrown in Liberia (See photos).

The trees when planted would provide oxygen that humans and animals need for breathing, firewoodfor cooking and revive ecological systems that organisms rely on. The plum trees would also provide asource of food and shade for humans under the scorching sun in Harper.

The Superintendent of Maryland County who visited the nursery was very impressed and quicklypointed out that some of the trees would be planted in front of the Harper City Hall when the timecomes. This reaction from the Superintendent clearly demonstrates that we all can do little things toprotect the environment of not only Maryland but Liberia in general by planting trees and saving ourenvironment.

Samuel NdingiUNV Volunteer County CoordinatorUNDP Field Office for Maryland and Grand Kru CountiesAirfield Road, Harper-Maryland County.,

Sustaining Maryland County’s Environment

UNV Volunteer Samuel Ndingi watering trees in the nursery that he started.

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UNV Volunteers in Zwedru City, led by Human Rights Officer, UNV Emmanuel BrymaMomoh, and in consultation with the National Union of Disability (NUD)-Grand GedehBranch, in an effort to participate in poverty reduction and provide livelihood opportunitiesfor people with physical challenges agreed to undertake the planting of vegetable gardens.The National Union of Disability is an open initiative by persons with physical and mobilitydisabilities. The organization's primary objective is to empower its members.

The international community has endorsed the reduction of poverty in its many dimensionsas the overarching goal of development efforts. People that are physically challenged areparticularly vulnerable to poverty and exclusion. Such persons are disproportionately poor,and poverty in turn creates substandard living conditions. Families are also affected directly,thus this segment of the population is directly impacted by poverty and extremelyvulnerable.

Food security

.......For the physically challenged

L to R: NUD Secretary, Dickson Bengarwo & Chairman, Shard Anthony congratulate each other on a fine harvest

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The primary goals and objectives of the programme is to realize the promise of abetter life for 200 persons with physical challenges and dependence in Zwedru Citythrough vegetable gardens. Participation in the national drive for poverty reductionand teach disabled persons with skills how to make sustainable vegetable gardens.

UNV Volunteers’ partnership with National Youth Volunteers Service (NYVS) attachedto the Ministry of Agricultural added value as they have served as technicalconsultant on the project’s.

The start-up budget for the project was $500US (Five Hundred United States Dollars).A sum donated from funding raised by the UNV Support Unit, UNMIL specifically foradvocacy projects. In order to ensure the expansion and continuity of the projectadditional funding will be needed over time, hence, donations are welcome.

The public continues to treat disability issues separately rather than mainstreamingthem, as such this advocacy project has demonstrated that the physically challengedare ready, willing and able to do their part for Liberia.

Food security cont’d

L to R: Thomas Mtaisi, Head of Field Office & Emmanuel assist with the harvest

NYVS volunteers help with the harvest.

LIBERIA

Land area: 37,189 sq mi (96,320 sq km);

Total area: 43,000 sq mi (111,370 sq km)

Population (2009 est.): 3,441,790

(growth rate: 2.6%);

Birth rate: 42.2/1000;

Infant mortality rate: 138.2/1000;

Life expectancy: 55.;

Density per sq km: 34

Capital and largest city (2003 est.):

Monrovia,

1,348,900 (metro. area), 550,200 (city

proper)

Monetary unit: Liberian dollar

Sapo National Park contains a large Pygmy Hippopotamus population

Sapo National Park rain forest

Korpo PetersPersonnel AssistantUNV Support Unit UNMIL

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Africa’s first republic, Liberia was founded in1822 and has a democratic, multi- partygovernment, currently under the leadership ofPresident Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf, Africa’s firstwoman president. The branches of governmentconsist of the Executive, Legislative andJudicial. Liberia is a unitary state as opposed toa federation and has a multi-party system.

Lying on the Atlantic in the Southern part ofWest Africa, Liberia is bordered by SierraLeone, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. Most of thecountry is a plateau covered by dense tropicalforests, which thrive under an annual rainfallof about 160 inches per year. Liberia'sindigenous population is composed of 16different ethnic groups.

Sapo National Park, located in Sinoe County,Liberia, is the country's largest protected areaof rainforest and its only national park. Itcontains the second-largest tropical rainforestin West Africa after Taï National Park inneighboring Côte d’Ivoire.

The Sapo National Park is located in the UpperGuinean forest ecosystem, is a biodiversityhotspot that has "the highest mammal speciesdiversity of any region in the world". Sapohosts about 125 mammal species and almost600 types of birds, including a number ofthreatened species.

African Forest Elephants at Sapo National

Capital city: Monrovia