majority of the children do not know enough English to in write a letter. Those who cannot write will be assigned liberia community workers and volunteers who will explain About 86 percent of the Liberian population are your letters and help the children compose their Christian. Twelve percent are Muslim and the rest of responses. the population practice indigenous beliefs. Christians are followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Holidays Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Christians believe that Jesus is the only son of God, born Holidays are very important to your sponsored child of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His and family. The most important ones have religious or story is told in the New Testament of the Christian holy political significance: book, the Bible. The Christian symbol—the cross— January 1 New Year’s Day reminds the faithful that Jesus died for them, for the forgiveness of their sins. Christian holidays include February 11 Armed Forces Day Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus; Good Friday, which commemorates the death of Jesus on the March 12 cross; and Easter, the most holy of Christian sacred days, Decoration Day which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third April 11 day after his death. Fast and Prayer Day Population 4 million are followers of . Islam is an Arabic April 12 Capital City Monrovia National Redemption Day word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” Official Language English May 25 Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the Africa Day prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago Per Capita Income US$370/year and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran July 26 Youth Literacy Rate 63% male/37% female Independence Day (Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide Access to Safe Water November 29 89% urban/60% rural President Tubman’s Birthday a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, Under 5 Mortality Rate 75/1,000 live births including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. December 25 Christmas Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF)

The Republic of Liberia is slightly larger than Tennessee. Located in West Africa, it’s Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. bordered to the west by the North Atlantic Ocean, to the north by and , and to the east by . The terrain is mostly hilly, with rolling plains along Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to the coast and a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast. The climate is tropical end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among and humid, with little change in temperature throughout the year and relatively small international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to variations between day and night. The average temperature is 81°F, with temperatures come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. rarely exceeding 97°F or falling below 68°F. On the coast the heat is tempered by an almost

Promising Futures, Plan International USA constant breeze. There are two seasons: the wet from May to October and the dry from Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 November to April. It seldom rains during the dry season, though there are dry periods 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org during the rainy season, including a dry spell in July or August lasting about two weeks. A Brief History Improving children’s access to basic education Promoting gender equality Africa’s first republic, Liberia was founded in 1822 as Increasing the capacity of Plan’s partners a result of the efforts of the American Colonization Society to settle freed American slaves in West Africa. Increasing access to birth On July 26, 1847, the Americo-Liberian settlers declared registration services their independence as the Republic of Liberia. The government of Africa’s first republic was modeled A birth certificate gives children easier access to social after that of the United States, and Joseph Jenkins services, such as health care and education, and helps Roberts of Virginia was elected the first president. In to protect them from child marriage, child labor, and July 1971, President William V. S. Tubman died, and trafficking. We train health workers to record and his successor, Vice President William R. Tolbert, Jr., register births and promote the importance of birth was ousted in a military coup on April 12, 1980, by registration throughout communities. Samuel K. Doe, backed by the U.S. government. Doe’s include training teachers in gender-sensitive practices, resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, rule was characterized by corruption and brutality. Supporting the capacity of improving sanitation and recreation facilities at schools, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic A rebellion led by Charles Taylor, a former Doe aide, caregivers improving reading skills, and increasing access to products, primarily raw timber and rubber. Local started in December 1989; the following year, Doe was information. manufacturing, mainly foreign-owned, had been small in assassinated. The Economic Community of West African In many rural areas babies are delivered by traditional scope. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have States (ECOWAS) negotiated with the government birth assistants (TBAs), who lack adequate training and Increasing the capacity of Plan’s been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the and the rebel factions and attempted to restore order, appropriate equipment. This project trains and supports partners government. but the civil war did not come to an end until 1997. In TBAs, providing them with improved birth delivery kits what was considered by international observers to be and facilities in communities. Plan is working with the government and other national Ethnic Diversity a free election, Charles Taylor won 75 percent of the partners to pursue issues that impact children across presidential vote in July 1997. In 2002, rebels—Liberians Improving children’s access to basic the country. This approach means pushing for policy There are 16 ethnic groups that make up Liberia’s indigenous population. The Kpelle in central and United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD)— education formulation and other activities that have a national intensified their attacks on Taylor’s government. By reach. We are collaborating with national stakeholders western Liberia is the largest ethnic group. Americo- June 2003, LURD and other rebel groups controlled The goal of this program is to reestablish and increase to support the reinstatement of birth registration in Liberians, descendants of freed slaves who arrived in two-thirds of the country. On August 11, Taylor stepped children’s access to quality primary education in post- Liberia, formulating an early childhood development Liberia early in 1821, make up an estimated 5 percent down and went into exile in Nigeria. In November 2005, conflict Liberia. Most primary schools were destroyed policy, and providing emergency health assistance to of the population. There also are sizable numbers of a presidential runoff election was held. Ellen Johnson- by the civil war. Plan’s focus has moved from rapid Liberia returnees, including mothers and children. Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals Sirleaf, a Harvard-educated economist who had worked education, where we worked to help children return to who comprise part of Liberia’s business community. The at the World Bank, defeated George Weah, a former learning as quickly as possible, to supporting long-term Economic Security Liberian constitution restricts citizenship to only people world-class soccer star. In January 2006 Johnson-Sirleaf primary education. We are also supporting the Ministry of Negro descent, and land ownership is restricted to Agriculture, including forestry, is critical to the became Africa’s first female president. of Education in its efforts to develop an early childhood citizens. education policy for Liberia. economic development of Liberia and is the source of livelihood for 70 percent of the population. Civil Plan’s work in Liberia covers five core Language Promoting gender equality war and government mismanagement destroyed areas, all of which are rooted in the much of Liberia’s economy. Many businesses fled the Although English is the official language in Liberia, rights of the child: A “Girls’ Empowerment Through Education” project is country, taking capital and expertise with them, but more than 50 percent of the population speak various languages, and there are more than 30 dialects. It is Increasing access to birth registration services currently being piloted, which aims to provide girls with with the conclusion of fighting and the installation of very likely that you will encounter a language barrier Supporting the capacity of caregivers additional learning support in order to attract them to, a democratically elected government in 2006, some and keep them in, school until completion. Initiatives have returned. Richly endowed with water, mineral in communicating with your sponsored child, as the