Liberia is a small country situated on the west coast of Africa between Sierra Leone and Cote D'Ivoire. The country is beautiful, having a tropical climate and dense vegetation. The major city in Liberia is Monrovia, the capital, and that is where a large part of the population resides. People in Liberia speak a unique version of pidgin English, along with several local languages. Rice is the staple food, which they often eat with potato greens, palm butter, or cassava leaf along with a wide variety of meats.
Sadly, in the last thirty years of their history this nation has been plagued by violence and instability. Currently they are recovering from a fourteen-year civil war that led to widespread displacement and destruction. The war came to an end in 2003, and since then Liberia has taken some positive steps towards achieving political stability. In 2005 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected President of Liberia, becoming the first female head of state of an African nation.
However, socially and economically Liberia is still struggling to develop. Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries with an unemployment rate of 85% and more than half of the population living below the poverty line. Thousands of children are malnourished and many also lack access to clean drinking water and healthcare services. The younger generation is largely uneducated with 31% of males and 62% of females lacking access to a formal education. Illiteracy rates are about 45%, and public school facilities are inadequate. The quality of education is unstable especially in rural areas because access to qualified teachers and necessary resources is very limited.
Despite these challenges, there is reason for hope. Liberians are extremely friendly, hard-working people, who are trying hard to provide for their families and communities. With time, we believe Liberia will recover from the war and become a strong and developed country.
