Live from Buduburam Refugee Camp

Live from the Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp

Hello Friends & Family,

The community of Vermont Trust Funds for Women’s Empowerment has embraced us, and we are being well taken care of. We have over 130 members, and they are proud to belong to a women’s
micro-lending / skills training empowerment group.

I have had my first two full day in the office counseling refugee women.  I heard in private and one on one 48 women’s stories of struggle and faith. Long ago, this place was a model UN camp for 8,000. After two civil wars in Liberia the population swelled to 45,000. Many Liberians have returned home.8,000 - 12, 000 refugees remain here.

Nobody wants to live here, but they lack the funds to move on and begin anew. Here on the camp everything costs money; if a refugee drinks water, they buy it. If a refugee uses a real toilet instead of the ditch, they pay for it. If a refugee eats rice, they purchase it. Babies cry in the night from hunger and thirst. Two days ago a man died in his house, he starved to death.

And despite all of this suffering the women are amazing people. Most men either died in the Liberian Civil Wars or they split when they had a chance to get out. The women have told me over and over again, “We live here by the grace of God.  “Without God, they would have nothing,” a young volunteer told me on my first day here.

Oretha Zulu, Directress. This women is a power house. She never seems to stop. She is up by 5 am and she often leaves the office at 8pm. Each week she visits every member within their homes to offer encouragement and support. Her plan is to take me to visit every member in their home before my time here ends. She is a dreamer with great hopes in creating a better life for all members of the organization. Without Oretha, Vermont Trust Funds for Women’s Empowerment would simply not be.

Aymerson Sanny, Administrator. Aymerson helps the women refugees fill out membership forms, loan application forms, and he conducts weekly meetings with all members. He is the glue that holds the organization all together. He is smart, very organized, and kind. Without Aymerson, Vermont Trust Funds for Women’s Empowerment would come undone.

Ration Day

One day each month is ration day.  Before the day began, I told the Vermont Trust Funds for Women's Empowerment staff that ration day was not a sustainable project and we may need to consider focusing our efforts on our other programs ie: micro-lending, skills training, and adult literacy. Four hours later, after bagging and distributing over 500 pounds of rice (more expensive rice than usual because it is shipped through the Ivory Coast and the new shipment is delayed due to the conflict there) and packages of salt to over 80 women, I knew this would not be an easy decision to discontinue ration day.

Reading Glasses

One of the most popular items donated to the camp for distribution are reading glasses. Thanks to all of you who have donated them! We have been able to give 25 women glasses. Our waiting list has another 20 waiting - we need 9 pairs of 1.25’s, 8 of 1.50’s and 3 pairs of 2.00’s. Write us if you would like to donate glasses and we will give you instructions on how to make it happen.

Volunteer Housing

We are happy to report that we have signed an one-year-lease to rent a house for volunteers. This is another step toward sustainability for the organization as volunteers will pay rent. The metal gate was installed for security along with new screens to keep the mosquitoes out. We have painted the interior and within the next few days Joven and I will be moving into it.