Liberian PROFILES : Making a Difference
Recognizing Liberians making a difference in their community.....
(Click on INDIVIDUAL names for more info)
Silas Kpanan’Ayoung Siakor: Silas Siakor, the director of the Sustainable Development Institute is the recipient of the 2006 Goldman Environmental Prize. He exposed evidence that the former Liberian President used logging profits to finance Liberia's brutal civil war. At his personal risk, Siakor collected extremely hard-to-get evidence of falsified logging records,& associated human rights abuses and passed this evidence to the United Nations Security Council, which then banned the export of Liberian timber.
Gertrude Garway: The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children honored Ms. Gertrude Garway, the International Rescue Committee's gender-based violence program manager in Liberia, with a Voices of Courage award in New York for her efforts to advance reproductive health for refugee and displaced women.
Jehmu Greene: The National Council for Research on Women honored Jehmu Greene at their 2005 Women Who Make a Difference Awards Dinner. Ms. Greene has also been recognized as one of Essence Magazine's 40 Women Under 40 Shaping the World and served as President of Rock the Vote from 2003 to 2005. Under her leadership, Rock the Vote's membership grew from 1,500 to 1 million.
George Weah: Past UNICEF Ambassador and African soccer great, Weah received the prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage in 2004 at the 12th annual ESPY Awards at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Recognized as FIFA World Player of the Year , European Footballer of the Year, and African Footballer of the Year in 1995, his community involvement transcends sports. His work includes immunization campaigns, HIV/AIDS education programs, and promotion of vocational training schools for former child soldiers .
Edith Ricks: Lutheran Settlement House recognized Ms. Ricks as one of their 2005 “WOMEN OF COURAGE: WOMEN OF INSPIRATION” AWARD WINNERS. Her background includes running Gates Agape, an orphanage for girls in Liberia, working with Liberian refugees and most recently working with Women Against Abuse, a organization working with domestic violence victims.
Aloysius Toe: Aloysius works with the Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD) in Liberia and was honored as one of Reebok's 2005 Human Rights Award Recipients for his work as a leading Liberian human rights activist. Mr. Toe was also INSIDE AFRICA's Person of the Month for May 2005.
Olu Quaity Menjay: A Baptist minister & now Principal of Ricks Institute is helping restore a much-needed educational facility. Just one of many Liberians who are returning home, rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done.