Disaster Tourism

If the education system in Ganta, a relatively large town, is bad, then there are no words to describe the condition of the education system in the isolated rural land of Zahn that we visited this weekend. This land is a conglomeration of about ten villages each with its own "government funded" public elementary school. The highest level any of these schools reaches is 6th grade. If a child is to progress beyond 6th grade, they must walk three hours to the town of Duo and their family has to pay school fees every semester. Needless to say, not many young people receive anything more than a watered down, government operated 6th grade education.

Now imagine the devastation that this lack of education has had on the community year after year. People live on less than $2 a day and I would say 85% cannot read or write. It came as no surprise that our team has unanimously decided to start our education initiative right in the midst of this community. The people are desperate; but they are also hopeful that This is West Africa and its supporters can start something that will end the cycle of poverty and make Liberia a prosperous place for all!

Robert