Africa Mercy, Bringing Hope and Healing....

Our class; I am standing fourth from right

Africa Mercy Ship at the Dock of Monrovia

I had the opportunity to visit the Africa Mercy Valletta today through a friend and instructor, Carlos Amaral, who offered a three week lecture course in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Liberia। The visit was mainly intended to introduce us (Students) to medical instrumentation, and to evaluate us based on what we've learned over the past weeks about biomedical engineering। My coleagues and I had a fine time with some crew members , especially those in the medical department.

Mercy Ships, through Carlos decided to offer this course as a way of encouraging students to find interest in the field because, according to him, Liberia has only one biomedical engineer who is aging, and the gap needs to be filled. But unfortunately for us, no university or technical college here is offering degrees in said field.

Africa Mercy has been highly involved in Liberia's post war recovery process for the last two years by offering humanitarian assistance to many Liberians in areas such as health care, education, community empowerment, construction, agriculture, etc.
I wish to be one of its crew members in the future.

Dangerous Roads versus Dangerous Drivers

The scene was like a Hollywood movie. This incident occured on the Monrovia-Ganta Highway on last Sunday, June 29 while on my way from the Cuttington University's graduation ceremony which was held in Swakoko, Bong County, north of Liberia. The car in the picture belongs to a humanitarian group named Rehab Liberia.

Yes, the roads are wet and slippery because Liberia is experiencing lots of rain this year. However, nobody got killed or badly injured. It was not by anybody's smartness, but by the will of GOD.

If you're visiting Liberia and would love to drive on our narrow and slippery roads, please exercise good driving habits. IF YOU DRINK[ALCOHOL], DON'T DRIVE or IF YOU DRIVE, DON'T DRINK [ALCOHOL].

Vickie In Pictures Touring the Chemistry Lab

Vickie tours the Chemistry Lab as she listens to lab technicians, instructors, and students about the deplorable condition of the lab.

Vickie interacts with Kpama Kromah, an Organic Chemistry Instructor, as he shows to her a damaged apparatus.
Vickie takes note of needed items.

Vickie listens to a lab technician as he explains their plight.

THE WARD FUND NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT OR DONATION

Victor E. Ward Educational Fund
‘’securing the future of Liberian scientists’’

Contact Details
New Jersey Office
59 Delikat Lane
Sayreville, NJ 08872

732-727-1961
wardfund@hotmail.com
www.thewardfund.org

VICKIE WARD ASSURES STUDENTS AND UL ADMINISTRATION OF KEEPING ALIVE HER FATHER’S DREAM

Vickie Ward, the daughter of the late Victor E. Ward has assured the students and the University of Liberia faculty that she will continue to keep her father’s dream alive.

Professor Ward dream was to educate and train more Liberian scientist specifically in the physical and natural sciences.

To actualize this big dream, Vickie founded the Victor E. Ward Educational Fund. The Ward Fund's mission is to promote education in science and technology, especially in the study of chemistry. The Fund works each day to carry out the life work and legacy of the late professor.

In addition, the Ward Fund was formally launched in Liberia early April of this year, and more interestingly, its director in Liberia is a former beneficiary of the Ward Fund, and now a graduate, Frinklin Bondoo. The photo above shows Frinklin Bondoo, Ward Fund Director, Liberia.
Vickie promised to lobby for qualified chemistry professors when she returns to the United States, and to solicit assistance for laboratory apparatus and equipment.

THE WARD FAMILY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA REMEMBER A FALLEN SCHOLAR

The late professor Victor E. Ward, Liberia’s first Chemist and former Chairman, Department of Chemistry, University of Liberia, was last month remembered by his loving family and the University of Liberia family.

Professor Ward, according to reliable source, was shot dead by a rebel in 1990 at the teacher’s quarter of the University Fendell campus.

As a sign of continuous remembrance, a monument was erected in honor of the deceased.

Christmas Celebration in Monrovia- Social Immorality was the order of the Day

When I was much smaller, my parents always took me to worship service on Christmas day. But, since I got to know myself, Christmas celebration in Liberia has always been marked by a high degree of social immorality. The traditional way of celebrating Christmas is no more. Many teens get initiated or exposed to dangerous sex life, drunkenness, and harmful drug abuse.

Yesterday the streets of Monrovia were very busy. Beer clubs, beaches, and motels were all crowded with people mostly teens in search of aimless excitement. Many of them (teenage girls) made the wrong decisions by engaging in promiscuous acts, drunkenness, smoking, and taking harmful drugs. Some (teenage girls), I believe, were victims of gang raping as I witnessed an event wherein a young girl, highly intoxicated, was lying in a corner surrounded by a group of boys discussing on how and where to take her for their sexual satisfaction. I felt hurt and hated the idea but could not involve myself in the matter of drunkards and way-ward youths.

In Liberia, some young and old men do not regard teenage girls as being innocent to sex life. They get encouraged for little or nothing and go in bed with these heartless men.

Another event occurred on the main car road, in my community, wherein two groups were in face fight. Both sides threw bottles at each other. I could not stand to witness the event as I could have been one of the wounded victims.

Today, I feel sorry for our society and its youths as moral decadence has become the order of the day whenever there is a big holiday celebration. I wonder if there is a promising generation of Liberian youths to come. Liberia! Is it a failed State as one author wrote? I can't tell.

If eight of every ten young people in Liberia had spent the holiday like me, I strongly believe that these devilish attitudes would have occurred on a small scale. Christmas is for Christ loving people and should be celebrated in a Christ-like manner.