In Part 1 we heard how Neabei first decided to incorporate the Love Foundation Liberia, what challenges they faced and the response from the community. Let’s hear in Neabei’s own words about his vision for the future, immediate plans, long term plans and what he’s most proud of in this endeavor:

THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE WITH TLF-LIBERIA

The overall vision of TLF-Liberia is to assist people to build a practical foundation and understanding of unconditional love within individuals and the Liberian society as a whole.

It is an organization focusing on training the minds to change the attitudes of negative perceptions by individuals thus providing a most desirable alternative solution to economic problem of absolute poverty, political instability, social and religious differences which continue to impede/retard the progress of unity, lasting peace and development in Liberia. It includes unconditional love education through seminars and workshops, the media(radio, television, print, ICTs) billboards, flyers, posters, etc. at community levels in various vernaculars of Liberia. Different forms of educational programs cover day-care centers, primary and secondary levels, the universities and colleges, communities and with the social and religious institutions collectively. To stimulate social harmony, programs such as cultural dances, sports, film productions, creative writings, music, traditional arts, poetry, arts and crafts, shall be highlighted among others. By the messages of love sent forth through various means, inter-personal, tribal and religious controversies shall not easily escalate into chaotic situations, but shall be managed easier from the concept  of unconditional love which transcends human limitations.

Considering the preponderance of sports in promoting social harmony, police stations in areas where our presence shall be felt will no longer be crowded as before with cases involving issues of fighting and many forms of inter-personal misunderstanding. By your involvement in other ways, Liberians will be exposed to the bedrock foundation of unity, lasting peace and development haven been assisted to rise above their limitation and begin to share love unconditionally.

The doctrine fostering the respect for human rights/dignity in Liberia will be given an underpinning gravity as individuals begin to conceptualize unconditional love as a basis for every thought, feeling and action, is a prudent means through which any developing country can attain progress.

In Liberia, most people would prefer to associate with others who can offer what they desire in terms of economic potential or people would come down to earth purposely to achieve political goals, otherwise, people choose to associate on tribal  and religious sentiments. TLF-Liberia is intended to enhance the promotion of unity and lasting peace by inspiring and motivating people to love unconditionally through the exploration of various activities that foster love.

THE IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR THE LOVE FOUNDATION-LIBERIA

The Love Foundation-Liberia recognizing love as the perfect bound of unity and hope, transcends the limitation of religious, gender, and creed, reaching out to all without precondition with the aim that through our activities:

• The weak finds strength
• The confused finds strength
• The intelligent grows wiser
• The divided becomes re-united
• Our nation is moved forward

Our immediate plans is to raise friendly supports to give us some credence and sense of purpose enabling us to organize ourselves through short-term training workshops and to rent a little place where we can be located. We strive to design multiple motivational programs that inspire unconditional love  education through the arts that teach morals. It is our desire to as well liaise with humanitarian organizations and individuals locally and internationally for support in cash and kind to carry out charitable and research projects in Monrovia and its environs. All of our activities for now will be focused in Monrovia as a starting point.

OUR LONG TERM PLANS

By the year 2012, TLF-Liberia whishes to begin decentralizing all aspects of here activities thereby having her influence felt in all of the fifteen counties of Liberia.

As a reliable means of fiscal support, TLF-Liberia whishes to undertake agricultural projects in any of the counties which is a prudent means of keeping the organization potent in terms of financial self reliance.

By 2015, TLF-Liberia wishes to begin with programs/projects envisioning the promotion of unconditional love which will involve the active participations of citizens especially youth of neighboring countries bordering Liberia and the sub-region of West Africa.

WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF IN THIS ENTITY I AM CREATING

To be proud is to have positive accomplishment(s). There are nothing more successful and cheerful than dwelling together in unity as TLF-Liberia is becoming daily. In as much as there is nothing that The Love Foundation-Liberia has to offer it members in terms of allowances, everyone is always happy to contribute towards every aspect  of our undertaking. Some would go to an extend of crediting money from people only to keep TLF-Liberia alive.

I also feel proud that even the kids are willing and happy to be with us whenever we need them.

Except for the hard costs of living in Liberia where about 80% pf the total population is living on less than $1.00 per day, all is well with us and continue to be better.

I am greatly proud of Loveolution that is making remarkable impact on TLF-Liberia through the website, also the co-founders of Loveolution: Aaron and Justin, who are key motivational force behind all that we are doing and continue to achieve in Liberia.

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I am very inspired by Neabei and his country men and womens’ efforts.  It is truly amazing to see such Love coming from a place which historically has dealt with so many chaotic challenges.  We are proud to support Neabei’s Global Vision of Love In Liberia!

Thanks for reading!

Much Love,

~Aaron

Neabei Toah, one of the co-founders of The Love Foundation-Liberia

I met Neabei Toah through my connection with The Love Foundation as the Volunteer Coordinator for North Carolina.  Neabei has been a diligent Love Warrior in bringing Unconditional Love to Liberia and beyond.

His genuine interest in promoting unconditional love is astounding and powerful.  He recently established The Love Foundation-Liberia.  In his own words, I asked Neabei to share more of his experience with founding the non-profit:

HOW I FIRST MADE THE DECISION TO INCORPORATE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

The Love Foundation-Liberia, TLF-L is comprised of a group of young volunteers established on a non-governmental, non-partisan humanitarian basis. The Love Foundation-Liberia’s existence is by the conviction of some Liberian youth and the young-at-hearts that the greatest of all unifying forces ever to be noted amidst tribal, religious, economic, political and other form of differences is that of unconditional love and as such, TLF-Liberia encourages the collaboration of other humanitarian local and international organizations in addressing the needs of post-war Liberia.

Liberia is the oldest republic in Africa established by free slaves from North America. There are fifteen sub-divisions and sixteen tribes which make up this nation. The nation has been one of the most peaceful countries in Africa prior to the 1990s where foreigners sought refuge for many years. However, there were still other forms of tribal differences. The problem of co-existence among the tribes of which the Gios, Krahns, Manos, and Mandingos were at the lead reached its apex in December, 1989 with a devastating tribal war which lasted for fourteen 14 years taking away the lives of more than tow hundred and fifty (250,000) people. This civil war seized in 2003 upon the arrival of the United Nations peacekeepers which comprised of about 17,000 personnel-the largest UN peacekeeping mission ever known. The mission of the United Nations peacekeepers to Liberia which expired in 2007 has been re-extended for security reasons. My major concern and worry is “should the United nations continue as peace for Liberia.

In practical reality, Liberia can only be peaceful if we foster unconditional love. The tribal misunderstanding which has been passed down from one generation to another is still a problem and a burden for and among us. Unfortunately, this problem is worsening by religious differences. While the generational tribal discrimination remains a burden, the Christians and the Islamic worshippers (Muslims) are competing for dominance over Liberia. In October, 2005, there was a spotlight or foreshadowing on anticipated religious crisis in Liberia. This disturbance took away the lives of a few people and damaged a lot of properties including the burning down of churches and mosques in and around Monrovia. Against these shortcomings, we as youth of The Love Foundation-Liberia are working with the goal to unify Liberians through unconditional love.

Truly, we live in a country or even on a planet that provides the most challenging opportunities to become and express love in its unconditional form. Unconditional love as we understand, is not a goal but a process and is no longer to be limited as unattainable but the practical and inherent way to approach and live life. If people are motivated and inspired to transcend beyond their limitations and begin to love unconditionally, we can have hope for a brighter future. Love is an expansion of certain qualities we can truly feel physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Liberia today is inhabited by a population of about 3.5 million. 80% of the total population is living below the poverty line. Adult illiteracy rate is 44.5%. Liberia, a post-war country is in dire need for unconditional love education across the country for tribal, inter-personal, religious, economic and other reasons. However, this is a country where people live on far less than a dollar per day. Wherever we have talked about unconditional love, we received applauds for the reality in the vision but the greatest expectation from us to accompany the sweet and meaningful words is aid.

On a numerous occasion, we have been faced with questions like what are you guys going to do to physically or practically demonstrated love given the kind of conditions of extreme poverty you see us in?  These questions have caused me a lot of guilt and discomfort. For instance, many children have to stay hungry for many hours a day awaiting Mama to return from the market at about  6:00pm after selling some petit goods of insignificant profit of which the profit could buy about two cups of rice and a little fish for a one square meal. Sometimes by the time the food is finished cooking, the younger kids have all fallen asleep.

With love having more underpinnings of hope, we desire not to forget about charitable projects as we move on unifying, inspiring and motivating people to love unconditionally.

We have strived to become legally established so as to find it easier to operate without obstructions by the government. Also, we would find it easier to solicit friendly supports to enable us undertake programs/projects to meet the needs of the vulnerable youth, women and children of Liberia where unconditional love can fit and is truly needed.

WHAT CHALLENGES WERE FACED IN THE PROCESS OF INCORPORATION

There is nothing that can make me stronger rather than challenges.

Truly, during the process of incorporating The Love Foundation-Liberia, we started with nothing in terms of financial potential. We first decided to write prominent individuals to support our effort, all we received were promises but non came true. We reached a point where we all felt frustrated about the idea of continuous promises that cannot be fulfilled. Finally, we resolved to contribute our meager financial resources which were reported to our financial secretary every Sunday. The weekly amount was $ 10.00 Liberian dollars equivalent to 0.14 US cent. We needed $ 250.00USD as Liberia has a duo currencies system meaning that the United States dollars is a legal tender in our economy.

We have fifteen prominent members. A break down of how we were able to raise the amount is  14 X 15persons X 48 Sundays X 2 years which amounted to $ 201.00USD .

I had to pay the balance because I am the head of the organization.

When the document went into the office of the minister of foreign affairs it was about her time to travel outside of the country. It spent weeks on her desk but was finally endorsed and received on June 8, 2010 at about 12:00noon.

Perseverance X diligence + You = Success For Us

THE RESPONSE OF MY COMMUNITY

There is no one person who has every criticized our effort. Everyone cheers us so much for the vision we have and continue to pray for successfulness in endeavors. Except for their expectation from us in relation to practical demonstration of unconditional love in terms of charitable projects which will surely come in the future as per our plan, students of high schools and universities and religious institutions continue to encourage our visits at their various institutions with the message of loving unconditionally. All of these are what we stand for but the legal footing was needed to have primarily been established.

Everyone accepts the fact that indeed, love is needed most in Liberia. From the economy, inequitable distribution of national income especially wherein there is no middle class, it is either one is poor or very rich. The income disparity is so wide to the extreme that a greater portion of the nation’s population is just unable to commend the resources needed to meet their daily needs.

Socially, people affiliate with the people of their own ethnicity, political background and religious creeds. It can be vivid that if a pastor, bishop or imam is of a certain tribe, majority of his congregation will be of his tribe.

If a principal or president of an educational institution is of a Liberian ethnicity, the same will also be observed.

By the introduction of unconditional love amidst these forms of limitations, we have always and continue to receive appreciations for our endeavor.

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In part 2 we’ll examine the vision of the future of The Love Foundation Liberia, immediate plans, long term plans and closing thoughts on the experience thus far.  Thanks for reading!