Liberia is a poor country in West Africa.  The history of Liberia (“Land of the Free”) begins with the work of the American Colonization Society.  In 1822, the American Colonization Society relocated a group of freed American slaves to what is now the city of Monrovia (named after then U.S. president James Monroe).  In 1847, the settlers declared themselves an independent republic; the first in African history. 

Because of it's heritage, Liberia has always maintained close ties with the United States.  Their constitution was formed, using the United States constitution as it's guide and it's form government was modeled after the U.S.  Even its flag is very similar to the U.S. flag.

Liberia progressed slowly and began to thrive around the time of WWII.  It became one of the most modern, progressive  countries in Africa and a strong ally of the United States through the Cold War era.  The official language is English though, as spoken by most Liberians, is often difficult to understand by most Americans. 

Political corruption and civil unrest led to fourteen years (1989 – 2003) of civil war that killed more than 200,000 people and destroyed the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of survivors.  More than half of the 3.2 million population were displaced from their homes.  All the country’s political, economic, and social structures disintegrated.  The civil war left the country’s infrastructure and economy devastated.   The nation, including Monrovia, its capitol, still has no running water, working sewer systems or electricity.

In 2003, the United Nations dispatched the largest peacekeeping force in UN history to Liberia with a mission of maintaining peace.  In November of 2005, Liberians elected Africa’s first female president. Conditions have only slightly improved since the elections.  With unemployment and illiteracy rates estimated at around 80%, crime is rampant.

Planned for a maximum population of 350,000, Liberia’s capital city, Monrovia, is now home to over one million people, most unemployed.  Most Monrovians have at best minimal access to the basic services of safe drinking water, waste disposal, and electricity.  Neighborhoods are overcrowded, unsafe and unhealthy.  Children and adults are often hungry.  Public education is not free and most families cannot afford the basic fees to send their children to school.

Health facilities are distant, under-stocked and understaffed.  With only a handful of doctors in the entire country, infant mortality is high and life expectancy is low.  The infant mortality rate in Liberia is 155.76 of every 1,000 births.  For comparison, the rate in America is 6.5 of every 1000 births.  If they make it past infancy, the average Liberian can expect to live 40 years. 

The roads of Monrovia teem with all kinds of traffic; cars, vans, bikes, and hoards of people walking.  Vendors hawk their wares out of wheelbarrows and plastic washtubs or from small kiosks made of plywood, rattan, or mud wattle between rough-hewn poles.  Debris, including rusted automobile frames and a myriad of plastic and metal discards, is everywhere.  Well into the dry season, stagnant water still fills some low-lying areas known as “swamps” during the rainy season.