West Africa Crossroads Corporation

Economic Empowerment is an important component of our work in...

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 11:12:43 -0500

Economic Empowerment is an important component of our work in Liberia. During the last few trips to Liberia, we got to know the Shank family of Monrovia. Dad Brian founded West Coast Services to build solar power systems (in a country which has no electric power grid) and is training local workers in the same field. Mom Christina, in addition to homeschooling her children, started a company which is now providing meaningful employment to about a dozen local women. Her firm, Resurrection Bags, makes wallets, handbags and totes from both recycled and locally-produced (and beautiful) materials. They make wonderful products, but couldn’t grow because she had no way to distribute them in the United States. BUT WAIT!!! I just happen to be married to Sandy, an expert in website design! And I know how to put things in boxes and take them to the post office!

So WACC has now partnered with Resurrection Bags to promote and distribute their products. We are volunteering all our time, so 100% of the proceeds will be going to these ladies (who are often the sole support for their families). There’s a saying “Find out where God is working and join him there.” Well, he’s at work in Liberia and we just joined him.

So check out the products on the new website, http://resurrectionbags.com/, to see what they are making. Sandy’s still setting up the system to handle money, but you can order via email pretty easily.

Well, now EVERYBODY will know.

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:17:26 -0400

Just found out that China Central Television is aware of West Africa Crossroads and the Saclepea Community Computer Center. Which, I think, is a very GOOD thing. Check out their video at

http://www.ittybittyurl.com/d6v

AND, as if that weren’t enough, the SCCC / Engineers Without Borders - Ga Tech / WACC 2012 Saclepea Economic Empowerment Competition is underway. Check out the Saclepea Community Computer Center facebook site to get the latest.

Oh, and one last thing. Plans are underway to build a new facility for the center. Stay tuned.

Riddle: What has two doors, two seats, and prevents the spread...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:39:00 -0500

Riddle: What has two doors, two seats, and prevents the spread of cholera and dysentery?

Well, we’re finally building it in Saclepea! This joint project between The Rotary Foundation, West Africa Crossroads, and Equip Liberia is well underway. By December 2011, the latrine and three wells will have been turned over to the people of Saclepea. They chose the sites and will maintain the facilities. Praise God.

And the Saclepea Community Computer Center has moved to temporary quarters in the center of the city. The new site is in a very high traffic area and usage is up dramatically! The downside? DUST, DUST, and more DUST.

4 acres of them. Until work begins on construction of our...

Tue, 03 May 2011 23:30:44 -0400

4 acres of them. Until work begins on construction of our school in Saclepea, WACC has given the Saclepea Women’s Center authorization to use our land (8 acres) for agricultural purposes to benefit the people of Saclepea. The land has been cleared and 4 acres of beans planted. Thanks to the plentiful rain and sunshine, they’ll be eating well by the middle of June.

"From everyone who has been given much, much shall be required."

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:51:03 -0400

“From everyone who has been given much, much shall be required.”

- Jesus of Nazareth

“The bullets stop, but the suffering...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:53:00 -0400

HADAL president James Tour on the left

one of the registration sheets

“The bullets stop, but the suffering continues.”
MISSION CREEP IN LIBERIA.
Your contributions helped us ship hundreds of crutches, walkers, braces and splints and orthopedic devices to Saclepea this year. I thought that would be the end of it, but the Liberians see it as the beginning. I’m now an honorary member of HADAL, the Handicap Association for Development and Advocacy in Liberia. Thought you might want to see some of the members from among the 17,000 people in the Saclepea District. As a father and grandfather, some of the entries are chilling. Turns out polio is alive and well in Africa. And war is still very real, even though fighting stopped five years ago. Bullet wounds, lost limbs, psychological trauma.
Pope John Paul II said, “A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members.” If I can take that one step further, I’d say all of mankind will be judged by how it treats its weakest members.
Bottom line: we’re signing up to reach out to the poorest of the poor in Liberia. We are doing our best to make sure no one is left behind.

Here are a few of the entries:

Male age 21 polio

Female age 60 blindness

Male age 34 crippled by witchcraft

Male age 41 psychological disorder

Female age 19 polio

Male age 45 bullet wound psychological disorder

Male age 35 bullet wound

Female age 40 rocket wound

Male age 27 deaf and dumb

Female age 29 amputation of both legs

Male age 41 left foot amputated

Male age 73 blindness

Male age 41 bullet wound

Female age 13 polio

Male age 29 polio

Male age 24 polio

Female age 24 polio

Male age 33 hunchback

Male age 57 hit by gun

Female age 40 stroke

Female age 31 polio

Female age 20 blindness

Female age 28 amputation of two fingers

Male age 20 foot amputation

Female age 18 polio both legs

Female age 2 right foot amputation

Female age 27 polio both legs

Male age 42 right hand amputation

Hang in there. Things are getting better. God is sending help.

African Investigative Journalist Locates WACC! Our good friend...

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:10:15 -0400

African Investigative Journalist Locates WACC!

Our good friend Pastor Dennis Monmia promotes WACC (or at least ACC) with the press in Liberia!

http://www.inprofiledaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3097:africa-cross-road-on-community-empowerment-in-nimba&catid=1:headlines&Itemid=56

I think this qualifies as good news!

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:14:16 -0500

Still lots of work to do, but making progress on faster internet. Here are a few recent emails from Liberia.

_______________________________________________________

From: Paul Whesseh

To: Steve Skinner

Cc: Honorable Representative Evans Koah; Peter Wonokay

Sent: Mon, February 7, 2011 11:25:20 AM

Subject: Re: Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Dear Steve,

We finally discussed the issue of the VSAT. We will loan it to WACC, Saclepea for a period of one year without compensation. The status will be reviewed after the one year period. Mr Wonokay has been asked to meet Rev. Monmia for the MOU. I hope they can start on it today cause we concluded over the week end.

God Bless.

Paul T. Whesseh, BSc, MD

____________________________________________________

From: Hilton Bleetan <hiltonbleetan@yahoo.com>

To: Seve Skinner <steveskinner99@yahoo.com>

Cc: sandyskinner@yahoo.com

Sent: Mon, February 7, 2011 11:23:37 AM

Subject: I write to congratulate you and your organization (WACC)

I am exceedingly to extend my heart-felt thanks and appreciations to WACC for bring relief to our people through your many humanitarian assistance, most especially the computer Cafe established

Your dreams will come to light by the grace of God. The program is going on fine. The community is excited and has expressed her support for the program. Computer and Internet Classes are going on well.

The result of our few days operation here is encouraging remarkable. I want to again say a very big thank you to WACC’s officials for remembering us.

May God continues to richly bless you all for being kind and helpful to Liberia, especially Saclepea, Nimba County.

Respectfully yours,

Mentor Hilton Bleetan

______________________________________________________

From: Saclepea community Computer center

To: Steve Skinner

Sent: Fri, February 4, 2011 12:57:49 PM

Subject: Re: How is it going?

Dear Steve,

We are happy to hear from you.

Classes are going very well. All our students (both young and old) are excited about learning in the computer lab with modern equipments. Since we closed registration for the first phase, would- be students are asking about second phase registration which takes place next week Saturday.

Within a week, we will have a good sum of earned revenue in the center’s account.

We praise God for the West Africa Crossroads Cop. Family for this great development program in Saclepea, Nimba County, Liberia, West Africa.

That’s a GREAT news! Thank you, Sir!

We have computers!! (Now what?) We were VERY disappointed that...

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 07:09:17 -0500

We have computers!! (Now what?)

We were VERY disappointed that CellCom promised us internet access and then failed to deliver. But we are NOT giving up. In lieu of the internet, and until we can get it, we are sending over ‘the next best thing.’ Remember how we used to haul out the encyclopedias when we wanted to learn something? Well, those books are alive and well (or will be soon) in Saclepea. Our computer center / library will now have the best reference sources in the world. It was surprisingly difficult to locate digital reference material on DVDs, but Frys Electronics had it. We got the LAST COPY in North Georgia of the World Book (and they will no longer carry it). Doesn’t sell in the USA, but it is perfect for third world areas with no or slow internet. All these materials will be on Delta Flight 134 this afternoon.

So if you were wondering what we use your contributions for, here is another example. Bringing light to the darkness. Thank you.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, Liberia-style. by Michael...

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:57:48 -0500

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, Liberia-style. by Michael Bolo of Saclepea

This is ‘Jerusalem’ [3e]. All these audio segments...

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:26:00 -0500

This is ‘Jerusalem’ [3e]. All these audio segments are stored in pretty low quality to allow them to be sent over low speed internet connections. If anybody wants the high def quadrophonic 5.1 Dolby Surround version, let me know and I will send it to you.

This was the scene at the United Liberia Inland Church of...

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:27:00 -0500

This was the scene at the United Liberia Inland Church of Saclepea youth choir practice led by Asst. Director Amenjor Senegah. By Yah Yenta Crusa [3b]. If you think Mark Green and Rick Bazemore are energetic, catch a load of Mr. Senegah. The style of directing seems to omit the normal ‘4 beats in a measure’ rule, but the group is amazingly tight in their harmonies and timing. There was not a pitch pipe, piano, keyboard, or other instrument in the town. They find their notes from the conductor, who tunes them up before each song (and sometimes in the middle of it!).

Photo

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:24:00 -0500

you cut rice like T H I S !

patient in a new FODAC bed

Sandy meets with the accountant

African Romance

our hosts - the Monmias

Photo

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:20:00 -0500

Alphonso, Richard, and Armstrong

Do not try this at home

Hilton and his daughter

Me and Roseline

Dr Whesseh shows us the isolation ward

a REAL hospital bed, donated by FODAC

yes, there is a cake in there

formerly empty warehouse! courtesy FODAC

radio buzzes - news of computer center!

the cash register

Photo

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:02:00 -0500

starting work on the internet cafe

Sis T's school

Clinic at Sis T's

Missionary work is so inspiring!

unusual hair style

Stella

Stella

Lucy and Sandy

An army of computer geeks

Custom made work stations

A Capella song of worship, By Yah Yenta [3a]

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:36:00 -0500

A Capella song of worship, By Yah Yenta [3a]

Well, this is “God Thank You” [3f] by the United...

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:34:00 -0500

Well, this is “God Thank You” [3f] by the United Liberia Inland Church of Saclepea. Hey, how about you let me know if you like it. It took forever to mix the tracks (believe it or not), so if it is not appealing to anybody, I won’t do the rest of the songs. But if folks like it, I’ll do the rest. Vote by email at steveskinner99@yahoo.com.

Now the work begins

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:38:02 -0500

Okay, we made it home. As far as seventeen hour flights go, this one was pretty easy. VERY hard to post the last few days due to torrential rains, loss of internet, and leaving all the computers in Saclepea as we made our way home. Quick update:

We stand a pretty good chance of getting a free VSAT ($5000 US value) to improve our internet capability. (Still have to pay $400 per month.)

The first computer course SOLD OUT and started today! Wow. We are thrilled.

Patients are sleeping in the hospital beds. I can’t tell you how elated Sandy and I are to see them being used so quickly. And the doctor at the clinic says nearly all the medical supplies we brought will be very useful to him. That’s about 7 tons of lifesaving equipment.

We met with Equip Liberia on Saturday and we’re looking for ways to partner with them in the future. Their work is very broad and includes eliminating gender based violence, improving sanitation, providing medical assistance, and helping with education. Pretty close mesh with what WACC does.

City of Saclepea has indicated they want to GIVE us a 1/8^th acre plot of land in the center of town to build a stand-alone computer and library center. Not sure where we will get money for the structure, but that is good news.

I’ll try to get that music up pretty quick.

Gotta’ go; lots to do here in the USA.

Blessings to all our readers.

Steve and Sandy

The photographers in town thought this was pretty cool. They...

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:15:19 -0500

The photographers in town thought this was pretty cool. They will be signing up for the digital photography course. That’s one of the board members of the Saclepea Community Computer Center with her three children on an imaginary grand canyon trip.

Three Media Moguls

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:10:00 -0500

Gonna have to call this yet another amazing day. Computer center opened yesterday and grossed $2300 first day. Lots of excitement. Only open for 3 hours today, but made about $800. Amazing interest, though. A local photographer came by and was STOKED. So I showed him PhotoShop and he started jumping up and down. I MUST HAVE THIS!!!! And I showed him how to change the background on a photograph. Sandy had taken a photograph of Lucy Wompleh and her family earlier in the day, so I erased the background and put them all in front of the GRAND CANYON. Lucy was thrilled and the photographer signed up for INTRO TO COMPUTERS on the spot. I also had a spare GE Digital camera which I sold him for $25. We’re doing all we can to support local business people, so now 2 of the photographers have brand new digital cameras. And we sold our first 4 by 6 color print tonight. Hot diggity dog. Self sustaining. Oh yeah. Then late tonight 3 of our computer center managers went on Radio Ylamba (the 125 watt Voice of West Saclepea!) and sat in for a talk show. Great enthusiasm and interest from local callers. Biggest interest seems to be in taking classes on how to operate a computer and surf the net. Our guys did great and were constantly right on point. Anyhow, we had a new grandbaby on Sunday and a new business born Monday. Life is good here in Africa. TTFN

[Okay, Sandy reminds me that the $2300 and $800 are in Liberian dollars and the $25 is American. So noted. And tell Lewis Rhodes and Dave Skinner that the Women’s Center tried out the Toro Tiller yesterday and it ROCKS!. And we may have a way to get a $5000 (US) VSAT internet link for FREE!!! Now, that really is all.]