—Makes Huge Donations
By Jerromie S. Walters
It couldn’t be described other than an apt display of benevolence when the 19th Street Parliament, a dutiful social group in Monrovia, extended a helping hand to rehabilitation centers in Paynesville City, Liberia, over the weekend. On Saturday, November 30, 2024, the group made a substantial donation of food, toiletries, and other essential items, and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the youth in their journey toward recovery and reintegration into society.
The donations, part of the Parliament’s 10th Anniversary were presented to two rehabilitation centers: Hope for Liberia, also known as Journey Against Violence in the Survival Community of Mount Barclay, and the Center for Rehabilitation and Reintegration (CFRR) located in Cooper Farm Community, Paynesville. Each center received 15 bags of rice, six mattresses, cooking oil, spaghetti, soaps, tissue, Vitta, and chloride, among other vital supplies.
A Meaningful Visit
The visit began at the Hope for Liberia center, where Mohamed Boakai, a member of the 19th Street Parliament, emphasized the significance of their outreach. “This year, as part of our end-of-year outreach, we thought of coming out to rehab centers, our young people. We don’t have much. We are not rich people. We are normal people. We decided to come out with something.”
Valarie Jones Pelham, Speaker of the 19th Street Parliament, mirrored the essence of their visit and desire to do more. She expressed joy in connecting with the youth. “As my colleague said, we don’t have much but we know that little is much when God is in it.” She encouraged the young individuals at the center to embrace the donations fully and to utilize their time there wisely, as she emphasized the importance of reintegration into society.
In response to the donations, Joshua Milton Blahyi, founder of the Hope for Liberia Rehabilitation Center, articulated gratitude for the support. “These are not small at all. We want you to know that we wholeheartedly welcome and appreciate it.”
The day continued with a visit to the Center for Rehabilitation and Reintegration (CFRR), where the 19th Street Parliament also donated $USD350 towards the construction of a hand pump for the center. Millett King Kargar, the Executive Director of CFRR, described the donation as monumental, stating, “The Parliament, we say thank you. May God increase you. This is a very huge donation. Let God bless you.”
A Call for Support
Currently, the CFRR is focused on rehabilitating a group of young women, with plans to resume services for young men next year. Kargar emphasized the need for ongoing support, stating, “We need help. We need people to come in. You don’t need to have a child suffering from this. We all are affected.” Her call to action serves as a reminder that the challenges of addiction and rehabilitation affect the entire community.
As the event concluded at the CFRR, Madam Ciatta Scott-Johnson expressed appreciation for the Parliament’s steadfast support over the years. “The 19th Street Parliament is not just a group of people. It’s a family of people. We want to say thank you to our leadership.”
She urged the girls at the center: “We are standing here today, you can stand here. God can bless anybody. You just have to be prepared and make up your mind. Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t think about going over there. The fact that you are here, stay here. Build up your lives. A whole lot is ahead of you and we are not going to give up on you.”
Voices of beneficiaries
A rehabilitation center is a facility, also public or private, that provides therapy and training for rehabilitation. In Liberia, most of the rehabs are mainly occupied by young people who are struggling with the nightmare of drug addiction. At CFRR where the 19th Street Parliament made some donations, scores of young women have now realized what being addicted to drugs means, and are now anti-drugs campaigners.
While commenting on the hostile impacts of drugs addiction, they shared their opinions and illustrated the impact of the Parliament’s donations. Nathelia Ballah, a dropout of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU), reflected on her struggles with addiction, stating, “I want to be grateful and thankful for the things you have brought for us. Doing drugs, we are laying our lives in a drainage while our future is on pause.”
Similarly, Patience Mulbah expressed her gratitude, noting the essence of the Parliament’s presence. “Seeing you here brings joy and pride to us because, among all the Liberians, it’s just few that can do what you people are doing.” Her words serve as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by many young people and the critical role that community support plays in their recovery journey.
