Part II:Liberia TRC Project & Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

The weekend of May 11-13, was characterized by extensive outreach, from the various African stores in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, to worship area. On May 12, 2007, Team Liberia was act the African Food Market & Deli (famously called Kwaku Store) to conduct outreach exercise. At the store, we had two of our team mates, and three volunteers to help with outreach.
Basically, we greeted customers as they came into the store, and asked if they have heard about the Liberia Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Many if not all, did not know about the TRC. But through our conversation with the customers, twenty (20) persons signed up to give statement or tell their stories about their ordeal and experience about the Liberian civil war. Twenty persons signing up is a huge success given the fact that not many people know anything about the TRC. Many people signed up to give their statement on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Park Haven Apartment Complex. The story about our outreach at the African Food Market was carried in the African News Journal, an idea that was meant to boost the TRC awareness in the Diaspora, particularly Minnesota.

Part III

For the the month of May, the Liberian TRC Diaspora project conducted by Minnesota Advocates had been so far elaborate. On May 12, a team of Minnesota Advocates and TRC Liberia, met in Ghana, on Budumburam Refugee Camp to conduct outreach and collect statements from Liberian Refugees. According to team members, this exercise produce the kind of result expected-people come out to learn about the TRC and the future of Liberia. The almost two weeks event brought Liberian from different demography together-the elders, community and religious leaders, students, ex-combatants, etc.

While in the U.S., our TRC team was equally engaged in several outreach related activities, to include but not limited to: the Bong County Association National Conference, held on Saturday, May 26, 2007, the Old Timers Soccer Tournament, on Saturday, May 26, 2007, the TPS Know Your Rights Forum, held on Wednesday, May 29, 2007, the June 2, TRC Statement Taking event at the Park Haven Apartment, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, among others. These were extensive outreach activities in addition to the visit at the different African stores and churches within Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, that were conducted by our TRC team.

The Statement Taking process is one of the vital components of the Liberia TRC Project, both in Liberia and the Diaspora. It involves the victims telling his or her story about what he or she experience during the Liberia war. It also involves the perpetrator telling his or her story or experience about he war as well. This process also extends to non-Liberians and Liberians who were either living in Liberia at the time of the civil war or who had family member(s) living in Liberia during the Liberian conflict. Essentially, it provides an opportunity for everyone to be heard about what he or she knows about the war. Yes, I too gave my statement to the TRC diaspora statement takers, on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at the Park Haven Apartment. It was a great experience and it symbolized my commitment to the TRCprocess. It gave me the opportunity to say what I want for my country (Liberia).