As we prepare

Well, we are getting ready for our stay in Liberia. Kenneth Durril, Travis Mecum and I will be leaving Pittsburgh on Sunday May 30 and arrive in Monrovia on Monday May 31. In preparing for our trip we have of course been packing (mostly trying to figure out what to pack) making travel arrangements and connecting with as many people as we can who have traveled in Liberia and Africa to gain some insights. Many of our personal networks have led to fruitful interactions with individuals who have worked in Liberia in the past (or are currently there) and Liberian refugees currently living in the states. Although the trip just came together just a few weeks ago, we have been diligently doing our homework on Liberian history and the current economic, political and social environment.

It has been a long path to get where we are – plane tickets in hand, arms sore from the many necessary vaccinations, and jobs waiting for us on the other side of the pond. For us the story began in November 2009. The Honorable Amara Konneh, Liberian Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs came to Heinz College to speak about Leadership for Development. Fast forward to three weeks ago, we were notified we were selected to be the first group of Carnegie Mellon Students to serve as interns in Liberia.

To say the least we have learned a great deal about Liberia’s rich history in the past three weeks. Although Liberia’s history has been turbulent at times (markedly so during a 14 year period of civil war) since the election of President Ellen Johnston Sirleaf in 2005 Liberia has exhaustively worked to build the foundation for bright future. Key in their planning was the Poverty Reduction Strategy, which included four “pillars” or focus areas – consolidating peace and security, revitalizing the economy, governance and the rule of law, with the fourth being infrastructure and basic services. We could only learn so much reading books, researching articles, watching documentaries and searching the web.

Through the invaluable assistance of Anita Lengvarsky, Assistant Director of Career Services, H. John Heinz III College; Kendra Gaither, Executive Director of Carnegie Mellon’s Center for International Policy & Innovation; and Dr. Jendayi E. Frazer, Distinguished Service Professor, Carnegie Mellon University, we scheduled a whirlwind day of interviews in Washington, DC. Last Wednesday we traveled to DC to and met with representatives of the State Department, the US Embassy in Liberia and researchers at the Center for Global Development. We would like to thank Anita, Kendra, Dr. Frazer and extend a special thanks to Dean Ramayya Krishnan, Dean of Carnegie Mellon Heinz College, and Brenda Peyser, Associate Dean, School of Public Policy and Management.