The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3, 2017

Today’s summary includes congratulatory message to Amb. George Manneh Weah, President-elect of the Republic of Liberia from several world leaders, year-end jamboree for 400 West Point children by United Nations Mission in Liberia and Better Future Foundation, and the opening of a Performing Arts School in Liberia by Van Vickie, a Liberian Film Producer are among other stories selected for today’s summary.

Several World Leaders Congratulates Weah

According to the Daily Observer, several world leaders among them, Ghana President Akufo-Addo have congratulated Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah. Following a peaceful presidential run-off on December 26, 2017 the former football star garnered 61.5 percent of the vote. After hearing news of Weah’s President Akufo Addo of Ghana, the White House on Friday, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia, and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya all congratulated Amb. George Manneh Weah President-elect of the Republic of Liberia.

UNMIL, BFF Host Year-end Jamboree for 400 Children In West Point

The Better Future Foundation (BFF), in collaboration with Youth Beyond Barriers (YBB), On December 25, 2017 held a year-end festival for more than 400 children in the slump community of West Point, a suburb of Monrovia. The commemoration, sponsored by the Human Rights and Protection Service Division of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) coincided with program marking the official observance of Christmas Day in Liberia. It was characterized by massive public awareness and education bordering on pristine values and norms of human rights including the basic rights of children, reports the INSIGHT newspaper.

Related Caption: UNMIL, BFF Host Year-end Jamboree for 400 West Point Children (Daily Observer)

BWI/UNIDO Conducts Training In Furniture Production

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) recently provided advance carpentry training for professional carpenters in Rubber Wood Furniture production. The training which was held for established professional carpenters from the rubber sector focused on wood preservation, Logging (flat sawn wood, quarter sawn wood) as well as technical drawing, calculations using the Metric and English Systems among other courses was funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNIDO with BWI serving as training institution. Delivering the keynote Address, Madam Kerstine Kageni, Program Coordinator of UNIDO said the project was aimed at up-grading the skills of the beneficiaries to enable them add what she calls real value to their work.

Van Vicker Opens School of Arts In Liberia

According to FrontPage Africa newspaper, more than 25 young Liberian students are expected to start enrollment this month at the Van Vicker School of Arts in the country. Van Vicker, who is widely known by the stage name Rash, opened the first postwar performing arts school in the country. Rash, who is a Ghanaian-based Liberian Film Producer, Director and Actor, spoke to journalists recently. The school, located on Benson Street in Central Monrovia, comes at a time when most talented Liberian filmmakers and musicians are eager to acquire knowledge about their arts in order for them to produce works that will be easily accepted outside their local market. Speaking to journalists at the school Vicker said the school will fully begin operating this month.

ILI Identifies With Visually Impaired Children – Donates Assorted Items

In an effort to identify with the physically challenged community in the country, the International Learning Institute (ILI), with support of its partners, has donated several assorted food and non-food items to the Christine Association of the Blind (CAB) situated on the Robert field Highway outside Monrovia. Items donated include rice, cartoon of chicken, vegetable oil, biscuits, candy, tissues, soap and two safety canes among other. Presenting the items on Friday, December 22, 2017, in the R2 community, ILI CEO, Mrs. Mildred Dean, explained that the initiative to identify with the blind community was aimed at putting smile onto their faces during the festival, writes INSIGHT newspaper.

Cuttington Universtiy Health Science School Donates To Tubman Cheshire Home

According to FrontPage Africa newspaper, students of the Health Science School at Cutting Graduate School in Monrovia, on Saturday, donated assorted materials to the Antionette Tubman Cheshire Home in Sinkor, Monrovia. The philanthropists also committed to pay one-year electricity subscription for the Home. The Antionette Tubman Cheshire Home Currently caters for the needs of 13 individuals, two of whom are under 20 years while the rest are above 20. They are victims of birth defects or also known as congenital disorders, which medicinenet. Com defines as “structural or functional abnormalities present at birth that cause physical or mental disabilities are cutoff from mainstream society and they need the support of not just the government but everyone. “We all need to extend the light of life to people in daring needs,” Mr. Ballah emphasized.