Why Liberia ?
A Distinct Identity
Liberia is a small country located in West Africa, the country is a former American Colony with a population of 5.193 million. It is approximately the size of the American state of Tennessee (39-43 thousand square miles). The people of Liberia are descendants of freed American slaves who were transported back to Liberia after attaining said freedom, to fix the “problem” of too many freed slaves in the United States. Liberia has been independent since 1847, and is thus Africa’s oldest republic. There was relative stability in the country until a 14 year Civil War beginning in 1989 and ending in 2003. The war displaced over half the country’s population and killed around 150,000 - 250,000 men, women and children. As a result income became 1/8th of what it was in 1980, and Liberia became one of the poorest nations in the world. Most Liberians live today without safe water, not enough food. Unemployment is high and most notably literacy rates are around 48.3%. Most of the schools are unfit for learning and books are scarce in many rural areas of Liberia. The Irene Christina Reinking Foundation aims to focus our assistance on Goboawatu village in District #4 Bong County Liberia, West Africa. This is believed to be the poorest of the poor anywhere.
What We Do
Focuses in Liberia
Education of the Youth
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) finds that Liberia is fulfilling only 37% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to education based on the country's level of income. One of our organization's pillars is Education. Our goal is to collect funding to build and staff a secondary school in our target region of Goboawatu Village, Liberia.
Agricultural Development
Agriculture in Liberia employs more than 70% of the population. Although agricultural activity occurs in most rural locations, it is still a challenging Lifestyle with many obstacles. By supporting the communities and farmers of Liberia, Irene Christina Reinking Foundation will encourage employment for families, women, and the youth.
Provision of Healthcare
Liberia has 5,000 full-time or part-time health workers and 51 Liberian doctors to cater to a population of 3.8 million, according to the 2006 health survey. That's the equivalent of one doctor serving about 76,000 civilians. The Irene Christina Reinking Foundation aims to engage in strengthening and supporting the health sector to combat financial problems.
Shaking Hands with the mayor
June 5, 2015
Pictured above is Harrison Kpartipa meeting with the mayor of Cedar Rapids to discuss potential opportunities for investment and success of ICRF.
Irene Christina Reinking: Our Story
Where it all Began
In February 2013, Harrison Kpartipa, a member of Trinity, approached the Trinity Board of Human Care with his dream of helping Liberia to help themselves. Harrison lived in Bong County, Liberia until he came to America in 2003 and became an American citizen in 2009. From that simple BHC meeting God has blessed this Liberian Mission in ways that no one could ever have envisioned. I, Irene Reinking, volunteered (by the Grace of God) to go with Harrison to Liberia to interact with the people, visit the churches and schools, take pictures and bring back the story of their great need to Trinity and anyone else who would listen. Our long term goal is TO ASSIST LIBERIA THROUGH EDUCATION TO BE EMPOWERED TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT. Now two years later we are still working toward that goal. “WITH MAN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.” In November, 2013 the first shipment of 68 boxes packed with mostly donated clothing and shoes for men, women, children and infants were shipped by the Orphan Grain Train to Liberia. It arrived there on February 6, 2014 and pictures were sent back to Trinity to show the actual distribution.
Harrison and I traveled to Liberia and spent 3 weeks there in January of 2014. I fast became the minority. I was overwhelmed by the welcome and acceptance I received. The people waited in line to shake my hand. The children followed and crowded around me where ever I went. But it was not ME they had anxiously waited for. It was the HOPE for a better tomorrow that they saw in my presence. The babies did not smile or cry. Adults did not speak and rarely smiled. They had a sad vacant look in their eyes. Only in Churches with standing room only did I hear them singing and see them dancing. They know the Joy of the Lord. All through the Worship service I heard them chanting “GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! PRAISE THE LORD!!” My culture shock came when I returned home to Cedar Rapids and walked into my own home. I cried seeing all that I have and knowing the little or nothing they have. And still they chant “God is good all the time.”
Through the year of 2014 more people joined forces with us both from Trinity and from the surrounding community and beyond. The Mission expanded mightily and on December 14, 2014 we filled a 40 foot Carton with over 450 boxes of clothing, shoes, medical supplies, health items, books, bed sheets, school supplies, over 500 soccer balls, and more. Also bicycles, crutches, chain saws, tools, 16 sewing machines, a saw mill, and a nine passenger Suburban Van. This shipment arrived in Liberia early March. Harrison is in Liberia at this time and is involved with distribution of the donations.
Donate
This foundation has already built a primary school for budding academics of Goboawatu village, Liberia, but the next step in our future is establishing a secondary school. Pictured above is the beginnings of this dream, the bones of the school we hope to create. Please connect with us if you or anyone you know would have an interest in bringing out dream to life and changing the lives of the young people through this project.“When I was growing up in my village Goboawatu, there was no school, however, all the kids from my village walked to the next village approximately 7.5 miles away, all year round, in order to get to school each day. Knowing the value of Education, I think no one should have to walk that many miles to go to school. Based upon that we decided to establish an elementary school in Gobawatu village for all the kids to stay in the village for their primary education.” - H. Kpartipa
