Children Better Way . Our History

Site last updated on: June 27, 2007

The Liberian civil war began in December 1989, when the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), an insurgent organization led by Charles Taylor, invaded Liberia from the Ivory Coast with the assistance of regular soldiers from Burkina Faso, plus mass recruits from the Mano and Gio ethnic groups. According to Amnesty International the NPFL committed massive human rights violations against the Liberian people. In 1997, the Liberian civil war finally came to an end when general elections were held. Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Party reportedly won 75 percent of the vote, and he was inaugurated as President of Liberia. Although international observers to the election reported that the election was fair, the political opposition felt that the election was conducted under an environment of mass intimidation.

The peace was only temporary. Those unhappy with Taylor’s victory rebelled and fighting continued with devastating consequences for the Liberian people. Approximately 75 percent of the population became either refugees or internally displaced persons. Over 42,000 of these people now live in Buduburam camp, many of them children who have been estranged from their families. Despite Charles Taylor having been forced into exile by the international community, problems still exist today. Many hope that following the presidential elections in October 2005, there will be a new dawn of peace for all Liberians.

Semeh Roberts started Children Better Way (CBW) in 1996 while he was still in Liberia. He saw a need to help the many children who were left behind because their parents were either killed or were forced to flee. When Roberts himself had to flee, he found himself at the Buduburam Refugee Camp. He was inspired to start a new chapter of Children Better Way in 2000 and continue the work he began in Liberia. The program has grown to include a pre-primary and primary school, offering first aid treatment and food and water for the students, a micro loan program, a computer school for the community, a community HIV/AIDS outreach program, a water and sanitation project, a community library and many more.

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