05 December 2009

Monrovia, Liberia: Among the clean ochre hues of their newly-painted classrooms, accompanied by an intricate rhythm of hand-clapping, the students sang their thanks to the people who had built a safe perimeter for their school. The new fence was built entirely through volunteer action, and today was a day of celebration.

Perhaps a little sweaty still from the morning's beach clean-up, the gathering included Liberians and foreigners, soldiers and civilians, and from a range of professions. The eclectic group of United Nations personnel had come together on International Volunteer Day to celebrate the completion of a fence around Monrovia's School for the Blind, the culmination of a year of effort.

UNV's relationship with the School for the Blind began in early 2005, and since then UNV volunteers assigned to many different sections of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have spent their weekends and free time at the school assisting with the library, cultural projects and other activities. A favourite activity is the regular Sunday lunch, when UNV volunteers help prepare meals for the students and stay to chat and interact.

After a theft of equipment from the school in 2007, the UNV volunteers decided to help improve security there. They couldn't do it by themselves, however, so in the spirit of cooperation were offered additional voluntary assistance by the UNMIL military component. It was the 2nd Engineering Battalion, Pakistan Armed Forces, that began work on the security fence and the perimeter was completed by 6th Battalion in 2009.

Frederick Krah from the UNV UNMIL Support Office, one of the volunteers coordinating assistance to the school, thanked the entire UN system in Liberia for their help. "Both military and civilians, we are thankful to you all for your help – because of you, we can keep the school running," he said.

He noted in particular the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Ellen Margrethe Løj, in providing logistic support and resources for the voluntary work from UNMIL's Quick Impact Project funds.

Francis Sebely, a graduate of the school now anticipating studying law at university, said he was grateful for the "great things" UNV and volunteers were doing for the school, and called on them to keep the action going. Esther Monnao, an assistant at the school, said the newly-constructed fence was "one of the greatest things the volunteers have done... we appreciate them a lot."

Ellen Margrethe Løj and UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri both spoke at the opening ceremony on 5 December. Describing the UN in Liberia's work at the school as a "special and moving volunteer project", Ms. Pansieri told the assembled students and volunteers that it "bore testimony to what it means to be the UN, one UN, working together for a common goal for the benefit of the people of Liberia."

The event was also attended by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Deputy Force Commander Maj.-Gen. C.S. Modey and a contingent of troops from the 6th Engineering Battalion, Pakistan Armed Forces, who had been mainly responsible for constructing the fence.

Ms. Pansieri emphasized that 5 December was not "UNV day but International Volunteer Day". Thanking the Pakistani soldiers, she said: "You don't have to have a UNV badge or UNV T-Shirt to be a volunteer. The heart inside has been a heart committed to engaging voluntarily to make a difference. Keep up the good work – this is what makes the UN a great organization."

The SRSG complimented UNV for its "energy and commitment to the school", adding that the project "fits with our [UNMIL's] intentions to reach out to Liberians and provide for a future in security."

In 2010, UNV in Liberia plans to also start working with the nearby School for the Deaf, perhaps establishing a joint vegetable garden to enable more interaction between the blind and the deaf students.