UMVIM Work team to Liberia … April 14 – 30, 2007

          A United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Work team to Liberia is planned for April 14 – 30, 2007.  Passport, Visas, and appropriate inoculations are required.  The work team is open to any church member interested in Missions in the country of Liberia.   Approximate total costs, including material support, in-country costs and airfare is approximately $3000. 

Liberia is a poor country, whose economy is ranked, by World Bank, at 206 out of 208 countries … 80% are unemployed … 80% live in poverty … 55% are illiterate.  The first Methodist Missionary from the New World to serve anywhere in the world, went to Liberia in 1833 from North Carolina.  A brief outline is below.

TIMELINES

-  Depart RDU Saturday Afternoon April 14, 2007

-  Return Monday Afternoon April 30, 2007

ACTIVITIES

-  MEDICAL/HOSPITAL/NUTRITION … Tour Hospital … Tour New Hospital … Shadow Health Care Workers …Community Health Program … Deliver Donated Pharmaceuticals ($260,000.00 value) … Visit United Methodist University Nursing Program … Visit UM Health Clinic in Guinea … Visit NIP (Nutrition Improvement Program) … Tour Leprosarium … Visit remote village with no clean water/sanitation/school … Tour Mercy Ship … Visit Feeding/Literacy Children’s Program … Visit Pre-Natal Clinic

-  EDUCATION … Assist putting floor in Sun Dried Mud Block Self Help School in remote village … Visit several schools (primitive and developed) … Visit schools that recently received their first textbooks … Visit pilot schools that have received Audio/Visual teaching equipment and material … Visit Vocational Training Program (Child Soldier Ex-Combatants) … Interview candidate for Medical School Scholarship … Interview Medical School students currently receiving full scholarships from “Dr. Vernon and Martha Tyson Medical Scholarship Fund”.

-  AGRICULTURE … Observe UMCOR’s Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program (Farmer Field School) … Visit Swamp Rice Project … Participate Night Honey Harvest in Beekeeping Project … Visit developing rural villages that have participated in Farmer Field School in the past … Visit Women and Children’s Self Help Agriculture Project (recently installed well pump and drip irrigation) … Visit village with Wild Cocoa/Banana and other Tropical Trees/Plants

-  SELF HELP  … Villager constructed Self Help Schools … Research Micro-Loan and Micro-Franchise Opportunities … Visit Carvers

-  EVANGELISM/CHURCH … Learn Evangelist’s Programs … Participate in an Evangelism Program in remote village

VISA REQUIRED

-  Liberia

VACCINATIONS REQUIRED

-  See www.cdc.gov

BUDGET COST

-  Approx. $3000

-  Includes Airfare, food, clean water, lodging, in-country travel

If you are interested or want more information, please contact the work team leader:  Jim Perry, Africa Sub Committee/Edenton St UMC/Raleigh:

(919) 349 3611 cell or email - jimperryassoc@nc.rr.com