Office Visit to Sierra Leone and Liberia – Reflections from our Brother-hosts

 Reflections from our Brother-hosts:

 In a landmark visit to the Mission Office, the Edmund Rice Development (ERD) Program Manager, Naidi McDonnell, along with the coordinators from Edmund Rice schools in England, Roisin Maguire and Ann Nichols, joined the Mission Office team to gain first-hand insight into ongoing development projects in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The visit was especially meaningful, as it marked the first time Naidi and Ann had travelled to WAA, while Roisin made her long-awaited return after seven years.

The primary purpose of Naidi’s visit was to monitor and evaluate three critical projects currently underway, two funded by Misean Cara, and one supported by ERD through a partner organization. Her visit came at a pivotal time, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to help strengthen our projects’ sustainability and foster deeper collaboration. The opportunity to engage with the project team and community stakeholders provided invaluable feedback and generated new ideas for implementing initiatives that not only align with the Mission’s goals, but also meet community needs more effectively.

Roisin and Ann were inspired by the significant work being done through ERD’s support and came with a shared commitment to understanding how best they could collaborate more effectively both with our team and ERD. Their visit underscored the Mission Office’s ongoing efforts and opened new channels of collaboration, which will further enhance the reach and quality of our programs. Seeing the initiatives in action, and meeting the resilient communities we serve, affirmed the coordinators’ commitment to supporting our mission’s development work. This strong collaborative spirit reflects the growing partnership between ERD and the two coordinators of the English schools, aimed at expanding opportunities for vulnerable people in our operational communities.

The highlight of the visit was the trio’s engagement with beneficiaries, community leaders, and stakeholders across Sierra Leone and Liberia. Together, they shared a common focus on promoting women and girls’ empowerment- a theme central to the Mission Office’s work in the area. The stark realities witnessed by Naidi, Ann, and Roisin – the challenges faced by young women and girls in accessing education, vocational training, and other resources deeply moved them. They left with a renewed commitment for increased support and funding aimed at uplifting women and girls who face the greatest obstacles in our operational areas.

The visit of three passionate and dedicated women added momentum and visibility to the office’s work, instilling hope and inspiring future possibilities. Their experiences will undoubtedly fuel ongoing efforts to seek new partnerships and funding sources, essential for meeting our development goals.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Edmund Rice Development and the ER school coordinators in England for their unwavering support, which continues to enable the West African Mission Office to empower countless women and girls who are often left behind. Looking to the future, we are hopeful for continued visits, strengthened partnerships, and increased funding opportunities to help realize our shared vision for sustainable and impactful change.

Br Abu Kargbo

Warmest greetings to everyone from St Martin’s Catholic High School Gbarnga, Liberia. Our school was blessed and happy to receive Roisin Maguire, and Ann Nichols from the Edmund Rice Network UK, and Naidi from ERD in Ireland. Our visitors interacted with our students and the Edmund Rice Advocacy group in St Martin’s. Naidi engaged the students in the Science Lab. Our students expressed heartfelt gratitude to donors who provided the funds for the Science lab. Roisin, Ann, and Naidi symbolically planted fruit trees on the school compound. The school administration dedicated three newly constructed cement benches in honour of our three visitors. Our students were very excited and happy to receive photos of students of St Edward’s school in Liverpool, England. The day was closed with a football match where Roisin kicked off the game. It’s our hope that a cordial relationship will be established between St Martin’s Catholic High school in Gbarnga, Liberia and St Edward’s school in Liverpool. We enjoyed the fun we shared and felt connected with the global Edmund Rice Network.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the ERN in England for their first visit to Liberia after the civil war and look forward to subsequent ones.

‎Br Andrew Koroma, Gbarnga Community, Liberia