"Why Liberia?" (Laura's Answers)

Many friends, family members, and random strangers have asked me why I am working in Liberia this summer. Because I am extremely interested and passionate about going, I would like to introduce and explain six of my reasons below:

1) Historic Moment: This is an extraordinary period in Liberia's history and I'd like to be there and help in any way I can. Liberia's 14 years of brutal civil war officially ended in 2003, and the country is immersed in a rigorous rebuilding process. The President, when she came to Harvard in 2006, invited and urged Kennedy School students to come and work in Liberia. My internship this summer is an answer to that call.


2) Leadership: President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, is the first female elected Head of State in Africa. Her people democratically voted her to the position and she is already making strides in terms of limiting corruption, promoting women's development, building infrastructure, and furthering economic development.

3) Ministry of Gender and Development: The leaders of the Ministry where I will be working, Minister Varbah Gayflor and Deputy Minister Annette Kiawu, are known to be hard-working, ambitious, inspiring, and results-driven and I look forward to meeting and working for them. Emily Stanger (Harvard Kennedy School graduate, '08), who worked in the Ministry last year, had wonderful things to say about the Ministry and her supervisors.

4) West Africa: After spending 31 months in Niger, West Africa from 2002-2005, I look forward to returning to this region and learning about a new nation therein. I will also be able to travel in Ghana and Niger after my internship concludes, so I look forward to visiting old friends and counterparts.

5) Teammates: There are 13 Harvard Kennedy School students interning in Liberia this summer and we will be living together. I know I will learn a great deal from them, and that our interactions will strengthen our knowledge of the country and our work for our respective ministries. I also look forward to the friendships we will build.

6) Extension of Graduate Studies: All of my courses at the Kennedy School this year prepare me, in some way, for my summer internship, but there are 3 in particular that naturally led to working in Liberia:

- First, "Inclusive Security" designed by Ambassador Swanee Hunt, introduced me to the Liberian conflict, peace-building processes, and gender issues and enabled me to work with 5 fellow students and 6 female Liberian Peacebuilders.

- Second, "Leadership and Governance: Politics of Contemporary Africa" led by Professor Robert Rotberg encouraged a scrutiny of some of Africa's best and worst leaders and developed a framework for evaluating good leadership and governance.

- Third, "Money Management and Policy Implementation in Developing Countries" taught by Professor Matthew Andrews introduced me to finance within the developing world and how to integrate policymaking and budgeting and planning; my final paper for the class was about Liberia and its next steps after the Poverty Reduction Strategy release.

More on Liberia: Please email me if you would like me to send you coursework on Liberia that I completed with my classmates, including:
1) A Powerpoint about the Liberian Conflict;
2) A Powerpoint about Women's Inclusion in Liberia's Peacebuilding Process; and
3) A Policy Paper on Women's Inclusion in Liberia's Peacebuilding Process.

Enjoy!