LIBERIA: ECREP Celebrates Achievements

…Honors C.E.O, Committed Staff – By: Augustine N. Myers – The Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP) has officially observed its achievements from 2003 to present, with a Year-end gathering and honoring Program in Montserrado County.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP) speaking Saturday at the Musa Beach on the Roberts Field Highway, described Efficient Service Delivery as the best in transforming the living conditions of Liberians, especially rural dwellers.

According to Rev. G. Abraham Powell, Liberian NGOs should remain focused in providing efficient humanitarian services aimed at empowering local Communities and transforming the living standard of the people.

Rev. Powell also challenged other Service Delivery Organizations to maintain a credible and productive staff to provide timely and quality services to rural communities in particular and Liberia in general.

He said since 2003, ECREP continues to empower and transform local communities in the areas of Psychosocial Counseling, Agriculture, Water & Sanitation, and the construction of hand pumps, latrine facilities, and other productive community services.

Rev. Powell disclosed that ECREP has implemented 13 major Projects, and that the Organization has employed more than 75 persons benefiting more than 150 thousand people in Liberia.

The annual Program of the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP) brought together officials from Government, UNICEF, ZOA, the Liberian NGOs Network and other partners.

Marking remarks during the Program, the Head of UNICEF WASH Program, Wataku Z. Kortimai praised the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP) for the level of work carried out through a collective effort.
According to Mr. Kortimai, ECREP was indeed exhibiting a sense of cohesion and willingness to move forward, and that UNICEF and other Organizations will continue to provide support in the interest of improving the conditions of Liberians and foreign residents.

He described ECREP as a reliable Organization based on the fact that it is a Church related Organization with credible individuals like the CEO, Rev. G. Abraham Powell and others.
Mr. Kortimai said ECREP is one of the 25 partners UNICEF has selected to work with, and that it can be trusted to represent UNICEF as an Emergency Partner.

According to him, ECREP has proven itself as a trustworthy Organization, because working in an Emergency Program is complicated and requires diligence and knowledge of the environment, something he said ECREP has successfully done.

Mr. Kortimai commanded ECREP for always completing UNICEF Project activities in-time and according to plans, and assured that UNICEF will continue to use the expertise of ECREP to serve the people of Liberia.

Also speaking, ZOA Country Director, Mr. Nicholas Street, in brief remarks commanded the ECREP Family and said he was happy to attend the Year-end Gathering and Honoring Program.

Mr. Street said ZOA continues to appreciate the level of commitment and hard work professionally carried out by ECREP, and expressed his Organization’s continued partnership.

For his part, the Chairman of the Liberia NOGs Network (LINNK), Atty. John Jukon expressed satisfaction that as a member of LINNK, ECREP continues to be an example of good character for other local NGOs to emulate.

According to Atty. Jukon, ECREP has proven itself credible in Project implementation, and maintaining a productive Staff over a long period of time, something he said is difficult for most local NGOs.

He thanked ECREP for an efficient Staff and the level of success in the implementation of Project activities, and challenged other Liberian NGOs to emulate the good example of the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP).

Also speaking over the weekend at the Musa Beach on the Roberts Field Highway during the ECREP Year-end Gathering and Honoring Program was Mr. George Yarngo, Assistant Minister for Community Services at the Ministry of Public Works.

Minister Yarngo said he was also happy to be a part of the Program, and Praised ECREP Chief Executive Officer, Rev. G. Abraham Powell and his Staff, noting that they have done extremely well in up-holding the integrity of a credible Non Governmental Organization (NGO).

According to Minister Yarngo, ECREP is one of the local NGOs that Liberia can showcase to the world that there are credible Organizations in the Country.

He assured ECREP of Government’s support and that 2012 will be a year of continued partnership and capacity building between government and NGOs operating across Liberia.

Minister Yarngo also disclosed that Government is ready to take strategic actions aimed at ensuring independence where Organizations involved in Water & Sanitation Programs remain more focused in terms of Policy, and Work plan.

Separate remarks were also made by Mr. C. Anderson Chea, an Official of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT), and a proxy of the Emergency Relief Services (ERS). They commanded ECREP for truly enhancing integral values that represent a credible Liberia NGO.

During the Program, ECREP C.E.O, Rev. G. Abraham Powell was honored and certificated by the Staff of the Organization for ensuring that ECREP remains one of the best local NGOs in Liberia. Other staff members were also honored for their hard work and dedication to the up-lifting of the goals and aspirations of the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP).

Below are ECREP’s past and present Activities

1. In 2005 ECREP served as a third party service provider to European Commission Small Scale Project in the rehabilitation of the Zangar Rubber Farm and Nimely Massa Rubber farm in Borlorla and #7 Margibi County.
   

   Smiles on the faces of the Officials, as one of the guest speaks at the Program

2. In 2005 ECREP served as implementing partner to USAID/LCIP in its Psycho-social and Peace building Project at Community Level in Gbarzohn District, Grand Gedeh County.

v  During this project about 450  Ex-Combatants were re-integrated into their communities

v  Long running conflicts were resolved, by bringing family members together and re-unite them once again.

v  Towns disputes were settle between Zleh and Pour towns.

v  People were talk to of how to accept and live with the Ex-Combatants in the communities.

3. In 2005 ECREP served as third party provider to European Commission Small Scale Project in the rehabilitation of the Foboi Palm Farm in Grand Cape Mount County.

v  During this project 50 acre of land was brushed by twenty five (25) men for the rehabilitation process of the farm

v  One thousand Palm trees were rehabilitated

v  One Mill house was constructed

v  One hand Dug Well was constructed

v  The Motor road that leads to the farm was also rehabilitated.

4. 2006 Oct – 2007 Feb. ECREP served as implementing partner to UNICEF in the implementation of Common Emergency Relief Fund.

v  20 well rehabilitated

v  20 family latrines constructed

v  90 persons trained in health/hygiene, caretaker and pump mechanic workshop

v  Constructed 20 new wells

5. In 2006 (April)- 2007 January, ECREP served as implementing partner to USAID/LCIP on the Road Sensitization and Rehabilitation Project in Yarpa town, Rivercess County.

v  ECREP help in the mobilizing of community members of the road rehabilitation process.

v  Held consultative meetings with Local Leaders, CBOs, and Community leaders giving them information on the road project.

v  Held meetings with Construction Firms on the road project to get detail information on how the road will be built.

v  Held weekly meetings with other Local NGOs to review progress been made on the awareness of community dwellers about the road project, on how they are responding.

v  ECREP also help in recruiting workers for the road project.

6. In 2007 (October – December) ECREP served as implementing partner to USAID/LCIP on the Small Scale Community Infrastructure Project in Ganta, Nimba County and Putu Jarwodee, Grand Gedeh County.

v  Carried out needs assessment in 38 communities in Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties.

v   Held fifty –three (53) sensitization and awareness meetings including meetings with County Officials as well as UNMIL with other organizations operating within those two counties.

v  Ten (10) Wells were constructed in both counties, Five in Nimba and Five in Grand Gedeh County

v  Other assessments were carried out in the following areas

1. Bridges
2. Town halls
3. Palaver huts
4. Hospitals
5. Schools buildings
6. Market buildings.
7. Clinics building

v  ECREP have the drawing and estimates for all that mentioned above.

7. 2007 (April – December) ECREP served as implementing partner for the Presbyterian Deserter Assistance carrying out Agriculture Project in Yarpa town, Rivercess County.

v  ECREP supports local farmers to cultivate the below listed crops

–          Pepper

–          Pineapple

–          Ground nut

–          Cassava

–          Rice

v  ECREP also constructed a fish pond in the Little Liberia and James Town.

8. 2005- 2008 ECREP carried on a Micro Finance Loan Project in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County benefiting more than 50 Women in a small scale businesses

v  It started with 20 Women and has increased to 50

v  Presently these women are on their own and are sustained.

9. 2008 – ECREP served as implementing partner to FAO in the distribution of seeds and tools to 1,200 families in Yarpah and Timbo District Rivercess County

Inputs distributed included the following:

v  Rice seeds (50 kg per farm family head)

v  Zinc    (five sheet per farm family head)

v  Bird flash tape (4 rolls per farm family head)

v  Fertilizer   (50 kg per farm family head)

v  Animal trap (Three wire per farm family head)

v  Trained farmers in improved cultivation method

10. 2009 March – 2010 February Served as implementing partner to USAID/LCIP in Rural Artisan Apprentices Program (RAAP) in Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Sinoe Counties Respectively

v  Trained 200 at Risk Youth in various life skilled training to include: electronics, auto mechanic, electricity, 2-stroke and tyre repair, tailoring, Pastry and costometology.

v  Constructed and improved business site for graduates

v  Provide start up kits for each graduates of the training

v  Carryout psychosocial counseling services

11. 2010 January – August, served as implementing partner to UNICEF in School WASH in Grand Gedeh County

v  Constructed 25 cubicle latrines in five schools

v  Constructed five hand dug well installed with Afridev hand pumps

v  Rehabilitated 15 hand dug wells (deepening)

v  Trained health club in ten (10) schools

v  Distributed WASH NFI (soap ) to schools to encouraged hand washing with soap

12. 2011 March – August 15, 2011, served as Implementing partner to UNICEF in Emergency WASH with Ivorian refugees in Grand Gedeh County

v  Managed the WASH aspect of the Toe Town Transit Center -2,500 Ivorian Refugees and provided the following services in the Center

• Constructed Water System using Polly tanks and water bladders
• Trucked 36,000 liters of water per day from the creek and purified it using Aluminum Sulphate and chlorine (1% solution) and transport it through pipes to the tap-stand for the Refugees consumption
• Construct 36 latrines cubicles –semi-permanent
• Rehabilitate one well
• Provide health/hygiene education on a daily basis through messages in both French and English, couple with culture dances portraying the message
• Distribute WASH NFI (Bucket, Soap, Jerry Can, etc)
• Constructed garbage pits
• Constructed laundry site
• Constructed bath houses
• Constructed 400 meters drainage to direct water flowing through the camp

v  In 13 communities occupied with both Refugees and host communities the following activities were carried out:

• Constructed 100 family latrines in 13 communities
• Constructed five hand dug well installed with Afridev hand pumps
• Rehabilitated 20 hand dug wells (deepening)
• Carried out health/hygiene promotion
• Distributed WASH NFI

13. 2011 – August 16 to present ECREP is carrying out the following under the sponsorship of UNICEF:

v  In 17 communities occupied with both Refugees and host communities the following activities were carried out benefiting 25,000 resident/refugees:

• Construction of 100 family latrines in 13 communities
• Construction of 13 hand dug well installed with Afridev hand pumps
• Rehabilitation of 6 hand dug wells (deepening)
• Carrying out health/hygiene promotion
• Distribution of WASH NFI
• Training of School health clubs
• Training of CHVs (Community Health Volunteers)

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