About Us
'Niapele,' (pronounced nee-uh-peh-lay), means 'children' in Kpele, a Liberian dialect. The Niapele Project was founded by two former international volunteers who, after working with the Liberian refugee population in Ghana, were moved to pursue their engagement with this community.
Mission
The Niapele Project’s mission is to promote sustainable strategies for the empowerment of vulnerable children, through the development of community-based initiatives. The Niapele Project aims to have direct, meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children. We achieve this by working in partnership with communities, assisting them to fulfill the needs they have identified, through the development and implementation of initiatives that aim to create the necessary conditions for children and their communities to move beyond survival and thrive.
Vision & Values
We identify community leaders with a vision for socio-economic and human development, and who demonstrate a true commitment to their cause. By giving them the means to achieve their goals, we offer the support necessary for these community-led processes to succeed.
Because of our size, we offer great flexibility to our partners - each partnership is elaborated based on carefully evaluated needs, and benefits from constant dialogue, communication and feedback.
We tailor our services to the needs of each partner organization - we recognize that each grassroots initiative is defined by the vision of its leaders, and our support is adapted for each partnership.
The History of the Niapele Project
The Niapele Project was founded in 2007 by two former international volunteers who identified needs at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in Ghana that were not being met by any existing organization - local or international - or by official authorities. In the first year of operations, The Niapele Project formed partnerships with three local community development organizations, focused on serving the needs of the most vulnerable children
As a 501c3 registered non-profit in the United States, The Niapele Project is able to raise funds for our partner projects and to advocate on their behalf. These resources supported a family of abandoned refugee children for 2 years, continues to feed a daily nutritious meal to hundreds of schoolchildren, and funded the establishment of a center for children with disabilities. We strive to extend the impact of each donated dollar by purchasing as many commodities and supplies locally and employing community members for labor and consultancies. In this manner, we strengthen local markets which enables local service providers, farmers, and workers to support their families.
When The Niapele Project became engaged with the displaced Liberian community in Ghana, people had been living at Buduburam Refugee Settlement for as long as 15 years. Many talked of eventually returning home to Liberia. Many planned to remain in Ghana. However, a series of events in spring 2008 led to a decision to close the refugee camp and voluntarily repatriate all Liberians to their homeland.
An uncertain future suddenly held only one choice for thousands of residents at Buduburam - travel to Liberia and begin yet again.
Each of our partners individually chose to return to Liberia and relaunch the programs that they had started at the refugee camp. There were many unknowns on what was ahead for these community leaders and their families in post-war Liberia after so many years in exile; but they were certain that Liberian children would be in need of the grassroots programming that had improved the lives of refugee children.
The Niapele Project commenced preparations to relocate to Liberia with our partners in August 2008. We assisted the local organizations with the complex logistics of making travel arrangements, covering costs and preparing for a time of transition. We helped to locate and finance the rent for new homes. Crucially, we also then began the process of navigating the requirements of the Government of Liberia for legally operating programs in the fragile country, for both our organization and our partners. We continue to deliver advice and guidance for our partners on their legal rights and obligations as non-profit operators in Liberia.
The Niapele Project in Liberia
In early 2009, The Niapele Project became accredited by The Liberian Government and welcomed a permanent Project Manager to our team.
Starting over in a new country presented many challenges to The Niapele Project and our partners. By remaining open and critically reflecting on our areas of strength while collaborating with Government and UN agencies, community leaders, and local and international NGOs, we established The Niapele Project in Liberia and completed our transition from the refugee camp in Ghana. Throughout 2009, we experienced financial struggles while facing increased costs and needs. Nevertheless, having seen the positive impact that community based organizations have, our resolve to continue supporting genuine leaders and their causes remained strong.
As of late 2009, we are engaged in three active partnerships in Liberia, and a fiscal sponsorship in the United States. In the field, our initiatives include one of our original programs from the refugee camp, one which is an offspring of a camp community program, and one brand new initiative in rural Liberia.
Our small dedicated national staff continues to inspire us in their tireless commitment to the cause of supporting community based initiatives in order to promote positive change in the lives of vulnerable children. The insight they provide on Government complexities and Liberian culture continues to be invaluable and we are proud to have them on our team.
Read more: "Who We Are"
Working with Refugees and War Affected Communities
Our approach to working with communities begins with the identification of the specific needs of vulnerable children in war-affected communities, at different stages of displacement. The Buduburam Refugee Settlement in Ghana was a typical protracted refugee situation: protracted exile is particularly difficult on the most vulnerable of children. Whether through lack of economic opportunity, health issues, or scarce and expensive food and water resources, children endure a multitude of daily struggles, particularly because of the inability to plan for the long term and the incertitude that pervades through life as a refugee. In long term displacement situations, refugees are faced with the need to build, consolidate their lives and their households while not knowing what the future will hold.
The Niapele Project commissioned a study of protracted refugee situations to Sciences Po graduate students -read the report here.
When the dynamics at a refugee settlement change after life in a "settled limbo" for many years, the process of repatriation is very challenging. Many children are leaving the only life they have ever known to return to a country that they have only heard about. It can be tumultuous for children to face the unknown while witnessing the stress of their caretakers at the prospect of returning to a land that they fled out of fear.
An additional complexity of displacement occurs upon reintegration into the home society. Life in a post conflict nation means that a country’s infrastructure is devastated, as has occurred in Liberia. In addition to the problems associated with widespread extreme poverty, safety and the demobilization and integration of former combatants are a priority. Liberia, a country of approximately 3.5 million individuals, is a very difficult place to live. In addition to the lack of infrastructure and basic services, the Government of Liberia and its agencies, aided by the UN and other NGOs, struggles to meet the needs of its war affected and highly traumatized population.
Read more about working with refugees and war affected communities.
Visit our Learning Center for resources, documents and links to relevant materials
