Past Initiatives
ARCH
(Niapele Partner 2007-2009)
ARCH was created as a collaboration between the Niapele Project and Ms. Regina Krangar, who had been taking care of abandoned children in her own home at the Buduburam Refugee Camp for many years. Between August 2007 and June 2009, The Niapele Project provided ARCH with funding, capacity-building workshops and support. Following two years of close cooperation and a much anticipated return to
 |
ARCH in Liberia
In the spring of 2008, a series of events at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in
As the director of ARCH, Ms. Krangar decided that the best option was to keep the family together and move ARCH to her homeland of
However, following Ms. Krangar and the children's repatriation to Liberia, she decided to take dramatic action and return to Ghana, in spite of all the challenges associated with living in a foreign country. The Niapele Project regrets this decision, which underscores the extreme difficulty for refugees of repatriating to their home country, in search of stability and peace of mind. The lack of services and programs available for returnees remains a significant issue in Liberia, and alongside our partner organization, the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), The Niapele Project is working to offer returnees the support they need in order to re-establish their livelihoods.
 |
Niapele & ARCH
1.
Central to our mission is to assist our partner organizations maximize their potential to allow them to effectively fulfill their vision. As with its other partners, The Niapele Project helped ARCH develop and use the necessary financial, strategic and operational tools for the small community-based organization to become self-sustainable.
The management staff of ARCH benefited from computer literacy and management training.
2. Financial Support
The costs associated with running a home for 20 growing children are significant, particularly for a young community based-organization. The Niapele Project provided the majority of the funding necessary for ARCH to operate effectively each month.
Our support included funding for food, education, c
__________________________________________________________________
Harmony Children's Center
(Niapele Partner 2008-2009)
The Harmony Children’s Center was founded in 2007 by a French physiotherapist volunteering at Buduburam. While working to serve the physical and health needs of the handicapped community at the refugee settlement, Elise Nerault observed how disabled children and their families also had specific social, educational, and behavioral needs that were not being met by any program or organization. Since her departure, the center continues to run under the leadership of the parents of the students and a dedicated volunteer staff. Several changes in Center Leadership have occurred due to camp residents repatriating to Liberia and being resettled in the West over the past 2 years. Currently, The Niapele Project supports some of the original founders of The Harmony Children’s Center who have returned to Liberia and created Happy Family Center for Children with Disabilities.
Harmony focuses on developing the children's strengths in a supportive and encouraging environment. Songs and games are often the tools used to build skills. The children, their families and the staff have all taken an active role in the development of Harmony and the improvement in the lives of the students.
The students vary in capabilities and needs, but they all share an enthusiasm for their time at school. The positive environment allows them to try new tasks and have an outlet for their energy and affection, and the children have thrived through this opportunity.
The Management Staff of Harmony Children's Center made the final decision not to return to Liberia in late 2009. As of early 2010, they continue to operate their Center at Buduburam in Ghana with some support from the American NGO Point Hope.
Pandora Duyen, co-founder and former director of Harmony. She was resettled in Canada in October 2009.
Niapele & Harmony
1. Capacity Building and Supporting Organizational Development
The management staff of The Harmony Center received computer literacy and management training. Additionally, staff and volunteers received additional skills training through leadership, communications and capacity building workshops.
2. Financial Support
For the early stages of development, The Niapele Project financed 100% of the costs associated with running The Harmony Center, including teacher and staff incentives. We offered this support so that the Center could focus its time, energy and resources on developing its organizational capacity and its ability to serve the needs of disabled children. When The Niapele Project transitioned from the refugee camp in Ghana to full oprerations in Liberia in early 2009, we continued to provide a reliable stipend for the Harmony Center through Fall 2009.
