By Musa A Kabbah, 2015-2016, Liberia, hosted by YFU USA in Alpena, MI 

I am Musa A Kabbah, a YES alumnus from Liberia. While on the YES exchange program two years ago, I was fortunate to have been selected to participate in the Better Understanding for a Better World (BUBW) conference held in Baltimore. At BUBW, I was inspired by Imam Bashar and his colleagues to conduct an Interfaith Harmony project in Liberia. This dream came closer to reality when I was invited to attend the Interfaith Reachout training held at AMIDEAST headquarters in Washington DC.

I decided to undertake this initiative because of the religious and tribal tension we’ve had in Liberia since the end of the civil war that tore our country apart. People are blaming one another for the war, which is making the reconciliation process very very difficult. The Liberian president, her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, admitted in her last annual address to the nation that her government failed to reconcile Liberians and reduce corruption. I don’t want to have to go in exile again because of war, so I started this initiative to educate people about tolerance, harmony, and peace. I believe that when we know more about each other, we are less likely to point fingers and accuse one another.

I called the project, Better Understanding for a Better Liberia (BUBL). The project was implemented in Voinjama city, in Lofa County of Liberia. It had three phases - two-day indoor workshop, a soccer match, and a radio talk show.

The indoor workshop was held at St. Joseph Catholic school campus with 48 participants! We invited students, school administrators, religious leaders, and the disabilities community. The workshop on tolerance, harmony, and peace was both very interactive and educational. 

Soccer is known for bringing unity and peace in Liberia, so I also included a soccer match which had both male and female participants!

Lastly, I spoke on a radio talk show in an effort to reachout and spread awareness to those who weren't able to physically make it to the other previous activities.

The project in its entirety was sponsored by donations from my host city of Alpena, MI! I’m really grateful to them for making my dream of interfaith harmony come true.