Mighty Be Our Powers

1. Mighty Be Our Powers Chapters 16-21

2. 16 – Time to Move On • 2005 - sister Fata – medical problems – came to US for treatment. Stayed here. • Summer 2005 – end of Liberia’s transitional gov’t (from peace treaty). Time for elections. • 22 candidates on ballot. 5 had good chance. • Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ran • 1947 – women who owned property had right to vote. Most women don’t own property. • Leymah saw the importance of women voting

3. Women get registered • Volunteer groups went out to communities to get women registered to vote and talk to them about the importance of voting. • Start = 15% of voters were women • End = 51% of voters were women • August Elections – 75% of registered voters actually voted. • Ellen faced George Weah, football star • Ellen won 59% and George got 41%

4. Dec 2005 – Leymah leaves WIPNET • Wanted to start a new organization that had a broader perspective • Continues to attend international conferences making connections and meeting important leaders • Tunde gave start up money for new office ($600) • WIPSEN – Women In Peace and Security Network • Living in Accra with Geneva and kids • Tende offered to send her to school for masters degree in the US • She got accepted at Eastern Mennonite University • Geneva turns 40

5. 17 – An Unthinkable Loss • Summer 2006 – Geneva dies suddenly – heart problems – docs on strike – dies in back of car as they try to find a hospital with a doctor • Leymah takes all kids back to Monrovia and leaves them with her parents so she can go to college in US • She loves grad school, but she feels guilty for leaving the kids

6. 18 – Building a New Women’s Network • Sept 2006 – Leymah speaks at UN • Contacted by women who want to make a documentary about women in Liberia • December – back home to visit – things not good: • Kids are not dealing well with changes • Relationship with Tunde is strained • Women in groups are fighting and resentful of Leymah

7. “Pull her down” Syndrome • American Feminist Gloria Steinem: • Groups or societies that have been impoverished or disenfranchised often suffer infighting • See a person doing well, think she’s getting it all, and want to take it away. • Destructive but very common

8. The good and the bad • Leymah is more connected and successful than ever before • Lots of guilt over kids • Very busy and stressed – many demands from other countries • April 2007 – finishes Masters program • Geneva’s daughter Leemu moved to Ohio to live with father (doc) and new wife • Tunde had affair – Leymah broke up with him • Turns to drinking again • Kids told her she had to stop – she did.

9. 19 – Pray the Devil Back to Hell • April of 2008 – documentary released – Tribeca Film Festival in NY • Red Carpet event with many stars • Movie was shown in Monrovia – many other countries: Bosnia on International Women’s Day, Germany, Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Netherlands, Brazil, Rwanda, Mexico, Argentina, Kenya, Cambodia, Poland, Russia • Several hundred US cities – schools, libraries, churches

10. 20 – Helping My Country • August 2010 – President’s Peer Review- female activists come together to improve the lives of Liberian women • 1st time a sitting president listened to what women had to say – 7 hours • Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has very similar story to Leymah and other women in group

11. The Negatives: • Roads remain wrecked • Many buildings ruined and abandoned • Most neighborhood don’t have reliable electricity and running water • Almost everyone is poor • Unemployment is 85% • Half of population can’t read and write • Life expectancy is 58 years • Corruption remains rampant – crime is serious • Families and society is fragmented

12. The Positives: • 8 years of peace • University open again • Industry is beginning to function again • Hotels and office buildings being built • National gender policy promotes equality • Sex crimes unit in Ministry of Justice • Strongest anti-rape laws in Africa • National Girls’ Education policy provides free primary education • Parliament is considering affirmative action legislating 30% female rep in gov’t • More women in key positions

13. Where they are now… • Sugars is mayor of town of Edina • Thelma is exec director of a well-funded private foundation that increases access to health care in Nigeria • Grace is involved with the Ministry of Gender • BB Colley is exec director of Resource Center for Community Empowerment and Integrated Development in Monrovia • Leymah maintains some friendship with Tunde – no contact with Daniel

14. …and Charles Taylor? • Early 2011 – on trial in The Hague (city in The Netherlands) – International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice • 1st African president to face prosecution by an international tribunal for war crimes • 5 counts of crimes against humanity ( murder, rape, sexual slavery) • 5 counts of war crimes (acts of terrorism, murder, pillage) • Violating international humanitarian law (enlisting children under 15 into armed forces) • Closing arguments ended in March 2011 – • Date for verdict was set as April 26, 2012

15. Do you remember Naomi Campbell? • American Model and actress Naomi Campbell was called to testify against Taylor about him giving her “blood diamonds” • She said she was given a bag of “dirty looking stones” by 2 men she didn’t know • She said she’d never heard of Liberia • Blood Diamonds are diamonds that are traded for the purpose of funding rebel groups in African countries (Sierra Leonne)

16. 21 – The Story Doesn’t End • New baby – June 2009 – Jaydyn Thelma Abigail – born in NY • Baby’s father is James • Leymah lives in Ghana with all her children • Josephine in France, Mala in Sweden, Fata in NY, Ma is 100 and still lives on Old Road • Parents still live in Paynesville

17. … the family… • Leymah continues to teach girls what they have to offer. • Nuku goes to EMU • Amber wants to be a doctor – won scholarship to private school in NY • Arthur is in h.s. and plays “football” – wants to go to UK and be soccer star • Pudu wants to be a designer and live in Paris

18. Leymah’s dream • Get a PhD in public policy • Spend time in the classroom with young people • Provide for her own financial future • Return to Liberia • The words “don’t stop” still echo with her and she never will.