WEST AFRICA INITIATIVES
In
addition to its other initiatives, CEO also works to promote economic
development in certain distressed communities in West Africa. Because
of the historical relations between South Carolina and West Africa, CEO
has a special focus on creating expanded economic, cultural,
educational and social linkages between the people of South
Carolina and the people of West Africa. In furtherance of
this effort to create expanded relationships between South Carolina and
West Africa, CEO has created the West Africa Council of South Carolina,
which is described below. CEO is
helping to encourage individuals in the US and members of the Africa
Diaspora to join together to invest in viable projects in West Africa
and other parts of the Africa Diaspora. Recognizing
that education is a key component in developing economic opportunities,
CEO has assisted South Carolina State University in securing a $3
million, USAID-funded grant to provide textbooks and learning materials
for school children in Tanzania, a country in East Africa.
THE "LIBERIA'S HOPE" QUILTING INITIATIVE
In
the spring of 2007, CEO began to help a group of predominantly women
quilters in Liberia, West Africa, by providing materials and helping to
develop markets for their wonderful, hand-made work in the US and
elsewhere, under the trademarked name of “Liberia’s Hope”. View this PDF which includes more information on "Liberia's Hope" and beautiful pictures of many different symbolic images. Follow this link to view the quilts we currently have available for sale. All proceeds go to the women who made these quilts. Please contact us if you have interest in "Liberia's Hope" quilts. Click on this link to view explanations of the various symbols found on the quilts.
CEO has provided similar assistance to artisanal gold and diamond miners, in West Africa. In
all of its endeavors, CEO promotes and carries out “Fair-Trade”
principals, as a member of Co-op America’s Fair Trade Alliance.
About Quageh:
In
2004, a group of women, who had fled the earlier civil crisis in
Liberia, and now live in and around Caldwell Township, near the
country’s capital city, Monrovia, came together to begin making quilts,
in order to help provide for the basic needs of their families.
They
named their group Quageh, which comes from the Kpelle language and
means "We can make it". Quageh’s leader, Maude Coker-Davis says, “We
hope to see every Liberian woman do something, like quilt making, to
help their family.”
In
a country, which recently emerged from civil war and suffers from an
80% unemployment rate, the Quageh women learned this handiwork from the
elder women in their communities, who made and sold quilts as a means
of helping support their families.
It
is believed that the elder women may have learned quilting skills,
directly or indirectly, from women, who were among the freed slaves,
brought to Liberia, after the U.S. Civil War.
Quageh
currently has ten (10) quilters, including four of Maude’s children,
two women from nearby Bentol, and three other women who were taught the
skill by Quageh. They do excellent, very artistic work. Quageh is also happy to have trained four other persons, who now do work on their own.
An Historical Note:
There is a wonderful book, entitled Martha Ann’s Quilt for Queen Victoria, which provides an account of a freed slave from
Tennessee, living in Liberia in the 1800’s, who made a quilt for Queen
Victoria, as thanks for her abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. See www.blackthreads.com , for more information. CEO is encouraging Quageh to make a replica of that quilt to present to Queen Elizabeth, as part of a celebration of the 200 anniversary of the abolition.
The Next Generation:
Maude,
a proud mother, who has also taught her sons the art of quilting says,
“My two sons have learned the work. I can say that my elder son is a
perfect quilt maker. Each of the quilts he has made, have been greatly
admired by people. He has just graduated from
college and quilt making sent him through college. He even made a
special quilt, called "Master the Bed", to commemorate his graduation. My other son is about to enter college.”
Presidential Interest:
Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has made the uplifting of Liberia’s women a high priority of her Administration. The President was pleased to learn about the Liberia’s Hope Quilting Initiative, when she was briefed about it, in May of 2007.
Quageh’s and CEO’s Gratitude:
Speaking
for her group, Maude expresses their gratitude, as follows: “Quilt
making has helped us so much. We have been able to cater to our home
affairs and even educate our children through selling the quilts that
we make. We say thanks to our many buyers who have supported and
inspired us through the purchase of our quilts. This is why we work so
hard to satisfy them with good designs and durable quilts. And, to the Corporation for Economic Opportunity, we say thanks for helping and promoting us.”
CEO’s
motto is “Prosperity for all” and the Liberia’s Hope Quilting
Initiative is beginning to make the motto real for Quageh’s quilting
group. True to their name, they are not only “making” great quilts, they are “making” it in life.
We thank the many new customers and supporters for their patronage and help. Feel free to contact us.
THE WEST AFRICA COUNCIL OF SOUTH CAROLINA
The Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CEO) founded the West Africa Council of South Carolina in late 2005.
MISSION: The
mission of the West Africa Council of South Carolina is to help its
members and others initiate, increase the awareness of and support for
individual, group and organizational initiatives that connect South
Carolinians, through business, educational, cultural and social
relationships, to countries and communities in West Africa. The
Council intends to be an advocate and to build upon the strong
historical, social and blood connections between the people of West
Africa and the people of South Carolina.
ACTIVITIES: In
addition to meetings, the Council will hosts and participates in a
variety of events, which inform, educate and enhance the interests of
the members of the Council and the public at large about things related
to West Africa. In addition to encouraging dialogue among its members,
experts and foreign dignitaries will be invited to speak at
Counil-sponsored events. Relevant television and radio shows and
events will be promoted and supported. The
Council will also explore ways to create formal and informal linkages
between business groups, communities, churches, educational
institutions, governments and other public and private organizations in
West Africa and South Carolina. The
Council may arrange for a variety of trips and trade missions to West
Africa and will help host delegations from West Africa, when they visit
South Carolina. The Council will help to develop, attract or display
exhibits, art, artifacts and other items related to West Africa, that
help to further the Council's mission. The
Council may raise funds for a variety of humanitarian purposes related
to West Africa and for other purposes in support of its mission.
MEMBERSHIP: Council
membership is open to anyone who lives or works in South Carolina and
pays the appropriate membership fee. Out-of-state Associate Members
are also welcome. To become a member of The West Africa Council of
South Carolina, simply complete the membership application form below
and mail it along with a check made payable to: The Corporation for
Economic Opportunity, for the applicable membership fee, to: 116
Wildewood Club Court; Columbia, SC 29223.
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THE WEST AFRICA COUNCIL OF SOUTH CAROLINA
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
(please print)
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
Organization: _____________________________________________________________________
Street Address: ____________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip/Country: _____________________________________________________________
Area Code/Telephone: (If international, please include country & city codes)______________________________
E-Mail Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Signature / Date: __________________________________________________________________
Please select a Membership Category:
______ Student ($10) ______ Individual ($25)
______ Family ($40) ______ Associate ($50)
______ Corporate ($100) ______ Benefactor ($250)
Please Make Checks Payable to: The Corporation for Economic Opportunity
