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| THE REAL STORY BEHIND CWI |
| Children's Welfare International |
Just one week after his mother had given birth to Joseph’s youngest sister in 1990, he and his family fled the
fourteen years civil war in Liberia at the age of fifteen (15) for refuge in the Ivory Coast. They walked for three
(3) days in the forest without any food before crossing to Ivory Coast. Having arrived in the refugee camp, life
became very difficult. They could not speak French, which was a big obstacle.
They also had difficulties getting enough food to eat. Joseph and his friends would go hustling each day
working for people in the market in order to earn at least $ 2.00 to help his mom buy food for the family. Some
time when they find no work, they go to the Catholic Church priest to beg for food or some money.
While the situation was difficult for them all in the camp, Joseph who got his name from the church his mother
attended was always concerned for those children between the ages of 5 to 13 years who lived and worked in
the streets due to the suffering in the refugee camp. Most of these children were orphans of the war in Liberia.
Some of them, particularly girls were been sexually abused by the older local citizens, the boys were beating,
falsely accused of stealing, and some were eventually taken to prisons. These children had no one to care for
them, but at least for Joseph, his mother was there to help him grow up.
fourteen years civil war in Liberia at the age of fifteen (15) for refuge in the Ivory Coast. They walked for three
(3) days in the forest without any food before crossing to Ivory Coast. Having arrived in the refugee camp, life
became very difficult. They could not speak French, which was a big obstacle.
They also had difficulties getting enough food to eat. Joseph and his friends would go hustling each day
working for people in the market in order to earn at least $ 2.00 to help his mom buy food for the family. Some
time when they find no work, they go to the Catholic Church priest to beg for food or some money.
While the situation was difficult for them all in the camp, Joseph who got his name from the church his mother
attended was always concerned for those children between the ages of 5 to 13 years who lived and worked in
the streets due to the suffering in the refugee camp. Most of these children were orphans of the war in Liberia.
Some of them, particularly girls were been sexually abused by the older local citizens, the boys were beating,
falsely accused of stealing, and some were eventually taken to prisons. These children had no one to care for
them, but at least for Joseph, his mother was there to help him grow up.
| Joseph F. Jarbah founded CWI as a way of fulfilling a vow he made to God while still living in the refugee camp in Ivory Coast. |
| Joseph F. Jarbah |
| Copyright (C) 2011- Children's Welfare International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 223 Pacific Ave South, Pacific- Washington. Website designed by Joseph F. Jarbah |
Whenever he saw these children scrambling hard just to
eat the leftover food at restaurants, and sleeping in
market places, Joseph was always disturbed and
concerned. After discovering his passion for these
children and finishing his high school, he decided to get
an employment with the “International Catholic Child
Bureau (ICCB), a children’s rights organization working
to help the street children (1997 – 2002).
Unfortunately, late 2002, fighting erupted in the Ivory
Coast and later spread to Liberia again in 2003. With
rebels fighting in both countries, the organization
Joseph worked for, tending to these street children was
forced to pull out of the region due to the lack of security
for its staff. Soon the organization left, and no one was
there to help them, all of the street children living at the
center were force to return to the streets in order to
subsist.
The sad story for Joseph began when the organization
left and he saw the children he helped to recover for
more than seven years from the street return to their
former lives just within few hours. Particularly, one
evening while eating at a restaurant in Guiglo city, he
saw three of the children who had been living at the
Center fighting to get in line at this restaurant in order to
take their turn collecting the leftover food from the tables
after they have finished washing the dishes.
eat the leftover food at restaurants, and sleeping in
market places, Joseph was always disturbed and
concerned. After discovering his passion for these
children and finishing his high school, he decided to get
an employment with the “International Catholic Child
Bureau (ICCB), a children’s rights organization working
to help the street children (1997 – 2002).
Unfortunately, late 2002, fighting erupted in the Ivory
Coast and later spread to Liberia again in 2003. With
rebels fighting in both countries, the organization
Joseph worked for, tending to these street children was
forced to pull out of the region due to the lack of security
for its staff. Soon the organization left, and no one was
there to help them, all of the street children living at the
center were force to return to the streets in order to
subsist.
The sad story for Joseph began when the organization
left and he saw the children he helped to recover for
more than seven years from the street return to their
former lives just within few hours. Particularly, one
evening while eating at a restaurant in Guiglo city, he
saw three of the children who had been living at the
Center fighting to get in line at this restaurant in order to
take their turn collecting the leftover food from the tables
after they have finished washing the dishes.
It was during this moment that Joseph wept and vowed to God that, he would find ways to help get these children off the street and put them back in a
normal family structure of life. As the good lord continues to work mysteriously in his life, Joseph moves to the USA in 2004 as a refugee and
eventually became United States citizen.
In keeping with his promise made to God while in the refugee camp, Joseph and few other friends established the Children’s Welfare International
(CWI) in 2008 to improve the welfare of the orphaned, abused and abandoned children in Liberia by providing a center where they can heal, be
nourished, attend school and grow to become healthy and productive citizens of their society.
For him, the establishment of CWI is Joseph’s way of giving back to his country of birth some of the many blessings God had blessed him with
throughout his struggle for a better future.
Today about 150 children are able to attend schools through of our sponsorship program; while another 150 enjoys the recreational activities at the
center.
normal family structure of life. As the good lord continues to work mysteriously in his life, Joseph moves to the USA in 2004 as a refugee and
eventually became United States citizen.
In keeping with his promise made to God while in the refugee camp, Joseph and few other friends established the Children’s Welfare International
(CWI) in 2008 to improve the welfare of the orphaned, abused and abandoned children in Liberia by providing a center where they can heal, be
nourished, attend school and grow to become healthy and productive citizens of their society.
For him, the establishment of CWI is Joseph’s way of giving back to his country of birth some of the many blessings God had blessed him with
throughout his struggle for a better future.
Today about 150 children are able to attend schools through of our sponsorship program; while another 150 enjoys the recreational activities at the
center.