Who we are
Liberia Dujar Association (LDA) is a non-political, non-religious, member-based Swedish non-profit organization that runs a long-term development program in Liberia together with its local partner Liberia Dujar Association-Liberia.
Liberia, the name given by freed American slaves, means “freedom” and Dujar means “awake”. LDA aims to awaken Liberians, Swedes and others to the plight of Liberians and to solicit support in its drive to rebuild Liberia.
LDA-Sweden was established in 1993 by Lois Boyenoh Hemgren. At that time, Liberia was in the midst of a destructive civil war that was to last for another decade. LDA was originally created to assist Liberian refugees in Ivory Coast. During the war in their home country (1989-2003) thousands of Liberian citizens fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast and settled, among other places, in Danané. In the period from 1993 to 2002, LDA assisted refugees by creating and running schools, a vocational training center for women and a day-care center. Since 1998, LDA-Liberia has provided educational services to thousands of school-aged children and youths through the renovation and refurbishment of destroyed and decayed schools across the country as well as operating Grassfield School in a suburb of Monrovia . LDA also constructed a Technical College in Barnesville (Montserrado County) that will offer quality education programs from autumn 2010. LDA has received support from Sida, Forum Syd, Radiohjälpen, UNDP, ActionAid Liberia and others as well as from numerous individuals and companies.
LDA is a member of FRI (Frivilligorganisationernas Insamlingsråd - the Swedish Fundraising Council). FRII promotes safe and ethical fundraising.
LDAs fundraisning account (a so called 90-konto) is controlled by Svensk insamlingskontroll (Sweden's Foundation for Fundraising Control), which guarantees that the fundraising is properly carried out and that the work is not charged with excessive administrative costs. LDAs accounts are also regularly audited by external auditors.
Bamboo well (Foto: Charlotte Booth)
Fandoh School, December 2009 (Foto: Charlotte Booth)
TC construction workers, December 2009 (Foto:Mikael Birgegård)
Tienii school boy, 2009 (Foto: Mikael Birgegard)
Lois Boyenoh Hemgren, founder and Secretary-General for Liberia Dujar Association, was born and raised in Liberia. Lois worked in the Liberian school system for almost 14 years serving as teacher and also principal for one of Liberia's public school. She came to Sweden 1983 as secretary to the Liberian Ambassador and was later responsible the consular division.
During the civil war Lois was stationed in Sweden. Letters from relatives and friends, and news reports from the local media kept her abreast of events in Liberia. Pictures and news reports of the thousands who fled the country led her to create Liberia Dujar Association