Jola House - Open House and VP Visit

The Jola House team! and VP Boakai

Oh my goodness the last two days have been intense to say the least, working on Jola House in the midst of home drama (nothing to worry about).

Let me first explain a little background, the logistics of what it takes to volunteer, and then the last two days.

Elfreda Mayson is a Liberian, who fled Liberia with her family early in the wars…her husband is a successful OBGYN in New York, and her three children are in university throughout the US.  She decided that she needed to return to her homeland and help the women of her community. She has an MBA and degree in interior design. With education, skills, money, and a spirit that is unmatched she founded the Jola House

To recap here is the Jola House website:Jola House

(And yes the website is on the to do list – remember I just started)

I found Jola House through my efforts to find handmade quilts – Gary mentioned that he had seen a quilt display at one of the local hotels – we went and found a Jola House card wedged underneath the glass countertop of the reception desk – but it was not legible – we finally diverted the attention of the attendant I went behind the counter and was able to retrieve the card and next thing I knew Gary and I were visiting Jola House.

Jola House sits about 35-45 minutes by car from city center – and is maybe 10/12 miles. The road is paved but the further you get into Paynesville the more treacherous the potholes! And once there, it is dusty, dry, HOT, and a small village setting of bombed out buildings, huts, and squatters.

Obviously, this town was once a vibrant neighborhood, now just a remnant of the war. So how do I get there? Well I hire a driver with a 4 x 4 truck (with a/c) and a security guy/assistant. Yes it costs ME money to volunteer and it is not cheap! I hired Dillon a recommendation from a friend, he is 27, smart, clean cut and survived the war by fleeing Liberia to Sierra Leone. Dillon found BK, who is 25 about 6’4” and looks like a tall lean Kanye West. BK just graduated A.M.E. University with a business degree and has a dream of opening his own used car business.

So I was able to hire them both for Friday and Saturday which turned out to be perfect because we worked well together – and we all learned a lot about the world.

Before: everything hung on a rack with no price tags.

Merchandised, with price tags!
 (Yes those bottom two cubes will have product
 by tomorrow morning - it is being made!)

Bags on display

Friday was prep day for Jola House – I went out to prepare the team for the open house, craft the program, coach the speakers, and use what little we had to make an “event.” Additionally, I merchandised and prepared the store so that we looked like a boutique, and the quality products were displayed as such for our guests and the media.

To our delight we learned the Vice President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai would be in attendance! We received his protocol officer, media person, and security lead and we discussed the program and photo opportunities.

My favorite for the day was just bringing excitement and energy to a team already exhausted from doing so much work and preparing for this launch (a Liberian term for every event ). I brought my best and made sure everyone was excited and appreciated!

The team on Friday!

You could tell the energy was getting more and more excited as the day progressed, Dillon helped me clean and price tag all the items and BK acted as a gopher and got us supplies, cold water, and snacks as needed. Was quite a group effort and the Jola team enjoyed having us around. I was proud of Dillon and BK for being so involved and positive.

When it was time to coach the staff on their parts of the program it took all of me not to sob. These women came to Jola less than a year ago malnourished and without a livelihood – and today they were proud partners in a business, a Liberian woman business.  I coached the women and they were so excited, I heard their stories and helped them to focus on key points and phrases and shorten their speeches so that it would have the greatest impact – to say they were thrilled is an understatement – they had limited reading and writing skills but they could get by – and so I hand wrote at their request (we have no printers at Jola as Elfreda was robbed of all her computers and equipment two weeks ago). And so I used lined paper and LARGE print to write their speeches and then they practiced – it was awesome!

At the end of Friday I was exhausted EXHAUSTED – and the guys brought me home, we did a little sightseeing on the way –

Getting home, I jumped in the pool and then learned from Vamsi that we had to go to dinner with his colleague and some expats. At dinner, I mentioned my day, and my expat friends affirmed me for my work but were all too nay say about the VP arriving at all. They were so condescending and so – that is so sweet of you to think your little event will get any attention! OMG – thanks for all your support!

Saturday arrived and the guys brought me out to Jola and the energy was electric (ironic eh?). The tent arrived, final details of the program were being ironed out, and we were reviewing the whole event once again with the VP’s protocol officer, Jack and media person, George. Everyone was excited and buzzing and sweeping, and cleaning and all was abuzz!

Liberian Secret Service.

The program was to include and opening prayer from Ma Francis, Elfreda’s 92 year old mother-in-law! 92 ! Never left the country! A true testament to living!

Then Lionetta was to welcome everyone, Elfreda was to speak, Violet was to give a testimony, the VP was to speak and Annie was to thank everyone. After the program there would be lunch, and then we would move to the front for a ribbin cutting ceremony, and we would shop!

We were ready…and the folks came! We had over 60 guests! Very exciting, and of course now we waited for the honorable VP, did I mention it was HOT!

UN Military

As we sat in the back of the compound on concrete in the sun (yea the tent was useless) we waited and then we heard the sirens, the Jola team went to the front of the building to greet the VP and escort him to the tent. I was not prepared for the UN armed (ARMED) military convoy and the entire security convoy-I don’t know why but there is something about giant UN military white trucks with flashing lights and GIANT UN military men in blue and white carrying GIANT machine guns and flak jackets and helmets that was a little overwhelming as they descending and surrounded the compounded. Once secured the VP was allowed to exit his SUV and greet the awaiting Jola team!

VP meeting the team

The program was a huge success! Everyone was on point, the media person was happy, media was happy, the VP was happy, his entourage was happy – Jola was happy! Then folks who lived outside the compound were standing on their walls and tables so they could peer in and see the excitement! Was so much fun.

Ma Francis greeting the VP

Phew! So good was the program the VP agreed to lunch and talk to the team and the crowd – I was even able to secure photos of Dillon and BK shaking hands with the VP (of course I later realized I did not get a photo of me! Ugh). Dillon and BK were blown away and could not stop thanking me – BK even told me yesterday I did not believe you – and today you helped me to meet my very own Vice President –you are really a friend. So this is what we do yes?! Win-win for everyone!

My security guard, Dillon meeting the VP.

The ribbon cutting and shopping extravaganza was exciting! Did I mention I was in a suit and tie – running around and it was H O T! During the program the heat of the day sent me iphone into meltdown and Mariah’s Obsessed started playing in my pocket – OY! And it would not turn off the iphone was on fire and would not respond so I ran to the back of the compound and tried muffling it in the shade until it stopped – UGH!

There is one male trainer named "D" here is a photo of him. I am going to write more about him in a post - because I think he deserves his own post - I don't know a lot about him but I do know that out of the whole team he can actually design and create: he even designed and made the jacket he wore - he wants to have his own Label called D wear.

Dillon in back presenting the VP with a portfolio. Sorry about the
pic, it was crowded and the media was to my left so they prevail, eh?

Post on D: Dwear

Finally FINALLY the VP left (I was about to kick him out) and even more folks arrived to shop!

It's Over!

Well now that the best was over – I changed into shorts and a tshirt and completely passed out in the work room! That’s when the Jola team started thanking me and hugging me and we were all having a good time! I gave the iphone to one of the women and she wouldn’t put it down she loved taking pictures with the iphone.

What a great day for Jola! And for Liberia! And for Me!