Hamilton-based charity resumes fundraising efforts for 1st Liberian library

After years on hiatus due to the Ebola outbreak, a Hamilton-based charity has resumed its fundraising efforts to build Liberia's first library since the civil war. 

Leo Nupolu Johnson, who founded the non-profit Empowerment Squared, put building a learning centre in his hometown of Paynesville, Liberia on pause to provide aid until receiving an "all clear" from the United Nations.  

The project had groundbreaking ceremonies this fall in Canada and Liberia, with the Hamilton public library acting as the centre's "sister library."  

Johnson left Liberia in 1998 following the civil war and spent eight years in refugee camps in the Ivory Coast and Ghana before coming to Hamilton in 2006, . Being back in his hometown for the groundbreaking, he said, was powerful. 

"I'll be honest, I broke into tears. In my lifetime I've never had the opportunity to actually do this," he said.

"What even got me more emotional was just the fact that people looked at me, and you could still see them thinking that this was impossible, but [they were] realizing it before their eyes."

Johnson said he grew up seeing international impact projects done by people who had status or money, which made them seem like "magic." He said he hopes to inspire local Liberians to see themselves in the project. 

"We want people to understand how the resources are gathered, how the planning is happening [to make] sure they are part of that process because we will hope that they are able to build the next learning centre if we cannot," he said. "There's no logic in having one facility of this kind in an entire country."

Johnson said every step of the way will be documented so that there is a "road map" for others to follow. 

The learning centre will be built in three phases, including a recreation area and updates to town hall.  

The centre will serve 300,000 people in the immediate area. 

Willems Ransom, a mcCallumSather architect, said the design will have to account for no "reliable" power grid or municipal water. Designers are exploring options to store water on site and regulate temperature, like thermal mass for walls, which naturally absorbs heat. 

They've also looked at installing solar panels and using the computer lab as a "battery bank" to store energy. 

Ransom said the project will prioritize local workers — the construction company will be Liberian, he said, and all the materials used will be manufactured in the country.

He added that engaging with the local community is crucial to understanding the conditions they are designing in. 

Empowerment Squared, in collaboration with its partners, is looking to fund $ 2 million for the project. A charity spokesperson said that the project has received a $100,000 donation, bringing the total up to $165,000. Donations can be made at the Empowerment Squared website. 

Johnson said that anyone wishing to lend expertise to the project is encouraged to reach out.