It's a tough one!Sometime in 2012, a very active, friendly and passionate woman came to my office. Then I worked as the Coordinator of the newly established Adolescent Girls Unit of the Ministry of Gender in Monrovia. The woman and an accompanying male would later introduce themselves as Katie Meyler and Macintosh Johnson. Their mission?
They came to talk to my team about More Than Me- an organization that has been working to pay tuition for vulnerable girls and were looking to establish a school for them in West Point. They needed my help since I was in the sector.
We had no reason to doubt the sincerity of their intention especially with a track record of already sponsoring girls in other schools. We requested them to get sectorial clearance and that required due diligence from the Ministry's department responsible as well as work with the Ministry of Education since that was the primary sector they were looking to. This was a routine for any organization interested in working with girls. We also handed them few important contacts to work with. Macintosh became the point person between the Ministry and attended majority of the Adolescent Girls Working Group meetings then. I later left the Unit at the beginning of 2014.
It saddens me reading the lengthy article and viewing the video of the serial rape and violation of the rights and dignity of those girls by someone who should protect them. It is indeed tough! It calls for outrage, screams, the why, the how, the how come and all the lingering questions necessary-- But at the tail of it all, after all the hashtags, after all the noise, after all the posts and media coverage- WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GIRLS?- A question that has no simple "checklisted" answer... Girls far beyond the parameters of More Than Me- GIRLS IN LIBERIA...
Liberia and the culture of Silence: It sucks
Nurse Mator knew long enough, with evidence too that Macintosh was abusing those girls. What did she do? NOTHING, NADA, FWEN! She was protecting her job? What did she do when the case came to light? She stayed with her job. When did she resign? 2017, that's just last year.
To you Michelle Spada- wherever you are- THANk YOU! You did well by reporting this to the police! Something that our own Liberian sister could not.
What did West Point (the community) do? They stood up behind Macintosh and isolated the brave girls who came forward!--If this is not sickening, I know not what it is!--Sadly, this is the Liberian story!
Nurse Mator knew long enough, with evidence too that Macintosh was abusing those girls. What did she do? NOTHING, NADA, FWEN! She was protecting her job? What did she do when the case came to light? She stayed with her job. When did she resign? 2017, that's just last year.
To you Michelle Spada- wherever you are- THANk YOU! You did well by reporting this to the police! Something that our own Liberian sister could not.
What did West Point (the community) do? They stood up behind Macintosh and isolated the brave girls who came forward!--If this is not sickening, I know not what it is!--Sadly, this is the Liberian story!
Our legal system is another challenge.
When the case went to court, 8 out of 12 jurors believed that the girls lied against Macintosh. He only needed one more to side with him and he would be a free man. REALLY? 8 JURORS? Now, this brings me a whole fresh memory- That will be for another day.
Macintosh died of AIDS-AIDS-AIDS! The girls?
When the case went to court, 8 out of 12 jurors believed that the girls lied against Macintosh. He only needed one more to side with him and he would be a free man. REALLY? 8 JURORS? Now, this brings me a whole fresh memory- That will be for another day.
Macintosh died of AIDS-AIDS-AIDS! The girls?
This is not about Katie!More Than Me needs to take responsibility but at several levels, many of us do too. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS? Nurse Mator, the legal system especially the prosecution team, the government and all.
We are noted to be an emotionally triggered society who do not follow through issues to the end. Please let us not fail those girls for the tenth time again. While More Than Me needs to be held accountable, at the center and end of it all, the interest of the girls must be our primary concern. Here are few recommendations
1. The ten girls need to be cared for every way possible (Psychologically, medically, physically, educationally etc.)
2. The current students at MTM who are sexually active need to be tested for HIV and provided the needed care. (Shutting down More Than Me would create more problem)
3. A thorough background check of all the current staff at MTM must be done.
4. Despite Macintosh is dead, any current or former staff who was part of the rape spree must be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
5. The government must ensure proper and regular monitoring of the school and other schools.
6. A total institutional restructuring needs to take place at MTM
7. The GIRLS must at all time be monitored and protected!
2. The current students at MTM who are sexually active need to be tested for HIV and provided the needed care. (Shutting down More Than Me would create more problem)
3. A thorough background check of all the current staff at MTM must be done.
4. Despite Macintosh is dead, any current or former staff who was part of the rape spree must be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
5. The government must ensure proper and regular monitoring of the school and other schools.
6. A total institutional restructuring needs to take place at MTM
7. The GIRLS must at all time be monitored and protected!
Now here is why I don't think shutting down MTM is a solution.
West Point and many slum communities in Liberia represent a bitter truth of the Liberian narrative.
Very poor families, densely populated community, poor sanitation, health care, poor infrastructure, high rate of unemployment but to name a few.
This is definitely not about a "white savior" mentality. Many local organizations are working in West Point and Liberia as a whole. Their efforts must be applauded. Liberia's problem is multilayered. It requires all hands on deck. Local and international partners. MTM has worked to transform the lives of some of those poor families. Inspiring those girls and giving them hope, a school, a meal, a healthcare that their families couldn't afford.
It was absolutely wrong what Macintosh did. The nurse and all those who were aware not to protect those girls is unthinkable.
The government, MTM, the community must address the root cause of the problem and wholesomely deal with it. Taking away what has become a family will not be in their best interest. Uprooting the nightmares, the predators, pedophiles, and everything that made that space uncomfortable will be the route to take.
Many lessons to be learned, many stories go untold. Hope this triggers a called to us all not settle rape and other SGBV against our girls the family way.
Very poor families, densely populated community, poor sanitation, health care, poor infrastructure, high rate of unemployment but to name a few.
This is definitely not about a "white savior" mentality. Many local organizations are working in West Point and Liberia as a whole. Their efforts must be applauded. Liberia's problem is multilayered. It requires all hands on deck. Local and international partners. MTM has worked to transform the lives of some of those poor families. Inspiring those girls and giving them hope, a school, a meal, a healthcare that their families couldn't afford.
It was absolutely wrong what Macintosh did. The nurse and all those who were aware not to protect those girls is unthinkable.
The government, MTM, the community must address the root cause of the problem and wholesomely deal with it. Taking away what has become a family will not be in their best interest. Uprooting the nightmares, the predators, pedophiles, and everything that made that space uncomfortable will be the route to take.
Many lessons to be learned, many stories go untold. Hope this triggers a called to us all not settle rape and other SGBV against our girls the family way.
In all of this #ISTANDWITHTHEGIRLS