By Morris Darbo of the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society.
Liberia is facing a very serious health crisis (Ebola disease). Over 50% of the present Ebola death rate in the world has occurred in Liberia. Lofa County (the epicenter) is bordering Guinea and Sierra Leone. The Ebola disease entered Liberia through Lofa County at the time farmers were getting ready to start their farming activities. The people of Lofa County are subsistence farmers- mainly producing what they eat to sustain them, but due to the outbreak of the disease during farming season, affected communities were unable to make their farms. Those affected communities lost lot of relatives and family members. Food issue has also become a very serious concern in those affected communities.
In order to stop the spread of the disease, the government of Liberia banned the hunting and eating of all bush meat. This has post serious threat on the survival of farm animals too.
In order to save farm animals and feed the starving population, the Liberia Animal Welfare & Conservation Society (LAWCS) with support from A Well Fed World has embarked on vegan outreach program and the provision of free vegan food to Ebola affected communities in Lofa County. Our target is to reach and feed over 2,000 people with vegan food. This initiative is a life saving project for both the animals and the starving people.
LAWCS spends three days in each community with the initiative:
Day 1: Educating the community members on the importance of vegan lifestyle
Day 2: Preparing and serving the entire community people with vegan food (sample vegan food)
Day 3: Distribute take home vegan food to each family in the community.
