Disaboom: Tell us about your organization.
“In 2009, four years after I returned home from the Civil War, I founded C.D.A.M. It was established with the sole aim of
administering education to hundreds of blind, handicap and deaf children and
adults in Liberia and its surroundings regions.
These people with disabilities are homeless, street beggars and have
never obtained any form of education before. I wanted to do this because literacy
empowers people for independent living, and helps the development of the
Nation."
Disaboom: We understand that you have a
disability also.
Berrian “Yes, I have Polio, and walk on crutches and use calipers.”
Disaboom: How exactly are you helping people with disabilities?
Berrian “I am helping others by giving some of them a place to call their home,
food to eat, clothes, shoes and slippers to wear. Also I supply copy books and
pencils to those in school. For those
who need wheelchairs and crutches we also provide. In addition, we offer free
asthma treatment to those suffering from asthma, and Braille Bibles and books
to other organizations and schools who assist the blind in Liberia.
Disaboom: How many are you helping?
Berrian “Right now I have 75 men, women and children who are blind, deaf and
disabled due to the Civil War that went on in Liberia.”
Disaboom: Besides helping with supplies, are there any on-going projects that
you could use help with?
Berrian “Right now I am in the process of building a school for the blind,
handicap and deaf in Liberia, and I need funds to complete it. I need a place
where I can continue to teach these 75 people to read and write. The Hong Kong
Society for the Blind shipped us 200 Boxes of Braille Books that we are sharing
with others. And Steve and Selena from the USA sent us boxes of food, clothes, and
toys, and sunglasses for the blind kids in Liberia. These gifts are so
appreciated.”
Disaboom: I know you don’t have website,
but is there someway that people could learn more about your organization?
People could contact me at: bishop.berrian@gmail.com and visit our facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.108869935874458.17155.100002543557876#!/darlingboy.darlingboy
When Civil War Left Deaf & Blind Children Homeless, One Man’s Compassion Became Their Salvation
Disaboom Interview with Philip W. Berrian Jr, founder of Crawford’s Disabilities of Africa Mission in Liberia