Mission to help Liberian communities through football

 

Story by Peter Prandalos

 

 

 

Barrack Point residents, Paul and Meridith Southern have teamed with Football South Coast to collect a mass of football gear that will be sent to two Liberian communities in October.

Paul and Meridith Southern.

 

Paul and Meridith are members of the Beach Church Outreach in Shellharbour and in 2013 after a meeting with Liberian national, Lindgren Farley, they founded Dehwa Misson.  Dehwa Mission provides aid and assistance for communities in Monrovia and Greenville.

“On a recent trip to Liberia in 2014, Paul befriended a football team of 12-15 year olds in the capital, Monrovia and in appreciation of the work he did for them, they changed their name to ‘Paul United,” Meridith recalls.  “It is this team, the people of their community and Lindgren’s community in Greenville whom we are hoping to help through our Mission.”

“Football gear is the aim of our current campaign because we are already working to educate children through the building of a school in Greenville, as well as empowering the women in the communities through agriculture and basketry.”

George Weah with his World Player of the Year award in 1995.

 

Football is the main sport of Liberia and incidentally it is the birthplace of 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah. 

“It’s (football) a religion over there so we thought it would be a good medium for bringing peace and happiness to these children and their families.  It’s going to be like Christmas for these kids.

Football South Coast is assisting the campaign by offering a mass of gear no longer being used and is calling on players, parents and clubs in the area to do the same.

“Half of the gear Football South Coast is helping us to collect will go to Monrovia and be dispersed through Paul United’s community, whilst the other half will be driven 10 hours south-west to Greenville to help out Lindgren’s community.”

 

 

Paul (centre) and Lindgren (far right) during the last delivery of shirts to
the Greenville community.

“Our mission’s work is something Paul and I hope will only continue to grow.”

 For more information visit www.dehwamissions.com