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Introduction

In January of every year, Sean Devereux Day is celebrated in Liberia by the Salesian family, friends of Sean and all young people. This celebration is usually marked by intense youth activities, games,sports and many exciting features. After last year’s celebration in Monrovia a suggestion was made to hold the 2008 festivities in Tappita for the first time. This suggestion was welcomed and accepted by all. So all preparations were made by the Sean Devereux Liberian committee for Tappita to host this year’s occasion. Indeed from January 5-7,2008, Sean Devereux Day was successfully celebrated in Tappita.This report therefore presents the major highlights of this celebration; which included indoor and outdoor activities.

Why Tappita?

It would be rather out of place to mention Sean Devereux in Liberia without mentioning Tappita. It can be recalled that in the late 1980s; specifically 1989, Sean came to Liberia as a Salesian Volunteer and was assigned in Tappita with the St. Francis High School. Sean served as the Soccer Coach, an English teacher and a geography teacher at the school. While at St.Francis, Sean introduced a weekly photo magazine called’ Life at St. Francis’ which highlighted the major activities of the week in a pictorial form. Sean also introduced track and field at St.Francis and prepared a team to participate in the 1990 national Olympics-that was to be held but was cancelled because of the ensuing Liberian civil war. Sean was always with the young people of Tappita.He was always seen in one activity after another with the children of Tappita.That is why when it comes to Sean, Tappita should never be left out.

Where is Tappita?

Tappita is a city (by Liberian standard) located in the North of Liberia in the lower part of a county called Nimba.Tappita is a headquarter of the Tappita district, which comprises five clans and many towns. The city is mainly inhabited by the Dan,Man,Gbi,and Krahn ethnic groups. Majority of the inhabitants are farmers. Others are teachers,businesspersons,Industrial workers etc.It is a hilly community with a river running in between (The Gwen River). It has three high schools, several elementary schools and an estimated population of nearly 20,000 people-mainly youth.

The Trip.

On January 5,2008, a team comprising of the members of the Sean Devereux Central Committee in Monrovia, departed Monrovia for Tappita. They traveled all day and arrived mid night. The next day, (Jan.6,2008) they took a tour of the city. The members included: Amadu,Derrick,Cletus, Nyanti and Flowers.

Activities:

Parade

The occasion began with a colorful parade through the principal streets of Tappita;beginning from the St Francis catholic mission to the Tappeh Memorial High School Campus. The participants were students from the various schools in Tappita, youth groups, Soccer Teams, Children groups from surrounding towns and villages etc.

Indoor Program

The parade was followed by an indoor Program in the auditorium of the Tappeh Memorial high School. During the program, speeches were made, a drama entitled, “The life of Sean Devereux was performed and special statements were made by the city authorities including the land Commissioner who was instrumental in acquiring the land on which the Sean Devereux Vocational training center is to be built. The indoor program was climaxed with refreshment.

Outdoor program: Sports

The entire occasion was climaxed with a grand soccer showdown. A mini Olympic was organized in which various teams from Tappita and its environs participated. Some participating teams included: Yreah Town,Gbi,Barnlegea,Vahn Town, Harris’s farm etc. A total of 21 Footballs were distributed among all participating teams and the winning teams were rewarded the jerseys.

Tour of site, presentation and departure

On January 7, which was the third and final day of the occasion, the committee members from Monrovia, decided to take a tour of the 100 acres of land provided for the construction. The land was assessed and proved satisfactory by the team. After this a tribal certificate of authorization was presented to the committee by the chiefs and elders of Segbeh Town; the community that provided the land. This document was gracefully received by the committee members. The team later departed Tappita for Monrovia.

Thus ends the occasion.

Plans For The Acquired Land.

The Sean Devereux Tappita Project was fortunate to have obtained 100 acres of land from the people of Tappita.This land which is situated between Tappita and Segbeh Town will be the home for all of the projects, programs and activities related to Sean Devereux in Tappita.All present and future constructions will be done on this land. It is our dream that the entire land be occupied with as many structures as possible to host various activities. As of now the Sean Devereux Tappita committee has come forth with the following activities and ways in which the land will be utilized.

Main Campus building – Dormitory (Males and Females) – Workshops for the various technical departments(auto mechanic, Masonry, Carpentry,Sewing,Agriculture,Welding etc ) – Student centre – Community Radio Station to be called “Echoes of Sean” – Guest house – Conference hall – Computer Training – Administrative house – Planting of tree crops (Rubber etc) – Planting of Oil palm – Vegetable gardens – Animal husbandry – Fish pond – Sports Ground – Etc

These and many others are goals and objectives we are striving towards. With faith in the Lord and our hope in our most reliable friends in the UK. We will achieve this goal

Thanks and God bless.

Wogbeh.

After almost five years online, our website is due for some spring cleaning. New photos and a new layout will grace what you see of the site, whilst a brand new content management system – powered by WordPress – will make management and updates a much easier task for all involved. During the upgrades, which may take up to a couple of weeks, the news section of the site has been stripped down (as you can see) but will be re-integrated to the new website for 2006, as soon as it’s ready. Thanks for your patience, your ongoing support of the site and particularly of the Fund.

Mark Howells Site Admin, www.seandevereux.org.uk

New photographs have been added to our gallery today, having been sent in to us by Daahir Cali from Kismayo in Somalia, of the International Human Rights Day last December. You can see them here.