PAYNESVILLE –Twenty 5 younger girls have graduated from the Heart for Rehabilitation and Reintegration after efficiently finishing a six month program centered on detoxing, psychosocial counseling and rehabilitation.
By Obediah Johnson
The Heart for Rehabilitation and Reintegration was established by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon with the objective of rehabilitating and reintegrating victims of illicit medicine and substance abuse into society for free of charge to beneficiaries.
Since its institution, the middle has served as a refuge for susceptible younger individuals who have been beforehand deserted by their households and communities as a consequence of habit. The newest group of graduates, drawn from Montserrado County, Grand Bassa County and different elements of the nation, shaped the seventh cycle of this system.
Throughout their keep on the facility, the younger girls acquired vocational and life expertise coaching in areas together with pastry making, cleaning soap manufacturing, pc science and primary entrepreneurship, aimed toward getting ready them for productive and unbiased lives after rehabilitation.
The commencement ceremony was held in Paynesville exterior Monrovia on Monday, January 19, and was attended by mother and father, guardians, neighborhood members and supporters of this system. Talking on the ceremony, Senator Dillon acknowledged the ethical and monetary contributions of people and establishments each inside Liberia and within the diaspora that proceed to assist the operation of the middle.
He praised the dedication and sacrifices of the administration and employees of the ability, together with medical docs, nurses, dieticians, counselors, contact tracers and safety personnel, noting that their dedication has helped rework lives that many had given up on.
In accordance with Senator Dillon, the rehabilitation heart was created to offer hope to Liberians who’ve been rejected by society and even by their very own households. He emphasised that the success tales rising from this system reveal that restoration and reintegration are doable with the fitting assist.
“These live testimonials of what we do right here,” Senator Dillon mentioned. “One in all our purchasers got here right here and mentioned she had been on medicine for ten years, however in the present day she is again at school. What we’re doing at this heart is about restoring life and exhibiting that change is feasible. These younger girls you see in the present day have been as soon as deserted by society, mates and households, and plenty of had given up on themselves, however in the present day they’re being reintegrated.”
He additional disclosed that the middle stays dedicated to following up on all graduates to make sure they don’t relapse into substance abuse. He famous that a number of former beneficiaries have already been accepted again into their households and communities and are actually employed or pursuing schooling.
“A few of them are working already,” Senator Dillon added. “One mother or father referred to as from New Jersey and instructed us that her grandson was as soon as on medicine, got here via this heart, recovered and is now residing in america going to varsity. One other graduate from right here is now working as a marketing consultant on the Ministry of Schooling.”
Senator Dillon assured the general public that the middle operates with out political or non secular discrimination and stays open to all Liberians in want of rehabilitation. He mentioned the initiative is pushed purely by a want to serve humanity and restore dignity to deprived youth throughout the nation.
“We don’t politicize this place,” he said. “We don’t care about tribe or faith. We now have taken individuals from Margibi, Bong, Grand Bassa and different counties. We’re doing this just because we will help.”
One of many graduating college students expressed deep gratitude to Senator Dillon and the employees of the middle, describing the expertise as life altering. “Earlier than coming right here, I felt like my life was completed and no one cared about me,” she mentioned. “Senator Dillon gave us hope when everybody else rejected us, and in the present day I’m leaving with expertise, confidence and a brand new imaginative and prescient for my future.”
One other graduate mentioned the assist she acquired helped her reconnect together with her household and rebuild her self-worth. “This heart saved my life,” she said. “Senator Dillon believed in us when society referred to as us names, and now I’m prepared to return and show that change is actual.”
Dad and mom and guardians of the graduates additionally took turns praising Senator Dillon for his compassion and dedication to restoring damaged lives. A mom of one of many rehabilitated younger girls recounted years of ache and humiliation earlier than her little one entered this system.
“In my neighborhood they used to name me a zogo mom,” she mentioned. “Folks laughed at me and my little one due to medicine, however Senator Dillon took my daughter when no one needed her. As we speak I’m proud once more as a mom, and I thank him for giving my little one a second probability.”
One other mother or father described the middle as a blessing to struggling households throughout Liberia. “If not for this program, my little one would in all probability be useless,” he mentioned. “Senator Dillon didn’t ask for cash or politics, he solely requested that we imagine in change, and in the present day we’re seeing the outcomes.”
The mother and father inspired the graduates to stay centered, keep away from returning to substance abuse and keep dedicated to their religion and newly acquired expertise. They expressed hope that the younger girls would function ambassadors of their communities, discouraging others within the streets and ghettos from partaking in medicine and harmful habits.
Recruitment for brand spanking new beneficiaries is at the moment ongoing on the heart, which continues to supply detoxing, medical care and nutritious meals to its residents 3 times each day. Regardless of receiving no direct budgetary assist from the Authorities of Liberia, the Heart for Rehabilitation and Reintegration stays operational via donations and voluntary assist.
Since its launch, the initiative spearheaded by Senator Dillon has positively remodeled the lives of a couple of hundred Liberians, a lot of whom have been as soon as homeless and marginalized as a consequence of drug habit. The middle continues to face as an emblem of hope, restoration and second possibilities for susceptible youth throughout the nation.
