AIFO was founded in 1961, with its HQs in Bologna, Italy.
AIFO is an International Non-Governmental Organisation working in the field of International Health Co-operation and globally is an official partner of:
- World Health Organization (WHO);
- International Federation of Anti-leprosy Associations (ILEP);
- International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC);
- Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI);
- People’s Health Movement (PHM);
- Italian Global Health Watch (OISG);
- Disability Research Resource Centre by FIRAH; Italian Network on Disability & Development (RIDS);
- Italian Society of Leprologists (SIHAN).
AIFO is present in 12 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, with 33 projects in support of people with disabilities through the adoption of the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) strategy.
AIFO IN LIBERIA (INCLUSIVE DISABILITY)
In Liberia, AIFO started with a local NGO SSBI as back as 1997 with relief items to be distributed to the communities and persons with disabilities affected by the on-going civil war.
AIFO has been the implementing partner for the EU co-funded project titled: ‘From Exclusion to Equality. Promoting Community Based Rehabilitation in Liberia’, which has brought AIFO to partnering with the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) for the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) National Program which was implemented in 6 Liberian counties: Margibi, Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, and Maryland. The CBR program is the most relevant and systematized approach and among other things seeks to develop a national system of community-based rehabilitation by providing improved access to health, educational, livelihood and social services for persons with disabilities in Liberia.
Vision
Enabling opportunities for persons affected by leprosy, persons with disabilities, women/children and members from vulnerable and marginalized communities to lead a better quality of Life
Mission
AIFO, Liberia is a professional non-profit health and development organization that enables opportunities for persons affected by leprosy, persons with disabilities, women, children and members of poor and vulnerable groups, through focused healthcare, education and economic empowerment initiatives in Liberia with the aim of providing a better quality of life and creating large scale positive change.
Our Core values are built on expanding opportunities creating an inclusive world where underserved populations such as people affected by leprosy, people with disabilities and women and children, enjoy equal rights and privileges.
Inclusiveness – We are committed to engaging, supporting and recognizing the values of all members of society, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity, age, physical or mental ability, socio economic status and geography.
Integrity – We value transparency and accountability in all our professional work, with clear policies and procedures while displaying the utmost level of honesty in our financial dealings.
Effectiveness – We value efficiency and excellence in our work, constantly challenging ourselves to perform better, explore new opportunities and meet and exceed programme targets and to improve and deepen the impact of our interventions.
Innovation – We have been at the forefront of innovations to eliminate leprosy and disability, partnering with organizations that have shown commitment and dedication to using new and innovative methods of solving these challenges. We value creativity and inclusiveness in programme design and development.
Born in 1903 in Nevers (France), Raoul Follereau seemed set for a life as a writer and poet with the publication of his first volume, The book of love, when he was only 17 years old. His career as writer and poet and subsequent marriage to Madeleine Boudou at 22 continued on the conventional path.
But, in 1936, the course of this sensitive writer’s life changed dramatically to that of a great social reformer. A routine assignment through an Argentine newspaper to the Sahara region brought him face to face with leprosy-affected persons for the first time. The strong social discrimination meted out against these unfortunate people, set Follereau on a crusade against this discrimination. Over the next ten years, he traveled the world many times, holding 1200 conferences which allowed him to support the building of Adzope`in Ivory Coast, the town of leprosy affected persons.
What began there, spread into a strong campaign to free them from the segregation imposed by society for centuries. Not confining himself to mere speech, Follereau set an example, visiting them and embracing them to promote the idea that leprosy affected persons are human beings. To him goes the credit of establishing the World Leprosy Day, observed even today in most countries in the world on the last Sunday of January each year.
Exactly thirty years later, in 1966, his initiative resulted in the setting up of ELEP (European Federation for the associations working against leprosy). Later on, it became international and came to be known as ILEP, a federation of major anti-leprosy organizations).
In 1975, he submitted the text of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Leprosy Affected Persons to United Nations. Follereau died in Paris in 1977 on December 6, but his work lives on through organizations all over the world which call themselves ‘Friends’ of Raoul Follereau. AIFO work in Liberia is an attempt to translate this doctrine into reality. We call ourselves ‘Amici di Raoul Follereau’, which means ‘Friends of Raoul Follereau’.
Meet The Team
Silvia Poggioli
Country Director
Silvia has thirteen years’ experience as manager and researcher for the non-for-profit sector, in the fields of disability, livelihood, transport (rural transport access and emergency transport systems) and health (maternal health and HIV prevention).
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She has experience of working in Brazil, India, Italy, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK and with multiple donors, including: The European Union, DFID, Comic Relief, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, CHAI and BMGF.
Silvia is an effective project manager, committed to quality programme delivery and placing improved human conditions and dignity at the core of her work. She builds relations with a range of stakeholders quickly and easily and is widely respected for this. Silvia has a naturally questioning and curious mind and is passionate about contributing to effective, evidence based global developmental solutions.
Silvia graduated in Culture and Human Rights from the University of Bologna (Italy) and holds an MSc in Development Administration and Planning from UCL, London (UK). Silvia is currently representing AIFO in Liberia as Country Director and Project Manager on the Disability and Start-Up intervention.
J. Sylvester Roberts
Local Project Coordinator
J. Sylvester Roberts is a senior staff at AIFO-Liberia currently serving in the position of a Local Project Coordinator on the Disability and Start Up Project and has been working with AIFO Liberia since 2012 serving in many capacities.
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Sylvester has 11 years of working experience serving in many positions such as National Consultant, National Focal Point, CBR Southeastern Regional Coordinator, CBR Central Regional Coordinator, CBR National Coordinator, Project & Training Officer, Special Assistant, and Sign Language Interpreter. J. Sylvester Roberts graduated from the Lincoln College of Professional Studies and holds an Associate Degree in Public Administration. Tolerance and Human Relations are the core pillars in all that Sylvester does to be successful in his line of duties.
Willie Dada Peters
Administrator
Willie Peters serves as the head of Finance, Administration and Logistics. One of his core functions is to ensure sound management and accountability for all of AIFO’s projects in Liberia. He’s also in charge of managing AIFO assets and .....
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ensuring that the institution conforms to all government requirements as far as employment is concerned in Liberia. As an experienced administrator who has worked with several international organisations including Medecine du Monde, Mr. Peters has satisfactorily executed his task very well. His background in Administration, Finance and Logistics allows him to look at the functionality of the institution on a wider scale, making smart decisions while fostering a creative environment for day-to-day operations.
Luther Sangar Mendin
Communication Officer
Luther Sangar Mendin serves as the head of Communications. One of his core functions is to devise new and innovative programs geared towards promoting the visibility of the institution and its programs in Liberia. Luther has had an...
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extensive experience on psychosocial support, communication for development and community integration for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. On these issues, he has served in various capacities, as National Programme and Communication Officer, Project Officer, Training Officer, Research Assistant among others. Luther has sufficient grounding in Development Driven activities through formal training, practice and research. He has obtained several diplomas and certificates in development interventions and is a recent fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Program, a signature effort of former President Barack Obama to train the next generation of African Leaders who will shape the affairs of the continent. Luther is keen on taking high-level concepts and creating accessible solutions that are right for AIFO in Liberia.
Jonathan S. Davis
Regional Coordinator
Jonathan Saye Davis currently serves as the Regional Coordinator for the Disability and Startup Project. His main functions are to coordinate the Community Workers’ job and other possible figures in the field, in line with AIFO projects’ activities; the ...
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coordination includes the monitoring and evaluation of their performance and respect of the role/rules, on-the-job training and their management (substitutions and selections) in collaboration with AIFO Local Program Coordinator and Country Director. Mr. Davis has also worked in several positions with AIFO-Liberia before assuming his current post. To name a few, as supervisor, regional coordinator etc. Jonathan depth of experience is entrenched within the field making sure that all project activities are going on smoothly and timely.
Augustine N. Makor
Community Worker-Nimba County
Augustine N. Makor currently serves as a Community Worker for the Disability and Startup Project in Nimba county covering clusters of communities in Ganta and surrounding communities. His primary duties as community worker is to provide
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programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. He is one of the longest serving field workers for AIFO since 2013. He has also served the Liberian government as an experienced classroom instructor for many years. Mr. Makor has a certificate of achievement in Community Based Rehabilitation, a program implemented by AIFO Liberia and the National Commission on Disabilities of Liberia. He has gained trainings in Leprosy, Tuberculosis Burulu Ulcer, Ebola Management and Control as part of AIFO-Liberia Support to the Government of Liberia for the eradication of Leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases. Makor also has sufficient grounding in Agri-business management for small holder farmers.
Franklin W. Blaye
Community Worker-Grand Gedeh County
Franklin W Blaye currently serves as a Community Worker for the Disability and Startup Project in Grand Gedeh County covering clusters of communities in Zwedru and surrounding communities. His primary duties as community worker is to...
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provide programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. He has worked for many INGOs including Action Contre La Faim (ACF), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) for projects focusing on human rights and social inclusion of vulnerable groups. He has gained trainings in Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Burulu Ulcer, Ebola Management and Control as part of AIFO-Liberia Support to the Government of Liberia for the eradication of Leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases.
Nenlay G. Doe
Community Worker-Nimba County
Nenlay G. Doe currently serves as Community Worker for the Disability and Startup project in Nimba County covering clusters of communities in Sanniquellie and surrounding communities. Her primary duties as community worker is to provide...
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programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. She was once a direct beneficiary of AIFO Liberia previous projects until recently when she was hired by AIFO as an employee. Nenlay, a disabled holds an associate degree in public administration from the Nimba County Community College. She is the president of the Nimba County Disabled Community and also the County Coordinator of the umbrella organisation for all persons with disabilities in Liberia, National Union of Organisations of the Disabled, NUOD. Nenlay is very proactive at advocacy level championing the cause of persons with disabilities in the county.
Krubo Boway
Community Worker- Bong County
Krubo Boway currently serves as Community Worker for the Disability and Startup project in Bong County covering clusters of communities in Gbarnga and surrounding communities. Her primary duties as community worker is to provide...
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programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. She has also worked with USAID DAI/FED as an Extension Officer on the Vegetable Value Chain project which links farmers with local agro-dealers. She has a diploma in secretarial studies from the IRC Vocational Training Institute in N’Zerekore in Guinea.
Arthur Bondo
Community Worker- Bong County
Arthur Bondo currently serves as Community Worker for the Disability and Startup project in Bong County covering clusters of communities in Gbarnga and surrounding communities. His primary duties as community worker is to provide...
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programmatic support for AIFO Project interventions at community and county level. This also involves effective networking and advocacy with project beneficiaries and stakeholders. Arthur has experience working in the social development field serving different capacities as Social worker with the Lutheran Trauma Healing Program in Bong County, County Ssupervisor with the UNDP for sanitation services to the surrounding communities around Gbarnga city and a volunteer of the Red Cross in Bong County.
AIFO-Liberia
19th St. Sinkor (Beach side), Monrovia, Liberia
077 018 2913
info@aifoliberia.org
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