Short Story! THERE IS ALWAYS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL:

Written by Lucas Anuforo
Email: peter.lemachi@yahoo.com

Lydia Smith has cut niche for herself. Her dark brown skin that glows like an elite model with her beautiful smile and creative craft of handmade cloths, I can imagine her being flaunt on cover page of fashion magazine.

She’s a Liberian from the Bong County, in the central region of Liberia. Lydia started very early in life as a young school girl who lost both her parents, mother died of cancer during the early years of the war in 1989 while her father died during the cause of the Liberian civil war of the 90s. 

She moved into a refugee camp in Ghana with three of her younger siblings under the tutelage of Agnes Ducker a Liberian until she became 18. “There was no good medical service in place, even before the war started so the war made it worst. Though I know that if there were good medical care, may be enough drugs at the time of the war my old ‘Ma’ would have at least stayed more three years.” 

She was a young school girl of thirteen when the war broke out. And was the second of a family of five children. The responsibility of her younger siblings was forced on her when her father and her elder brother who was fifteen then were forced to join the militia as this was seen as men’s traditional role.

Lydia was a victim of human brutality, greed and violence. She went through ‘thick and thin’ of the war. “I was one of the thousands of girls, sisters and daughters who were devastated by the Liberian civil war of 1989 in numerous ways; rape and sexual violence by combatants were order of the day. We were displaced and as such lived as refugees even in our own country until an escape route was made available.”

“At this time everyone was in disarray. There was no Man in the family to protect us, even in other families. I became the man to protect my younger siblings until our village was attacked and we were captured. My baby sister was the first to be raped, then myself and other girls. This became everyday occurrence which made us get used to it. I, along with my sisters not only us though, were conscripted into cooking for them and other domestic services, I mean the fighters. I was very stubborn to do their domestic chores notwithstanding that we could eat from there as well rather because I was taught great Christian values by my parents.” 

However, before the war broke out, Lydia was in one of the ‘bush’ schools in her community where she learnt pottery, politics, religion, tailoring and other forms of domestic skills like; traditional agriculture, cooking and basket weaving. This is a non literate system of education, though this form of education is not widely seen today. “Yeah I love education, with or without good infrastructures. Those days there was no roof on our heads or walls to lean on rather we enjoy the cool breeze from the bush while learning with the whispering of birds. Education has always being a priority in my family, my father has wanted a better life us because he believes on the power of knowledge that one day we will surely make it.” 

Paradoxically, Lydia would have grown to be one of the early graduates in her community if not for the civil war that ripped the country apart. While in Ghana she did not relent, with her innate sense of design and little knowledge from school. 

Lydia is a multi-talented individual. She would design unique clothes from piece of scarf patched together with her needle and thread; she also designs handmade greeting cards. This caught the attention of the talent hunts from the Ghanaian department of trade and enterprise a body that trains children with special talents but unfortunately, she didn't make it because of her refugee status. 

In everything she does, she create enthusiasm irrespective of the situation she saw herself at that moment. “The death of my mum and dad has been a source of inspiration to me, that’s what has energized me up till this time.” 

Agnes Ducker’s death brought another devastating blow to Lydia; she was like a mother to her and her younger siblings. She took very good care of them in the refugee camp. They all called her ‘mother’ because of her good charitable heart. Unfortunately she died just few months to the end of the war in 2003. “She showed me love, and made me not to reflect much on the death of my parents. I owed her everything; she was a real mother indeed may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.” 

As the second civil war ended in 2003 with much destruction of lives and properties, people were displaced, life receded into past the only affordable hope were from the United Nations and other charitable organisations. 

There were Lots of challenges in the face of adversity such as; unemployment which was about 85 percent high. Security was another big challenge; women and children can’t freely move around in fear of rape and other form of repression from predictors. Children couldn't go back to school. “In refugee camp, my future looks bleak but I was strong hearted, I remembered the wise sayings of my late father and that kept me going, ‘refuse to give up hope even when life seems so miserable’.” 

When she went back to Liberia in 2005 (she has already turn 29 years) with her siblings there were much interest groups calling for women to rise and fight for their right and peace this caught her interest to team up with others to form an NGO called “Louder Voice” which represents the interest of women against violence. She was among those who championed the course that saw the organisation became a house hold name in fighting women’s right in Liberia. 

Lydia was also a member of the organisation called Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace. According to her “I was one of those victims of the war who were raped and dehumanized by Charles Taylor’s men, I will not allow another woman to pass through what I have gone through” says Lydia. 

However Lydia was the type that whenever she set her heart for a goal she will always succeed. She decided to enroll into college through the little money she earn from sewing cloths and card design. She completed her secondary education in 2009 with 7 distinctions in her kit. Lydia’s ambition was to read law in the university but due to her poor financial state the dream seem to be eluding her. 

In Liberia as things were getting back to normal there was a scholarship scheme set up by the government to help indigenes especially those that were unable to pay for their university education “when I heard about this scheme I decided to enroll, thinking that it is one of those government programmes that never come to fruition, but it was later when I saw that, my name was enlisted among successful candidates I couldn't believed it with my eyes,” says Lydia. 

The terms and condition of scholarship was for the candidate to study abroad which Lydia was sent to Ireland at University College Dublin (UCD) presently she’s studying psychology. “I will be much delighted to see myself as a graduate of psychology because when I finish, I will go back to Liberia to give back to my country and set up an NGO that will cater for those Liberians that were devastated mentally and psychologically by the traumas of the war especially those child soldiers who must have grown into teenagers and adult hood.” 

However, in Ireland Lydia and some Liberians has set up a forum where all Liberian migrants in the country converge once in every month called “Diaspora Forum.” The aim and objectives of this was to create awareness to the citizens to keep in touch with Liberia and also contribute their quota in rebuilding the war torn country. “Liberia has seen her rise and fall but, Liberia will rise again” says Lynda. 

Despite being a student in Ireland, she’s always there for her younger ones. Lydia works on part time bases; this enables her to save money and send to her sibling back home in Liberia. She has been a source of inspiration to them. She has given them hope and thought them on how hard work can pay.

Lydia is one of those young Liberians who believe that war is like an inferno and a deadly scourge which can destroy what a nation has laboured for centuries in a short time. But through determination, understanding and hard work Liberia as a nation, will soon recover from the rancour of the war and forge ahead as a great nation where youths Like Lydia, and others who suffered the brutalities of war will hold their head high and be proud to call Liberia their own nation.