Our journey began years ago when our core founders were colleagues, working on health programs in contexts of protracted crises at various times across Africa. We shared a vision for what support to these communities could look like.

The West Africa Ebola epidemic in 2014-2016 would be the largest and most deadly Ebola outbreak in history. The outbreak caused the collapse of Liberia’s health systems and near-total economic collapse. Schools were closed. At least 8,000 children had lost at least one parent to Ebola.

The Ebola epidemic occurred just 10 years after the end of Liberia’s brutal, 14-year civil war that had left the country in ruins. The fragile recovery from the war that had just begun to gain traction, came to an abrupt halt.

Kolahun, a rural area in northwestern Liberia, where several of our core founders had worked, was particularly hard hit by the epidemic. Kolahun faced monumental challenges – high morbidity and mortality, rising infant, child and maternal death rates, food insecurity, lack of safe water and sanitation, illiteracy and years of missed schooling. And a growing epidemic of exploitation and sexual violence.

During the epidemic, Liberia lost almost 10% of its physicians. The result: 111% increase in maternal mortality. Indeed, a hidden epidemic emerged as the health system collapsed and many thousands of additional, preventable deaths occurred.

During the war, fertile farm land returned to “bush” and fields were again abandoned during the epidemic, leaving Liberia needing to import nearly 80% of its food. The epidemic compounded the problem of missed schooling and the nation’s high illiteracy rate of 57%, by closing schools for an entire academic year to prevent the spread of the disease. Out of school and more vulnerable to abuse, teen pregnancy rates significantly increased, causing further school drop-outs. 

Mass rape had been used as a tool of war — in one study, 75% of women had been raped. Sexual violence continues to haunt these communities.

In early 2015, RESTORE HOPE: LIBERIA began providing community-based services in health and supporting children and families. In 2020, RHL launched its mental health program providing community-based group therapy by trained community members in response to the epidemic of depression Liberia is experiencing.

We’re on a mission to positively impact the health and well-being of underserved communities across Liberia.

Vision:

Communities living in absolute poverty, who have survived complex emergencies, are able to thrive, rebuild their communities and lead healthy, productive and peaceful lives.

Mission:

To improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in post-emergency settings by providing basic health, education and income generating activities in order to alleviate extreme poverty and empower communities to become their own agents of change.

Values:

Persistence, Partnership, Relationship, Evidence-Based, Flexibility