The civil war in Liberia that lasted from 1989 to 2003 (with a
brief break), forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee
their homes. In 1992 the Centre for Liberian Assistance was
formed to support female refugees. In Ghana's Buduburam camp,
more than 40,000 people, the majority of whom are women and
children, struggle to survive. Until the 2005 election of Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf violence kept Liberians from returning home.
Today, the high costs of travel prevent most refugees from
returning. "The women have a feeling of hopelessness. Most of
them either lack the employment skills or financial support
necessary to provide economic stability for their families,"
explains Hawa Bropleh, head of the Centre for Liberian
Assistance. In 2000, all U.N. organizations pulled out of
Buduburam, and the remainig aid organizations ignored women's
needs. The women in the camp told the Centre that their first
priorities were education for their children and health care for
all. Secondly, they wanted to learn skills to bec