Dr. Kit Miyamoto's Field Journals
  • Home
  • Kit’s Journals
    • Afghanistan
    • China
    • Ecuador
    • Haiti
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Nepal
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • Ukraine
    • Guest Journals
  • About Miyamoto
    • Miyamoto International
    • Miyamoto Relief

Liberia, Part 1: My First Day in Africa

August 29, 2014December 11, 2018,
  • Prev
  • Next
This post is part of a series called 2014 Liberia Earthquake Journals
Show More Posts
  • Liberia, Part 1: My First Day in Africa
  • Liberia, Part 2: The Mission Begins
  • Liberia, Part 3: Wild Beach

MONROVIA, Liberia–The African heat and humidity mingling with the smell of burning gas bombarded me as I stepped off the plane. The lush green jungle that framed the airport and the insect noises vibrating through the air overwhelmed me. After a hellish 27 hour flight from California, it was a vivid welcome to Liberia. This West African country is home to 4 million people.

In November 2013, we received a letter from Liberia’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Amara Konneh, of the Republic of Liberia. Its purpose was to invite Miyamoto International to visit Liberia to advise the government on low-income housing construction. After many years of vicious civil war since 1989, lack of proper housing remains a major issue.

The Haitian government and the Minister of Finance of Liberia had discussed Miyamoto International’s work in the low-income housing sector in Haiti, which included the repair of 12,000 houses after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. This meeting took place at a summit and prompted Minister Konneh to visit Miyamoto’s offices in California to seek our consultation.

A view from a Monrovia hotel.

In the meeting in California, Minister Konneh explained that the availability of affordable, well-constructed houses remains one of Liberia’s most pressing social and economic challenges. He told us that the vast majority of Liberian families living in cities reside in zinc-roofed houses that are small, dirty, wet and hot; these rent for high prices in overcrowded urban slums with little to no access to basic services.

Liberia, a coastal West African nation rich in natural resources and culture, had suffered violent civil war between 1989-1996 and 1999-2003 that disrupted economic activities over an extended period of time and contributed to the severe impoverishment of the country.  Most businesses were destroyed and investors left. Once one of the few middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, post-war Liberia was ranked 182 out of 187 on the 2011 Human Development Index.

I was honored to be invited on an official visit to assist the Government of Liberia in finding cost-effective sustainable solutions to improve the lives of the Liberian people and address the country’s pressing housing challenges.

A joyous woman in tradition African attire and matching headdress escorted our team to the VIP airport lounge where Edmund Cojolo, the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Finance and our loyal guide and guardian for the week, awaited our arrival.

He goes simply by Cojolo and is a tribal-origin Liberian. Built like a NFL defensive end, tall with broad shoulders, he is in fact one of the tallest men I’ve ever met; Michael Jordan would look short standing next to him.  He never smiles, but is extremely professional.  I was determined to make him smile in the five days I was there.

Hanging on the wall of the lounge was a framed photo of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Africa’s first female head of state) and Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who looked just like the man in the lounge sitting on the couch drinking coffee.  When he stood up to greet us, it turned out he was, indeed, the Vice President. The Minister of Commerce and Industry of Liberia, Axel Addy, soon joined us.

The typical architecture of Monrovia.

With such an unexpected warm welcome to Africa, I was confident that the week ahead would be a rich experience.  As we drove for an hour on a bumpy road through thick jungle to the capital city, Monrovia, my thoughts were deep in the upcoming trip ahead and what might await us. A red sunset on the African horizon burned in the west.

Subscribe to my blog on the right side of this page (at the top) and travel with me through some of the highlights of my visit to Liberia – a place of culture, many challenges and a people who are welcoming, entrepreneurial and dedicated to effect positive change for the betterment of their country. It’s time for it to thrive after so many long years of civil strife. And they are ready.

Kit Miyamoto
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Plus
  • Pinterest

Post navigation

   Miyamoto in Haiti: Love it or Hate it? Love it!
Liberia, Part 2: The Mission Begins   

You may also like

Liberia, Part 3: Wild Beach

Continue Reading

Liberia, Part 2: The Mission Begins

Continue Reading

ABOUT

Kit Miyamoto

As CEO of the structural engineering company Miyamoto International, Kit is dedicated to making the world a better place. In Kit's words: our responsibility as engineers is to make buildings safer by sharing what we know around the world. Join his journey to make the world a better, safer place.

Archives

  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • August 2017
  • April 2016
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • August 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • November 2012
  • March 2011
  • March 2010
  • January 2010
  • May 2008

miyamoto_international

Fixing buildings after an earthquake costs four ti Fixing buildings after an earthquake costs four times more than building them more strongly in the first place. In #Afghanistan, a seven-meter (22 ft.) high wall withstands the #earthquake without damage, showing the potential of clay construction performance against #natural #hazards.

However, not everyone builds correctly, and waterproofing is essential to prevent water damage. Despite this, #clay construction has been used successfully for millennia.

In this earthquake-prone region, #construction techniques have evolved to match the #landscape and withstand natural hazards. #Miyamoto Afghanistan wants to train communities on the right way to #build, using techniques they already know.

The challenge is extracting the best practices developed over the years and making this information available to everyone.

Tap the link in our to read the whole story.
#MiyamotoInternational, with the support of UNOPS #MiyamotoInternational, with the support of UNOPS (@unops_official), is embarking on a vital #mission to restore #education in war-torn areas. Together, we are #rebuilding 50 #schools in the liberated regions in #Ukraine, providing children with the opportunity to continue their education and giving them a sense of normalcy and hope for the future.

You can help restore #hope. Tap the link in our bio to learn more.
Partnered with the UN's International Organization Partnered with the UN's International Organization for Migration (@unimigration), we are actively working to provide safe shelter to conflict-affected families in #Ukraine. 

With a great sense of duty and a profound responsibility, we are committed to repairing 5,600 war-damaged apartments and houses, bringing a sense of normalcy back to affected communities.

Tap on the link in the bio to learn more.
Welcome to #MiyamotoInternational Adriana Navarro- Welcome to #MiyamotoInternational Adriana Navarro-Sertich!

Adriana Navarro-Sertich, Miyamoto’s new Associate Principal, will lead our work on #urban #planning and #rehabilitation. Adriana brings 15 years of critical expertise in #sustainable urban planning and participatory processes, housing, and urban rehabilitation, including sustainable materials and #NBS. Her work and research span over 20 countries and multiple continents, from Haiti to Senegal. She holds a Bachelor of Science in #Architecture from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Architecture, and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley, concentrating on #housing and #community #development.”

We are excited to have Adriana as part of our continuously growing team of professionals at Miyamoto!
As part of the USAID/BHA PREPARE program, #Miyamot As part of the USAID/BHA PREPARE program, #Miyamoto International is working to improve earthquake preparedness and response in Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Through this multi-year initiative, we aim to strengthen the ability of national and municipal disaster management authorities and first responders to prepare for and respond to future earthquakes effectively. By helping to lessen the social and economic impacts of earthquakes in these Latin American countries, we hope to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by these #naturaldisasters.

Tap the link in our bio to learn more.
Join us on Wednesday, February 8th, for an insight Join us on Wednesday, February 8th, for an insightful and inspiring #panel #discussion on DTLA’s Brightest Future: Adaptive Reuse. Learn how adaptive reuse can be a powerful tool to help address #Economic Recovery, #Resilience, #Affordable Housing, #Historic Preservation, and #sustainability in #LosAngeles and beyond.

The interactive and engaging panel -moderated by Traci Wong, Principal of #MiyamotoInternational- will explore the adaptive reuse projects  and policy in the #DTLA area, with an update from special guest speaker Dr. Kit Miyamoto on the #reconstruction efforts currently underway across #Ukraine.

✔️Nella McOsker: President & CEO | Central City Association (CCA)
✔️Hal Bastian: Pioneering Adaptive Reuse Community Developer
✔️Karin Liljegren: Founder + Principal | Omgivning
✔️Deepansh Kathuria: Principal | Miyamoto Los Angeles
✔️Dr. Kit Miyamoto: CEO Miyamoto International (@kitmiyamoto)

Tap the link in our bio to RSVP!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

© Miyamoto International. All Rights Reserved.