Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of meeting two of Thomas's friends, Joseph Stephen Jota and Meshach Welaka, who came to talk with me about a non-profit organization they are starting, Care Liberia Foundation, with the purpose to "Provide Basic Life Support (BLS) and lifesaving emergency response training to high schools, universities, training institutions, community organizations, and mid-level healthworkers."

Thomas met Joseph when they were both students in a physician assistant course, learning how to provide emergency medical care. As it states on the World Health Organization website, "[o]ver half of deaths and over a third of disability in low- and middle-income countries could be addressed by the implementation of effective emergency and critical care." Addressing this critical need is what Joseph, Thomas and Dr. Mesh plan to do with their organization.

I came to Liberia with an explicit solidarity economy focus. It was heartening indeed to learn from Thomas that he is not only an awesome software developer, but a solidarity economy entrepreneur as well.

They met with me to ask for my support in helping to raise funds for their project. While telling them I have little prior experience with fund raising, and no prior experience with healthcare organizing, I would of course do what I can to help. I am more than happy to be part of any initiative that Thomas Boimah wants to do!

I'll post more on the progress of this organization as it develops. Jetro Web Development will be doing its website, of course, and Thomas announced at the last Jetro Web business meeting that all the members of the co-op would be getting emergency medical care training.