Firestone Scholarships Benefit Liberian Law School
Firestone Natural Rubber Co. has provided $50,000 to Indiana Law to support the rebuilding of the University of Liberia School of Law in Monrovia. The grant will provide scholarships and help with living expenses for Liberian students to study at Indiana Law.
Jallah Barbu and Chan-Chan Paegar, both law graduates and practicing lawyers in Monrovia and the first Firestone Scholars, are joined this year by Betty Blamo. The students will return with advanced degrees to join the faculty of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law of the University of Liberia.
Through the work of its Center on Constitutional Democracy in Plural Societies, Indiana Law has for several years supported constitutional democracy in countries such as Liberia, which suffered from a civil war marked by ethnic, linguistic, and other divisions. The scholarships will help build the law faculty at the University of Liberia School of Law, which experienced considerable destruction and financial instability during the war.
"The scholarship and the work of the CCDPS provide me a great opportunity to be adequately prepared to serve my country and contribute to improving the relationship between the United States and my country, Liberia," Barbu said.
"Liberia is in desperate need of lawyers," Professor David Williams, founder and director of the CCDPS, said. "Under the dynamic leadership of Dean David Jallah, the school is now engaged in an energetic rebuilding process. Indiana Law is proud to assist by training two Liberian students each year, who will return to become members of the faculty in Monrovia and increase the capacity of the school to produce the lawyers that the nation needs."
"Liberia's history is full of stories of people who seized the opportunity to get an education in Firestone schools and went on to college on a Firestone scholarship," said Dan Adomitis, president of Indianapolis-based Firestone Natural Rubber Company, which has operated in Liberia since 1926. "Many have built successful careers in business, law, education, health care, and government."
But, he said, the 14 years of civil war and chaos in Liberia destroyed the country, leaving 85 percent unemployment and the public and private school systems destroyed. "Firestone firmly believes education is the key to a brighter future in Liberia. It will bring hope to the country and its young people. Firestone applauds these scholarship recipients for their commitment to restoring Liberia and is pleased to join with Indiana Law to enhance legal education in the country."