United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
Jane Morse
14 December 2011
Washington — Eddie Jarwolo of Liberia traveled many miles to reach Portland, Oregon, to participate in the Community Solutions Program for professional development sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. And he has been racking up even more mileage in the past four months with the Bus Project.
Unique to Oregon, the Bus Project gets its name from the bus some 100 nonpartisan volunteers use to travel throughout the state to register voters and meet community members to find out what issues people care about most.
Jarwolo is no stranger to this kind of work. In Liberia, he is the executive director of the small nonprofit organization known as NAYMOTE [National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections] Partners for Democratic Development. The organization strives to empower young Liberians by increasing their participation in politics and community life.
“Since independence in 1847, [Liberia’s] efforts to install credible democracy have been slowed down by controversial electoral results,” Jarwolo said. “I strongly believe citizens have yet to gain confidence in the political system of the country due to failed campaign promises.”
Liberia’s political system, Jarwolo said, has been unable to provide its citizens with adequate services and employment. “With my Bus Project experience, I can better face these challenges and assist in transforming the system,” he said.
“At the Bus Project I learned about teamwork, fundraising, developing young political leaders and how to recruit and maintain volunteers. It was an awesome experience, where I met great men and women focused on one mission: to drive votes, drive leaders and drive change,” Jarwolo said.
“I especially appreciate all the field trips, outreach, canvassing, registering folks [to vote] on the streets, and signing in folks to get involved in city planning,” Jarwolo said. “Additionally, my sessions on civic engagement and community organizing with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement at the Portland City Hall and Oregon’s Voice [a Web page posting articles from guest columnists throughout the state] gave me additional skills and knowledge. I also established professional contacts that will serve me well in Liberia,” he said.
Jarwolo is one of 64 community leaders from around the world who were chosen for the 2011 Community Solutions professional development program based on their achievements working in the fields of transparency and accountability, tolerance and conflict resolution, environmental issues and women’s issues.
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