[Grovenet] 1st Lady of Liberia

[Alana Graham]

This is a reminder that tomorrow (Thursday, April 21)
Rosie-Lee Bryant, the first lady of Liberia will be
visiting Pacific campus.  I would like to invite you
to her speech.  Free and open to the public. Sponsored
by the Center for Women and Gender Equity

Lecture "Women’s Roles and Challenges in Liberia"
Date:  April 21, 2005 Place:  Marsh Hall Auditorium,
Second Floor Marsh Hall (see www.pacificu.edu for map)
Time:  11:00 a.m.

Brief Biography of the First Lady Of the Republic of
Liberia Rosie-Lee Antoinette Williams Bryant

Mrs. Rosie-Lee A. Williams Bryant, wife of the
Chairman, Charles Gyude Bryant, is a devoted mother
with a passion for children. She has demonstrated this
love in her continuous effort to help change the 
lives of the children of Liberia, victimized by the
scourges of war.

Since becoming the First Lady in the National
Transitional Government, Mrs. Bryant has brought the
plight of the children to the attention of
the world, using every opportunity she can, to appeal
to the international community for humanitarian
assistance with the rehabilitation and the healing
process.

She shares the country’s concern about poverty and the
very high illiteracy rate and encourages parents to
take advantage of the "free primary education"
provided for their children and encourages higher
education. In her efforts to contribute to primary
education, she began the renovation of one of the
oldest, historic kindergartens in Monrovia,
the B.W. Payne Kindergarten that was damaged as a
result of the various wars. She is a very strong
advocate of families spending quality time
together and giving their children unconditional love,
which is so crucial in building self-confidence and
self-assurance. She believes in treating everyone with
respect and dignity even the little children.

"The children…especially the children, are my number
one priority, as they are the future of Liberia; and
the elderly, our history" she says. Her love and
concern particularly for the children, women and the
elderly have earned her the nickname "Mama Rosie."

She also has a keen interest in HIV/AIDS and is very
active with the National Aids Commission in Liberia.
She visits the HIV/AIDS Center regularly that is
managed by Mother Teresa’s Missionary Sisters of
Charity and is supportive of their programs. She has
made several donations including food, clothing, toys,
drugs, monetary and other assistance to the center,
and other people in the various communities
living with that "dreadful monster".

She is a very strong advocate on women’s issues.  In
the area of women’s health, she is working very hard
in getting assistance to have mammogram machines,
which are non-existent today in Liberia, brought into
the country and to raise the breast cancer awareness.

She founded The New Liberia Development Foundation,
Inc., a non-profit organization, for the sole purpose
of coordinating and providing humanitarian assistance
to the destitute and impoverished children of
Liberia. The schedule she has kept at home and abroad,
visiting orphanages, schools, hospitals, speaking
before numerous organizations and literally pleading
for help for her people, is a testament to her
tireless efforts to raise the awareness and funds in
order to achieve these goals.

As an Assistant Commissioner of Maritime Affairs,
Training & Labor during the administration of the late
President William R. Tolbert, Mrs. Bryant was
responsible for training, labor negotiations, the 
recruitment and placement of Liberian Marine Officers
and Seamen on the Liberian registered ocean-going
vessels. She assisted with the establishment of
the Mano River Union Training Institute in Liberia and
the Maritime Institute in Ghana. Prior to returning to
Liberia, she was employed with
United Airlines, Regional Sales, Planning and
Development Department.

On May 10, 1968, Rosie-Lee met Charles Gyude and they
got married in December 1974.  On May 10, 1978, they
became proud parents of Cheryl Re’Nette and later,
Charles Gyude, II on December 8, 1980. After the
1980 uprising in Liberia, Mrs. Bryant resided in the
United States of America with her family.  She is a
devout Christian and is a member of the Metropolitan
Baptist Church in Washington, DC.  and the Zion Grove
Baptist Church in Liberia, her home church.  She is
involved in many community outreach programs.

Mrs. Bryant graduated from the St. Teresa’s Convent in
Monrovia, and attended the University of Liberia,
where she earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in Political Science & Economics. She
also received training in Amsterdam and has a
Certificate in Human Resource Development. She is
committed to alleviating the plight and suffering 
of all Liberians, especially the children, women and
the elderly.

Martha Rampton, Professor of History
     

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