Operation Bright Sparks II supplying vital power to Liberia YMCA

29 October 2002

A group of electricians and IT specialists from Northern Ireland are heading to Liberia next month to install a new power supply to the YMCA in the capital Monrovia.

Monrovia has been without power for the past ten years due to the civil war. At present the YMCA has to manage by using a 50-year-old field generator, which consistently breaks down.

The work of Bright Sparks II will include installing a new main generator, completely rewiring the building and installing a computer suite.

This is the second time the group from Northern Ireland has extended help to Liberia. On its previous trip the group installed a generator and rewired a seven-room school in the mountain village of Ganta. Thanks to Bright Sparks I the school can now run night classes and supports over 300 local people in their education and health care.

Stephen Dickson, who is leading the team, said: “The Bright Sparks II project aims to conduct relief work and provide a sustainable power source to the YMCA Centre allowing it to increase its capacity in education, health and physical activity programmes.”

Y Care International has part-funded the project with a grant of £5,500.