Monrovia — After years of hardship, sacrifice and life in one of Liberia’s most neglected communities, 67-year-old Messic S. Karimu has finally received a gift she never imagined — a newly built and fully furnished home from her son, Liberian journalist James M. Karimu.
The two-bedroom house, valued at more than US$13,000, was dedicated on June 22 in the Massatine Leprosy Colony in Darblo Clan, Gola Konneh District, Grand Cape Mount County. For Karimu, the project represents both a personal achievement and a tribute to the extraordinary sacrifices his mother made to keep her family alive during Liberia’s civil war.
The emotional dedication ceremony drew relatives, friends and residents of the community, many of whom described the gesture as a powerful example of gratitude, family responsibility and love.
Overcome with emotion, Messic S. Karimu shed tears of joy as she received the keys to her new home after years of living in difficult conditions.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Liberian Investigator, James Karimu recalled the hardships his mother endured during Liberia’s civil conflict between 1993 and 1996, when she became the family’s primary provider amid violence, displacement and uncertainty.
“My mother would cook and distribute all the food to others, often going hungry herself and ‘tying her waist’ to endure hunger while fleeing danger,” Karimu said.
He recounted how his mother protected and cared for her children despite insecurity and attacks in areas including Jenner Brown and Lofa Bridge, always placing the welfare of her family above her own.
Massatine Leprosy Colony, located in Darblo Clan, Gola Konneh District, was established as a settlement for people affected by Hansen’s disease, commonly known as leprosy. The community has long faced isolation, inadequate infrastructure and limited development opportunities, challenges that worsened after Liberia’s civil war.
Determined to improve his mother’s living conditions, Karimu embarked on the housing project, which took approximately one year and four months to complete.
The modern structure contains two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a porch, with additional improvements still underway.
Karimu, a former news editor, news director and legislative reporter who currently serves as Media Officer at Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, said the project was inspired by a desire to repay his mother for her years of sacrifice.
As the eldest of six surviving siblings from a family of 10 children and the family leader following the death of his father during the war, he said he hopes the gesture encourages other Liberians to care for their parents.
“I believe children should prioritize their parents’ comfort over personal riches,” he said, urging citizens to invest in the well-being of their parents and loved ones, particularly in rural communities.
Karimu also credited his wife, Doris Karimu, for her financial and emotional support throughout the construction process. He further acknowledged Mohammed, whom he described as a younger brother and infrastructure developer, for providing encouragement and motivation.
Beyond honoring his mother, Karimu said he hopes the project will inspire citizens of Porkpa District and other parts of Liberia to return home and contribute to the development of their communities.
He said the house stands as a lasting symbol of gratitude for the sacrifices his mother made, especially the times she went hungry to ensure her children had food.
“While this development may seem like a small personal story, its propagation on a national platform is necessary to spark wider change,” Karimu said.
For residents of the Massatine Leprosy Colony, the project represents more than the construction of a home. It serves as a reminder that gratitude, family responsibility and community service can restore dignity and transform lives.
