Andy Perkins: Helping Poverty-Stricken Children Overcome Adversity

The Iron Jen Show

What can one person do? Be inspired as I interview Andy Perkins around what he is doing to help the children of Libera. Check out these incredible stats: 68% of Liberian families live on $1 US per day or less.Liberia suffers from 83% unemployment.10 years after the end of the civil war we see undernourished, malnourished and starving children roaming the streets.BESTWA operates two feeding stations feeding a total of over 600 children per day. For $150 a year you can feed a starving child.We plan to start a third feeding site in 2014 for another 300 children in the worst slum in Buchanan.Many starving children are being exploited as petty traders, laborers and sex slaves. (source: Finance Minister Konneh)47% illiteracy rate23.8% of children die before age 51 in 11 women die in childbirth68% of families survive on a dollar a day or less. Founder of BESTWA, Andy first traveled to Liberia in 1998 to help with a pastors' conference, and has been returning ever since. After working in various capacities to meet the practical needs of the Liberian people, Andy founded BESTWA. In January 2005, Andy was diagnosed with cancer told to get his affairs in order. Through that Winter and the following Spring he went through surgery, chemotherapy, and drastic dietary changes to fight the cancer. Happily, Andy has been cancer free for 8 years. Andy's passion for the wonderful people of Liberia is what drives him most. He currently works full time as the Executive Director for BESTWA in the U.S. with multiple trips each year to Liberia. Andy and his wife Teresa have 6 children and 9 grandchidlren. You can find Andy at www.Bestwa.org or through Twitter at @LiberiaAndy.