To know Yassah's Sisters, you must first know a bit about Yassah Ford. Yassah is a native of Liberia, Africa, a developing African country recovering from a violent civil war. Conditions in the country are desperate for many, as it often ranks as one of the world's poorest countries. Life expectancy hovers around 45 years old, infant mortality rates average 15% and many of the populace remains uneducated.

Thanks to people like Yassah, that's changing.

Yassah leads 60 women in a grassroots community revitalization. They farm local crops of beans, okra and peanuts and, through those efforts, are building a sustainable agricultural economy. Map denoting Liberia's location in western AfricaPeople like Yassah are promoting changes in education, community health and more.

Yassah's Sisters are reaching out, providing a lifeline to Yassah's efforts and making a public statement that we are all connected and responsible for each other. The sisterhood meets regularly to discuss Yassah's pressing needs and ways those needs can be met.

Already the group, working in conjunction with the Liberian relief organization Change Agent Network (CAN), has sent farming supplies and monetary donations. The team is also working to build a system of micro-loans, a powerful way to build economies in struggling areas.

• To learn more about this movement and participate in the Yassah's Sisters global community, please contact Fran Clarke (337-235-1261) or Karen Wiley (337-278-8885)
• Browse our Interactive Calendar to see upcoming Yassah's Sisters community events
• Joining us for a meeting? Click here for a map to Karen Wylie's Country Cottage, where many Yassah's Sisters events are held. You'll be taken to a Google Maps page where you can get directions and print a map.