KRB Update #2154
May 15, 2010
Keith R. Brinkman

Evaluation Team – Liberia

Evaluation is an important aspect to our programs that happens a year or so after the ship has left. We need to know what was good and what was bad with our projects – the lessons learned as we are committed to excellence in all that we do (one of our core values). In our project proposals, we write ‘the Mercy Ships Evaluation Team will conduct a follow-up evaluation to determine the success of the program.’ I just recently returned from the nation of Liberia, where Mercy Ships conducted four field services between 2005-2008. I was in Liberia briefly in ’06 and basically all of ’07 and ’08. I was excited to have the opportunity to return to Liberia. Our evaluation primarily focused on our community activities – water wells, sanitation, community health, agriculture; our construction projects; and our other training projects. We approached each group with an ear to hear from them. Some interviews were encouraging but others were not so encouraging. I had a good team leader and we worked well together.

Photo: Meeting with the Community Leader (Papa Blama) to set up a time for the Communities/Villages Evaluation.