Liberia is the oldest African nation, founded in the 19th century by freed African American slaves. Since the civil war ended in 1997, the country has been under reconstruction, but it has not progressed very much in rebuilding its infrastructure, or its socio-economic system. Women and children who have been victimized most by the war, are still in poverty and do not have the most basic necessities in life. Orphanages in Liberia are in dire need of financial assistance to meet the needs of children, such as food and clothing.
Children continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition, as well as from water-related diseases.