Liberia:– From the moment he took his first steps in Yekepa, Nimba County, Edmund Choo-Chouboy Gbarwee known to many as Amb Edmund Walakewon Gbarwee, Major, Diplomat, Choo-Chouboy, Boy-Chou, Walakewon, ED, Kewon, Buddy, CEO, etc has embodied the spirit of community service.
Raised in Zekepa by devoted parents who served as government school teachers, Edmund was that remarkable child who always sought innovative ways to uplift his home, church, school, and peers. His journey is a testament to resilience and compassion, shaped profoundly by the turbulent backdrop of Liberia’s 14-year civil war a conflict that claimed over 250,000 lives and left a deep scar on every sector of society.
During the chaos of war, Edmund turned to soccer and volleyball, not just as a means of escape, but as a way to support his education. He played fiercely, driven by the belief that education was the key to a brighter future, even as hope seemed scarce in a nation besieged by violence. High school days were fraught with challenges, yet he and his friends clung to the vision of education as their pathway to growth and development.
After graduating high school, Edmund made the brave leap to Monrovia to pursue nursing at the United Methodist University. His academic journey was far from easy. Financial hardships forced him to withdraw from university several times not due to a lack of ability, but because he struggled to pay his fees. To make ends meet, he took on various private security jobs. It was during this time that he found himself at EQUIP Liberia, where he transitioned remarkably from security guard to Operations and Logistics Manager, showcasing his tenacity and leadership skills.
Ambitious and determined, Edmund’s journey took him beyond Liberia’s borders as he actively participated in United Nations Model Conferences in Nigeria and Ghana, where he further developed his skills and commitment to advocacy. Eventually, he transferred to the Adventist University of West Africa, where he earned a BSc in Public Health in June 2021, fulfilling a dream that once felt distant.
Fueled by his passion for community service, Edmund with support from the Late Prof. Johnson N. Gwaikolo, Dahn K. Dennis, United Nimba Citizens Council Former President, Elaine Blanton, Dr. Emmanuel Kamara, James Wuo Harris Former UNICCO Project Director, Mother Lydia Paye, Willie Bee Tingba Jr and a few of his like-minded colleagues founded Nimba County’s first online television platform, Nimba D-9 TV, under The One Nimba House Media Inc.
This platform became a beacon of hope, firstly by directing social media users from Nimba County to create their platforms for positive community developments unlike when social media was used to present the negatives of Nimba County, shining a light on issues often overlooked, including the struggles of those living with epilepsy in the Yarwin Mehnsonnoh Health District, Nimba, and Liberia at large.
Edmund’s passion equally took him from serving as United Nimba Citizens Council UNICCO Public Relations Officer to UNICCO Liberia Country Representative where he won under the Dahn Dennis’ and Elaine Blaton administration the highest HONOR in UNICCO since it was founded in 1979. Former PD James Wuo Harris as lead supervisor of the Liberia team travelled to Liberia including the National President Samuel Gee and Three (3) Awards were presented to him in Sanniqullie Nimba County alongside other Volunteers and some stakeholders of Nimba County.
He and his team at Help Minimize Epilepsy in Liberia advocacy has led to remarkable transformations in the lives of many patients, with testimonies from reduced seizures emerging daily to reduced Stigma associated with this condition. Despite the challenges, including a lack of funding, the team at Help Minimize Epilepsy in Liberia continues to provide support to 268 patients many of whom are women seeking critical medication across several clinics, including Boyee, Kwendin, Zahnzayee, Mehnla, Zekepa Health Center, and Maternal Waiting Home.
As he and his team tirelessly champion the cause of epilepsy awareness and support, Edmund reminds us all: “Let’s Zero the Stigma together because There is Still Hope.” His journey is not just about overcoming personal challenges but about igniting a movement of compassion, resilience, and hope in a community that desperately needs it.
Edmund Walakewon Gbarwee is not just a name; he is a symbol of hope, a champion for change, and a true testament to the power of community service.
