Sixteen years ago, Felita Weah, was one of nearly a million refugees fleeing violence and civil war in Liberia. Weah was captured when Charles Taylor’s rebel forces entered Monrovia in 1989. Held a rebel base, she risked torture and death, to escape to safety in neighboring Guinea.

Today, Felita is one of 500 teachers trained by the International Rescue Committee to help build a brighter future for Liberian children. Felita earned her diploma thanks to an innovative IRC initiative to help refugee students and teachers return home with usable educational credentials. Working in four refugee camps (see photo album above) and two urban centers, the IRC has helped tens of thousands of refugee children get an education.

But there was one bureaucratic hurdle to overcome before Felita and her students could head home. The curriculum taught in IRC-run schools was recognized in Guinea but not in neighboring countries. That made it impossible for teachers trained by the IRC to teach in Liberia.

The IRC persuaded Liberian education authorities to review the coursework and teacher training so that it would be accepted in Liberia. In 2005, 8,500 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugee students received certificates allowing them to continue their schooling upon their return home. Also, 500 Liberian refugees received teaching certificates enabling them to work as teachers in Liberia.