NGO serving West Africans opens new home in R.I.

HGI - Higher Ground International - a nonprofit serving the needs of immigrants of West African origin, has a new home in South Providence.
HGI - Higher Ground International - a nonprofit serving the needs of immigrants of West African origin, has a new home in South Providence.

PROVIDENCE – Higher Ground International, a nonprofit nongovernmental organization working here and in the rural communities of West Africa, is now offering services at its new headquarters at the Rukiya Center.
At 250 Prairie Ave. programming and advocacy include literacy, job and technology training, and entrepreneurship classes for families, said John Taraborelli, a consultant for the nonprofit.
“They’re beginning to expand into senior services, also,” he said.
About 100 people had indicated they’d attend an open house held Thursday, he added.
Programming benefits members of the West African diaspora living in Providence.
Liberian native and Providence resident Henrietta White-Holder founded Higher Ground in 2008. The nonprofit’s mission is to “restore dignity, empower lives, and keep peace” for women, young adults and children impacted by the civil strife in countries like Liberia.” Programming is available in both Providence and West Africa.
In the rural village of Arthington, Liberia, where the nonprofit owns and operates 125 acres of land suitable for agriculture, the organization works on community development, including the construction of community bathrooms, as well as literacy and entrepreneurship training for women.
Rukiya (pronounced roo-kee-yah) is an African word meaning “rising up” or “progress.” The name was chosen to mark the progress the nonprofit has made in ramping up its local operations.
“It was important to me that we chose an African name,” says White-Holder. “I really want to represent that culture and provide a signal to the West African community here in Providence that there is a place for them.”

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