It also helped that Gbowee knew 91短视频 well. She had earned a in 2007.

Gbowee, a social worker who led a women鈥檚 peace movement that helped end Liberia鈥檚 civil war 10 years ago, addressed a fundraising dinner for over 100 people at 91短视频 on Feb. 7. Organized by the school鈥檚 International Student Organization, the event was followed by a public address to about 200 attendees, who put contributions into baskets passed by the students.

The events raised over $4,000 after expenses for the care of children whose parents died from Ebola. The funds will go to the Nobel winner鈥檚 in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. The foundation makes grants to grassroots groups, including two Liberian organizations founded by graduates of .

The countries hardest hit by Ebola, which started in March 2014, were Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, said Gbowee in her public address. The 3.4 million people of her country had only 51 doctors. 鈥淲e were not prepared for Ebola, but Liberian civil society rose to the occasion,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 wait around for the international community to come and help us.鈥�

Gbowee told the stories of three Liberian heroes 鈥� a doctor who cared for Ebola victims in his humble clinic at the risk of his own life, a taxi driver who transported dangerously infectious patients to the hospital, and a young man with a full-time job who provides care for orphans in his off hours.

The epidemic has finally abated in Africa, she said. The Ebola clinics are emptying and students are going back to school. But, she added, the people still live in fear, the economy is ruined and orphans abound.

鈥淲e appreciate the help of international organizations,鈥� Gbowee said. 鈥淏ut sometimes they didn鈥檛 bother to consult with the local people about how to fight Ebola. They thought they had the expertise, but if you don鈥檛 really listen to what the people want, then it鈥檚 not much use.鈥�

Gbowee has a reputation for speaking truth to power, most notably when she publicly confronted the president of Liberia during the country鈥檚 civil war. Most recently she criticized the United Nations鈥� humanitarian aid efforts during a meeting of the UN Security Council.

During a question-and-answer session at the conclusion of her speech, Gbowee praised young people for their idealism and gave advice on how to start on the path to activism. 鈥淚deas that are ground-breaking and keep you awake at night might seem like crazy ideas,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut write them down, tell a friend and step out boldly. Getting angry about an unjust situation is not only okay, she added, but a good thing.

The students who organized the fundraiser represented five continents: Kaltuma Noorow and Nandi Onetu of Kenya, Winifred Gray-Johnson and Gee Paegar of Liberia, Sun Ju Lee of South Korea, Wael Gamtessa of Ethiopia, Brenda Soka of Tanzania, Zoe Parakuo of the United States, Norah Alobikan of Saudi Arabia, Danika Saucedo of Bolivia, Victoria Gunawan of Indonesia, and Marcus Ekman of Sweden. , 91短视频鈥檚 director of , is the advisor for the International Student Organization.

Gbowee鈥檚 last trip to 91短视频 was in April 2014, when she was the that included her son, Joshua Mensah. Before that she came to campus in . Just prior to her arrival, the was announced, and thus her appearance made for a frenzied weekend.

Editor’s note: Kara Lofton, a 2014 91短视频 grad, reported on Gbowee’s appearance at the Ebola fundraiser for local public radio station WMRA; her four-minute report can be heard.