Monthly Archives: April 2016

Annex In Use

Our two-classroom annex for whose construction funds were raised last year was put in use last year, and the parents, the kids and the community appreciate its construction.

K-5 students with their teacher (Annie) in their new classroom in the annex

K-5 students with their teacher (Annie) in their new classroom in the annex

The kids started using the classes of the annex last year when the school year began. Although the annex didn’t have doors and paint, the building had been zincked, the windows fixed, the walls plastered, and the floor done. So there was no major pitfall to prevent us from using the annex.

A K-4 student doing mathematics on the blackboard

A K-4 student doing mathematics on the blackboard

The only things remaining are the painting of the building, the installing of the doors and the fixing of the ceilings. As we indicated in our previous article about the stealing of the kitchen roof, we have not placed installed doors on the annex for fear that they could be stolen.

Franklin (teacher) teaching in one of the classrooms

Franklin (teacher) teaching in one of the classrooms

The kids currently using the classrooms of the annex are those of K-4 and K-5.

Teacher and students interacting in the K-4 classroom in the annex

Teacher and students interacting in the K-4 classroom in the annex

Again, we are thankful to all those who helped us make the starting and completion of this annex a reality. We also wish to, on behalf of the kids and the Parent-Teacher Association, extend special thanks and appreciation to Mike Nilsson and Marijke Silander (two siblings of the late Tauno Silander} for the extra humanitarian effort they applied in the process.

The two doors of the annex, with students in the classes in the background

The two doors of the annex, with students in the classes in the background

The two-room annex seen behind kids during devotion

The two-room annex seen behind kids during devotion

Lena and Anders Visit Liberia, Donate to School

Our international contact persons in Europe and sponsors of the school and the kids, Lena and Anders, a Swedish husband and wife who have been assisting the kids since they came in contact with the school more than four years ago, arrived in Liberia for a one-week visit to the country they so love to come to.

Anders unpacking the items for delivery to Paul at Libassa, as Lena with her Liberian hair plait looks on

Anders unpacking the items for delivery to Paul at Libassa, as Lena with her Liberian hair plait looks on

Lena and Anders, who arrived on April 10, came with a team that wanted to undertake a project in Liberia.  Because their one-week schedule was very tight, they were unable to visit the school and spend some time with the kids and the staff, as they had always done. Notwithstanding, they turned over to Paul the items they brought with them, including things they themselves brought and those donated by others. They also brought special gifts from Swedish sponsors to the kids they sponsor in the school.

Anders giving basketballs to Paul

Anders giving basketballs to Paul

The items they brought include footballs, basketballs, football pumps, basketball nets, phones, etc.

Anders and Lena showing Paul the items they have donated

Anders and Lena showing Paul the items they have donated

Paul received the items from Lena and Anders in Libassa Ecolodge, a jungle-like resort area located by the sea in Marshall. It is a must-see area that Paul, as well as Lena and Anders, would encourage travelers to Liberia to spend their summer vacation.

Anders, Lena and Paul with the donated items

Anders, Lena and Paul with the donated items

Anyway, Lena and Anders left Liberia for Sweden on Sunday, April 17, but they plan to return to Liberia in November, at which time they will visit the school and interact with the kids and the staff.

Paul and Anders holding some basketball materials

Paul and Anders holding some basketball materials

Kitchen Roof Stolen

Last year, because one of the conditions set by the World Food Program (WFP) before giving food to our school was that we construct a kitchen, we decided to construct a little concrete kitchen.

Cook sharing food under the kitchen with tarpaulin roof

Cook sharing food in the kitchen with its tarpaulin roof

The laying of blocks was started and completed, and the little structure was roofed and zincked. However, just around the time school could reopen, some criminals came at night and removed the entire roof, along with the zinc, and took it away.

The kitchen with tarpaulin  on top of it

The kitchen with tarpaulin on top of it

Following this incident, we bought a tarpaulin which we use on top of the kitchen whenever the cooks are preparing food for the kids, but which we remove and keep in the main school building once the cooking is finished and the kids have eaten.

The kitchen with its zinc roof

The kitchen with its zinc roof

As a result of this criminal incident, we were advised by the community not to install doors of the classrooms of the annex, since the security guard sits in the main building at night and does not sit outside to keep watch over the annex.

Kitchen with tarpaulin

Kitchen with tarpaulin

In fact, in the morning, we bring desks from the main building to be used by kids in the annex, but we take them back to the main building after school. We are scared that if the doors are placed on the annex, they will be stolen at night.

The little kitchen with its zinc roof