Help Liberia Foundation Community School

Dear friends, I was down with illness and stayed in hospital for a few days before being released last week. I was down with typhoid and pneumonia. This is why the site has not been updated with new articles, especially articles about the recent visit by our Swedish sponsors, for some time now. Our apologies! We now continue. (Paul Yeenie Harry, school director)

During the visit of our Swedish friends, not only were many things done, but several, various activities went on as we indicated in one of our previous articles. And, because time is fast spent, we wish to mention four in this current article, for there are other things to write about.

P-O observing trainees practicing judo

Judo Lessons

When the guests were here in Liberia, one of them, P-O (who has a black belt in judo) gave some judo lessons to the kids and staff of the school. He brought many of the materials needed for the judo training and the kids and staff used them in their practice. Before the commencement of the training, P-O taught the participants some vocabulary, gave the history of judo, explained some basic rules and the philosophy behind the martial art called judo.

Students, staff, parents and community residents came around to watch the judo training, which took place on the school campus.  All, including the watchers, enjoyed it.

It was the very first time for the kids and the staff to have had such an experience. Many thanks to P-O for making our school have that first-time experience.

A trainee showing his newly learned skill

Gowning of P-O

As part of  the second day’s indoor activities, the school gowned P-O (put on him an African shirt, as it is usually traditionally done for foreign guests coming to the country) and gave him a Bassa name known as “Gar-mon-gar,” meaning: man is man.

P-O then expressed gratitude to the school and promised to always think about the school and help in whatever way he can. “I have had great time in Buchanan. You all have touched my heart and I will always think about you. The kids are special. The staff is special. I will always have you all in mind and help where I can. I will also tell other Swedish friends about the work you are doing with the kids in the school,” he said.

Anders and students walking to the future site

Visit to Future Site

At the end of the activities on campus on the second day, the guests decided to visit the school’s future home, which is located about twenty minutes’ walk from the current campus. They were all excited to have seen the huge land, which is strategically located – on the main road of a place called Bassa Community. They were shown the cornerstones of the land, and they all expressed their desire to help the school build a structure on the new site.

“Paul, this is a very good place. I like the trees all around. Do not cut them down. The place is really great. We can help to build a school here for the kids,” remarked Anders.

Students eating outside

Money for Food

Before their departure from Buchanan, our guests donated US$100 to the school, saying the money should be used to cook for the kids, which we did. We are grateful to them for the financial assistance that helped the kids to eat soup and rice for days.

View more photos below (click on a photo to see a larger version).

The three Swedish citizens who visited Help Liberia Foundation Community School in Buchanan last week donated a variety of gifts to the school and the kids.

Students, guests and staff pose behind gifts

As indicated in our last article, the gifts donated by Lena, Anders and P-O included two sets of jerseys for the boys and the girls, 25 pairs of black football boots, 10 pairs of physical education sneakers, pencils, pens, judo clothes, a football, a football pump, some candies, a puzzle map about Sweden, books about Swedish animals, chalk, book bags, copybooks, and many others.

Guests posing with students in their new jerseys

Lena and Anders indicated that the sports shoes were given by a Swedish sportswear business. Elizabeth, too, although she didn’t come on this trip, sent some items with Lena and Anders.

Lena making remarks after presenting the 25 pairs of boots to the school

Besides the gifts given the school, Lena and Anders also made personal donations to two kids whom they are sponsoring in the school – Rita Bryant and Augustine Tarplah.

Lena and Anders posing with one of their sponsored children – Rita Bryant – after giving her special gifts

The school kids, staff and parents expressed gratitude for the items donated and called upon the visitors to continue thinking about and helping the kids in the school.

Staff viewing gifts, as guests and students look on

The school is profoundly grateful to Lena, Anders and P-O, as well as all the other people who contributed to the effort that brought smiles to the faces of the kids at the school.

Lena and Anders display a puzzle map of Sweden, as Paul looks on

View a few photos below (click on a photo to see a larger version).

Less than eight months after a four-person team visited Help Liberia Foundation Community School in Buchanan in March of this year, three persons returned last week to see the school and the children attending it.

Kids are excited about the visit

Those visiting the school were Lena and her husband Anders, who were also here in March, and Lena’s brother, P-O. They arrived in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, and arrived in Buchanan on Wednesday, October 30, and stayed there from October 30 to November 1.

Lena making statements at the welcome program

During their visit, they brought several, various gifts for the kids. The gifts included sets of jerseys for the boys and the girls, football boots, physical education sneakers, pencils, pens, judo clothes, football, football pump, candies, a puzzle map about Sweden, books about Swedish animals, chalk, book bags, and many others.

Paul making remarks at the program

Upon their arrival, the school had a welcome program in their honor. During the program, each visitor expressed their happiness to be in Liberia, especially with the kids, thanking Paul Harry and the staff for doing their best to keep the school running and to help the kids.

P-O interacting with the kids

It is interesting to note that Lena and Anders came to the school wearing the African clothes given them during the March visit, which the kids, the staff and the parents around appreciated.

Anders showing Swedish animals to the kids

At the welcome program, also, Anders, using one of the animal books he brought, showed the kids and the staff some animals found in Sweden, which the kids enjoyed looking at.

P-O making a statement at the program

The guests’ visit at the school was characterized by various activities, indoor programs, gift presentations, judo training, HLF future site visitation, and so forth.

Many of these activities will be written about in individual articles and posted on the website over the next two weeks. Photos will accompany them.

Would you like to sponsor a child at our school?

We have added details of new children who are seeking sponsors to our Sponsor a Student page, please have a look and complete the application form if you would like to sponsor one of them.

Sam Doegolia is one of the children who is looking for a sponsor

Help Liberia Foundation Community School, our school helping to educate underprivileged children in the city of Buchanan, has commenced the 2013/2014 school year, with the school distributing clothes and books among the kids on the first day of school.

A child displays his book; others wait for theirs

The start of the new school year, which took place about three weeks ago, brought together old and new students, as well as old and new staff members.

Interestingly, too, in an effort to put smiles on the faces of the children, the school distributed clothes and reading materials among the children. The distribution exercise was spearheaded by Mr. Joseph Goffa, Vice Principal for Student Affairs.

Children listening to Mr. Joseph Goffa, Vice principal for Student affairs

The children, as well as their parents, appreciated the gesture, as some parents visited the campus to thank the school for the first-day-of-school donations. We are praying and hoping that we will have another successful school year.

Although we have already started the new school year, many children are not in school because their parents are unable to register them or pay their tuition. In fact, as a way of helping the kids and their parents, we accepted a lot of the children in the school without them paying any money because we don’t want the kids to sit at home without going to school all because their parents are poor. Notwithstanding this, a lot of them are still sitting at home, unfortunately. At present, there are nearly one hundred students in the school.

Children at school on day one

However, one very serious problem we are facing at the school is getting money to pay the staff every month. This is our main handicap, as we need about US$500 every month for staff salary. If we are able to raise this amount monthly, then we can use the little funds we collect from parents to take care of other expensive.

At this juncture, therefore, we are sending out this SOS call in the form of a public appeal to all goodwill individuals and organizations that may be in the position to help the school pay its staff, as our inability to pay the teachers regularly could cause them to leave the school, thereby placing the kids’ future in jeopardy, which we do not want to see happen.

Please come to our aid.

More pictures from the day – click on any picture to see a slide show.