Tag Archives: fundraising

Annex Construction Going On

We wish to inform all sponsors, donors and friends of Help Liberia Foundation Community School in Buchanan that the construction of the annex for which funds were raised last year is going on.

Construction in progress

Construction in progress

Before going further, we wish to inform you about two very important changes we have made in the original plan. First, we are constructing a two-classroom annex, instead of the one-room annex originally announced. Second, we are constructing a concrete structure (a more guaranteed structure) instead of the mat structure originally mentioned.

Construction in progress

Construction in progress

Because of these changes and others, the construction requires new materials which were not needed for the original mat structure, causing us to enter additional expenses for such things as:

  1. Blocks/bricks
  2. Crushed rocks
  3. Two panel doors
  4. Steel rods
  5. Colomos for the windows
  6. More cement for the foundation, for the elevation, for the fixing of concrete leanto, for the plastering of walls, and for the fixing of the floor.
  7. Etc.
Construction in progress

Construction in progress

The two-classroom structure, whose construction started last month, contains two doors and six windows. We decided on the six windows because we wish to use colomos at the windows, instead of timber. In this instance, more windows would be needed for proper lighting and ventilation.

Construction in progress

Construction in progress

This is a quick breakdown of what we have been able to use or obtain in terms of materials and money:

  1. 1200 blocks @$0.55 ================ $660
  2. Sand =========================== $75
  3. 20 bags of cement @$10 ============= $200
  4. 15 Steel rods @$7   ================= $105
  5. 15 bags of crushed rocks @$2 ========= $30
  6. 12 pieces of wawa @$5 ============== $60
  7. Part payment of Workmanship ======== $150
  8. Lease agreement for use of land for annex = $200
  9. Transportation of 1200 blocks @$0.06 === $72
  10. Other transportation costs =========== $45
  11. Wire nails ====================== $3
  12. 15 bags of crushed rocks @$2 ========= $30
  13. Tying wire ====================== $5

  TOTAL                                                                $1,635

Builders at work

Builders at work

In short, we have already expended $1,635 on the two-classroom structure being constructed. We also used $210 on the kitchen; meaning, we have used $1,845 on construction altogether.

However, as you will recall, the total amount raised for the original annex construction was $1,825, from which PayPal deducted $68.40 as service charge, making the actual balance on hand to be $1,756.60.

Builders at work

Builders at work

The foundation and the elevation, including the concrete leanto above the doors and windows are completed. However, we are still left with the following jobs: placing the colomos in the window slots, roofing and zincing the structure, plastering the walls, fixing the floor, and painting the structure.

The walls are complete

The walls are complete

As things and prices stand at present, we need the following items to finish the construction:

  1. 16 bags of cement (for plastering and floor) @$10 == $160
  2. 20 pcs of ceiling @$7 ===================== $140
  3. 10 pcs of (2 by 6) planks @$5 =============== $50
  4. 20 pcs of (2-by-4) planks @$4 =============== $80
  5. 20 pcs of (2-by-2) planks @$2 =============== $40
  6. 3 bundles of zinc @$125 =================== $375
  7. 2 pks of zinc nails @$5 ==================== $10
  8. 130 Colomos @$1 =======================  $130
  9. 2 doors @$75 ========================== $150
  10. balance workmanship ====================  $175

    TOTAL                                                                           $1,310

The walls are complete

The walls are complete

Many thanks to all those who helped us raise the first amount. At this point, we are NOT going to launch another fundraising campaign for the completion of the two-classroom annex; however, we will appreciate any assistance anyone provides in this direction.

Donation may be sent to our PayPal account managed by our Swedish sponsors or directly to the school’s bank account at:

Help Liberia Foundation Community School
129-200-050-420-19
ECOBANK Liberia
Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County, Republic of Liberia
Swift Code: ECOCLRLM

The walls are complete

The walls are complete

Once again, we extend our sincere thanks to all of you who are helping us to provide education to scores of needy kids in Buchanan. We are all partners in progress.

Update on Christmas Gifts Fundraising Appeal

Yesterday made it exactly 15 days since we launched the Christmas Gifts for HLF Children Fundraising Campaign on November 16.  Besides, yesterday was the end of the month.

Students taking test

Students in class

Therefore, we wish to inform you, especially those of you who have donated toward the effort to put smiles on the faces of the children in our school, that so far only $250 has been collected from two persons – David Turner and Mary Smith of the United Kingdom.

David donated $150 from which $6.15 was deducted as service charge, leaving a balance of $143.85. Mary donated $100 from which $4.20 was deducted as service charge, leaving a balance of $95.80.

In short, we now have $239.65; meaning, we are still in need of $610.35, since the total amount for the exercise is $850. And December 5 is the deadline for the campaign.

Can you help us raise this amount?

The easiest way to donate is through the PayPal account. If you prefer, you can also send money directly to the school’s bank account, or through Western Union or MoneyGram.

Christmas Gifts for Our Children – Can You Help?

We would like to put smiles on the faces of the children at our school this Christmas. Can you help us raise US$ 850 by 5 December?

The outbreak of the Ebola virus has caused children to be out of school for months, and these include children of our school. But it also has to be remembered that this outbreak has not only caused children to be out of school; it has also increased the economic hardship parents face in this country, as many of them are without jobs and some of them who have jobs are forced to stay at home without being paid or given any special incentives.

Children singing at last year's Chrstmas event

Children singing at last year’s Chrstmas event

This reality/situation will, of course, adversely affect many children, including children in our school, during this Christmas holiday. And this is why we want to come in to help these children, and we want to do it for three (3) main reasons.

First, it is our usual year-end practice to purchase Christmas gifts for the children in our school and distribute these gifts among them.  We want to continue this tradition, especially during this Ebola time.

Second, we want to put some smiles on the faces of our children. We want them to know that there are people who care for them and want to make them happy this Christmas holiday.

Finally, we want to use the distribution of the Christmas gifts to encourage the children, the staff, the parents and the community, and to call their attention back to the school before the actual re-opening of school, especially considering the fact that the school has been closed for months and the fact that we will be adding the junior high division.

In view of the foregoing, we are launching an $850 fundraising campaign to purchase Christmas gifts for the children, and the gifts will include two (2) bales of clothes and five (5) bags of rice. More than 100 children, as well as several staffers and parents, stand to benefit from the exercise.

Breakdown of Cost

  1. 2 bales of clothes @$300 = $600
  2. 5 bags of rice @$40 = $200
  3. Transportation and related costs = $50

We appeal to everyone, especially our regular sponsors and donors, to please help us raise this amount before December 5, so that we can put smiles of the faces of the children during this Christmas holiday.

The easiest way to donate is through the PayPal account controlled by Lena and Anders in Sweden. If you prefer not to use PayPal, you can also send money directly to the school’s bank account, or through Western Union or MoneyGram.

We would also appreciate it if you are able to share this fundraising appeal with your friends and family, and on your social media pages.

We thank you in advance for your support!

Fundraising Target Reached and Passed

Dear friends, sponsors, donors, supporters and well-wishers of our school, we wish to joyously inform you that we have successfully reached the target of the annex construction fundraising campaign we launched at the end of July. We’ve made it!

Kids in jubilant mood

Happy Children

As you will recall, our original plan was to raise about $1,500; however, by September 1, we had raised a total of $1,825. From this amount, $68.40 was deducted as service fees. This means, the total amount on hand for the annex is $1756.60.

Those who contributed to the fundraising exercise are Taumo Silander (Norway), Lena Marner (Sweden), Mary Smith (United Kingdom), Fredrik Hulten (Sweden), Anders Marner (Sweden), Pepperadventure AB (Sweden), Maria Nilsson (Sweden), Elizabeth Thorne (Sweden), David Turner (United Kingdom), and Per-Olof Thorne (Sweden).

We say a very BIG THANK YOU to the ten persons who made the sacrifice in contributing to this cause. We very much appreciate their humanitarian gestures and generous donations. They are some of our true friends and partners who are helping to provide education and a future to needy kids in Liberia, especially in Buchanan.

We also wish to inform you that the money raised is still with our Swedish contact persons (Lena and Anders) who are also in charge of our PayPal account. It will be sent to Liberia later. Anders has promised to pay all the fees connected with transferring the money to Liberia, including paying the Liberian bank’s service charges.

Once again, many thanks to all those who, one way or another, participated in the fundraising exercise. Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!

 

Second Update on Fundraising

Dear friends, as was promised a few days ago, we are pleased to provide you with the second update on progress made on the annex fundraising.

Female teacher Philemina teaching in class

Female teacher Philemina teaching in class

You will recall that, as per the first update, a total of $800.00 was raised between July 28 and August 11. Well, additional donations were made between August 12 and 21. During the period under review, a total of $575 was raised, but $20.15 was deducted as service fees.

In summary, between July 28 and August 21, a total of $1,375 was raised from eight persons: Pepperadventure AB, Anders Marner, Fredrik Hulten, Mary Smith, Lena Marner, Tauno Silander, Maria Nilsson, and Elisabeth Thorne. From this amount, a total of $50.75 was deducted as service fees.

This means the total on hand and kept by our Swedish friends (Lena and Anders) is $1,324.25.

The total we wish to raise is about $1,500.

We extend our profound thanks to Pepperadventure AB, Anders Marner, Fredrik Hulten, Mary Smith, Lena Marner, Tauno Silander, Maria Nilsson, and Elisabeth Thorne for making us reach near the target.

The exercise continues.