In Liberia, payment upfront is a fact of life. Most schools require 75 to 90 percent of annual fees before a student can even be registered. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get 109 students into more than 50 schools this year, and how a $30,000 matching grant can double your gift.

Every August, families with school aged kids prepare for a new school year. New backpacks. New classrooms. New possibilities. Across the ocean, our students are preparing as well. Their hopes look a little different. A paid school fee means a desk instead of staying home. A uniform means belonging. Books mean another year of dreaming about a future beyond survival. Different circumstances. The same anticipation. Meet three students entering a new season of hope.