A New Season of Hope: School Sponsorship in Liberia

Karen Ecklund
5 days ago
3 min read

Keyara's Gift provides school sponsorship in Liberia for 109 students, covering school fees, uniforms, supplies, and emergency medical costs. As the new academic year begins, here are three of them.

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.

Cynthia, a fourth grader in Paynesville, Liberia, holds her new school backpack — **Cynthia: Hopes to Conquer 4th grade!**

Cynthia, age 13, is one of three siblings being raised by a single and unemployed father. The family lives hand-to-mouth. Daily life is a struggle and school a luxury her family can’t afford on their own.

Crowded market street in Paynesville, a suburb east of Monrovia, Liberia

Founded in 1865, Cynthia's hometown of Paynesville serves as a major commercial and transport hub but its infrastructure is insufficient for its booming population. Clean water, sewage management, healthcare and road safety are overwhelming challenges for most residents.

Primary students gathered outside Sheppard International School in Paynesville, Liberia

Students at desks in a crowded primary classroom at Sheppard International School in Liberia — *Sheppard International School, where Cynthia is a 4th grader, offers an oasis of learning.*

Thankfully for Cynthia, sponsorship includes support for medical emergencies, which was critical last year when she was hospitalized for Malaria and other health complications. Missing school meant she fell behind in her school work and this year, she hopes she’ll be able to focus solely on her homework and lessons.

Inspired by her own caregivers, Cynthia likes the idea of becoming a doctor - but for now - conquering 4th grade is her goal!

Prosper, an eighth grader from Paco Island, with his Keyara's Gift school backpack — **Prosper: Hopes to Keep Liberians Moving!**

Prosper, age 13, lives in the Paco Island community on the outskirts of Monrovia. Five years ago, his father passed away from Covid, leaving his now single mother with the challenge of raising Prosper and his two siblings.

Road construction on the only route into Paco Island, near Monrovia — *Getting into and out of Paco Island, especially during Liberia’s 6-month monsoon season, is an arduous and dangerous challenge.*

Eighth grade students in uniform at Prosper's school near Monrovia — *Prosper will be an 8th grader at End Time Mission School, a 45-minute walk from his home. Last year, before the year was up, his shoes fell apart!*

Recently, the Liberian government began a project to widen and improve Paco Island’s connecting roads. To and from school, Prosper admired the work of road engineers. He now is motivated by a future with better roads - not just for himself but for his country.

Prosper wants to keep Liberians moving - opening up safe avenues of learning and life for everyone!

Catherine, an eleventh grader from Peace Island, receives school sponsorship in Liberia — **Catherine: Hopes to Save Lives**

Fourteen years ago, at age 7, Catherine became an Ebola orphan. Today she lives on the outskirts of Monrovia with her adoptive parents and four siblings in what the government once considered a “slum community”, called Peace Island. Carved out of a mangrove swamp and settled by those displaced during Liberia’s devastating civil war, its ~33,000 occupants have no rights, few resources, and little infrastructure.

Map showing the 1.7 mile walk from Peace Island to Catherine's school — *Sylvanus O Johnson School, where Catherine is an 11th grader, is a 25-min motorbike or 45-min walk from her home. With only one road into and out of town, she shares the journey with many others.*

Classmates outside their high school in Congo Town, Liberia

For eight years Catherine has benefited from sponsorship - a lifeline that includes school fees, uniform, and supplies but also helps with emergency medical expenses. When Ebola hit Liberia in 2014, she witnessed lives saved by medical professionals whom she now dreams of emulating. She knows the pain of being orphaned, of being gravely ill, of watching loved ones die - and wants to change the future for others.

Catherine is motivated by the idea of offering medical help to others!

109 students, like Cynthia, Prosper, and Catherine, are hoping to begin another academic year.

Can you help sponsor this new season of hope?

About $750 per student covers school fees, uniforms, and school supplies, but any amount helps to bring hope!

👉 Click here to donate today.

Warmly,

The Keyara's Gift Team

For Other ways to donate, visit: www.keyarasgift.org/donate