school

Orphan Relief and Rescue made the local (school) paper. The hot-shot reporters from the 4th, 5th and 6th grade English class at Living Faith School in Paynesville, Liberia had the opportunity to interview some of our field staff recently.

Read the article below-- 

Last week some of the kids from Frances Gaskin orphanage had the opportunity to take a field trip. School was closing for the year, and their teachers wanted to reward them for all their hard work and studying. I was enlisted to help drive and chaperone 35 children from the orphanage and surrounding community to visit Liberia’s one and only water park. 

Our hope for this coming project year is to build a new school and dormitory for Frances Gaskin Children’s Refuge Home. The current home crowds all 30 children (boys and girls together), as well as the parents, into three small rooms. The current school, made of mud brick and patched together zinc, holds over a hundred students. The students are packed together, several classes to one room.

We all know that September means back to school! In Liberia also, school children are sporting new uniforms, book bags, and copybooks. Although tuition for public school is free, fees, mandatory uniforms and transportation make completing an education difficult for most children in orphanages. Orphan Relief and Rescue has been working hard to ensure that every child in our partner homes is enrolled in school. In some cases this means helping with school supplies, in others, helping with uniforms or shoes.

Kindergarten graduation is a big deal in Liberia. We're not sure why. Perhaps because so many parents were unable to complete their education, they are all the more eager to see their children succeed. Recently, the field team was invited to several kindergarten graduations, complete with song, dance, pinning ceremonies, caps and gowns, and some pretty cute kids.