Today during the course of distributing educational packets to children in the Red Hill community (just after the St. Paul’s bridge), we came across a group of children that had lost both their parents to the Ebola Virus Disease. I counted about 9 of them. Their ages ranged from about 2 years old to about 15 years old.
They had been under quarantine for 21 days and today was their last day and so they were in a joyous and thankful mood.
Inquisitive eyes
I saw these children and started crying. I couldn’t imagine what they must be feeling. Their mother’s sister has taken them in and told us that the rest of the family were waiting for the 21 days to end to make a decision on how to how take care of the children.
Our community liaison told us that the community has been very supportive in providing food and supplies weekly to this family and supporting in many ways to ensure they don’t feel ostracized, stigmatized or alone.
I looked at these children, so happy, gleeful and excited over receiving (among other things) coloring pages and pencils and whatnot and just said a silent prayer of thanks to God for life. For health. For being good to me and my family.
I cannot imagine what these children must be dealing with. The confusion of not knowing where both their parents are. Of being told to stay in their home all day, not interacting with anyone else. Not playing with the other children. They seem too young to grasp the enormity of all of this.
I asked their aunt if she wouldn’t mind us taking a few pictures to share with you all and she said she didn’t.
Speaking with the aunt
We have been to many communities, and I must say I am very impressed with how organized the red Hill community leadership is in dealing with and responding to the Ebola crisis. The level of support I am told they give to this family and 3 others in similar situation is really amazing and laudable.
If you are able to help them, please let me know and I will forward the contact info of the family and the community liaison.
you can follow our daily activities on the facebook page facebook.com/KidsEngagementProjectLiberia
A few weeks ago, I was tutoring my kids and a question ran through my head: how are other parents keeping their kids busy and engaged during the compulsory schools closure?
Later that day on my way to work, I passed many kids in my community who were just sitting around idle, or playing or just walking around in the community looking like they had nothing to do. Then the thought hit me: why not print a few worksheets that you could share with them to keep them busy.
Thus was born Project Kids Engagement. The idea is to provide weekly school exercises to the kids in my community (the Baptist Seminary/Gbengbar town area) and create an awareness for parents to make time daily to tutor their kids and not allow the indefinite closure of schools due to the Ebola outbreak to keep their kids behind in their lessons.
The target was 150 kids initially but after I did the first distribution on September 14, 2014, I quickly realized there are a lot more kids in my immediate neighborhood than I estimated, so I took the number to 200. They were really happy and excited and their parents were receptive to the initiative and promised to work with their kids to do the exercises.
A brief discussion is held with the parents to encourage them to make time during the day to teach the kids and check up on their progress and efforts.
The start-up kits for K1 & K2 include:
• 1 box of crayon
• 2 pencils
• 1 sharpener
• 1 erase
• 1exercise book
• 1 Disney character coloring book
• 1 So-GO-LO book
• 1 ABC tracing book
• 1 ABC coloring book.
• 1 assorted math worksheet (counting, number sequence, etc.)
For the 1st – 3rd graders, the sets are a bit different with more math, reading comprehension and other helpful worksheets, but also include the crayons, pencils, etc.
I sent out emails to several friends asking for their support and the feedback has been amazing. So far, I have done two distributions with the first actual follow-up distribution scheduled for this weekend.
Once again thank you so much for helping to make this possible and putting smiles on the faces of these kids and helping to keep their minds busy and engaged during these difficult times.
I intend to do this weekly till end of December. We are all optimistic that the Ebola crisis would have been brought under control enough by then for schools to be reopened by January 2015.
My kids love helping me sort out the packets for distribution
I would like to thank the following persons for their support to the project:
1. Blidi Elliott
2. Maria Harrison
3. Angelique Weeks
4. Masah Sobboh
5. Ernest Gaie
6. Cornelius Poneys
7. Musu Doe
8. Georgene Wilson
9. Jennifer Anderson
10. Arnold Johnson
11. Wilfred Passawe
12. Kweme Clement
13. Gyude & Lakshmi Moore
14. Alimata Johnson
15. Jackie Parsons
16. Sametta Togba
17. Nat Walker
18. Korto Reeves Williams & ActionAid Liberia
19. Anthony Wilson
20. Nada Adjami Tondo
21. Massah Sobboh
22. Emmanuel Payegar
23. Alexander Swen
24. Richardson Ndorbor
25. Wil Baku Freeman
26. Siah Manobah
27. Hugh Collins
28. Ne-suah Beyan Livingstone
29. Tuma & Evita Johnson
30. Alyce Anderson
31. Barbara Cooper
32. Solomon Vincent
33. Yuade Merab Moore
34. Varfee Siryon, Jr.
35. Omar & Jeanne Fahnbulleh
36. Wyanie Bright
37. Tanya Weefur
38. Aubrey Winkie
39. Denise Barrette
40. W. Moore
41. Brian Watson
42. Terence Sakor
43. Francis Gibson
44. Dr. Joseph Baysah
45. Joyetta Satiah
46. Musu Wangolo-Stewart
47. Elvira Cooper
48. Nellie Sando Beyan
49. Pah Suku, Jr.
50. Vicky Ward
51. Monique Morrisey
52. Alvina Smith
53. SELF Liberia (Friskies Fest)
54. William Ward, III
55. Vivian Ward
56. Jle Tarpeh
57. Wede Wallace
58. Josephine Lee Brapoh
59. Florence A. Akins
60. William E. Ward, II
61. Mercedes Martin
62. Hannah Gardiner
63. Weahde Greaves
64. Peter Jackson
65. Linda Strange
66. Lisa Warfield
67. Tanu Dworko
68. Miatta Fahnbulleh
69. T. Nelson WIlliams
70. Delmeza Honeyborne
71. Tony Ichel Salifu
72. Salikri Sayeh
73. Josephine Lee Brapoh
74. Florence Aikins
75. Miatta Fahnbulleh
76. Min. Axel & Fatu Addy
77. Musu Redd
78. Judge Richard Klah
79. Deddeh Howard
80. Deddeh Supuwood
81. Caleb Dormah
82. Rufus Berry
83. George E. Taylor
84. Jeanine Cooper
85. Pearl Jardia
86. Theodora N. Brooks
87. Vickie Jackson & Run For Liberia (RFL)
88. African Cultural Student Association – St George’s University
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