Give Liberian Children Healthcare, Education, HOPE

Dear Friend of Restore Hope: Liberia,

Your donation over the past three months helped enroll the children RHL supports in primary and secondary school, paying their school fees and providing required school supplies. The Liberian government re-opened schools in December after closures due to COVID-19. RHL promptly re-enrolled all students. During the school closures there were no other learning options available, aside from RHL tutors visiting each child at home on a monthly basis to practice reading and provide books. No on-line learning or socially distanced learning was available. This is the second school closure the students have experience with schools closed for almost two years during the Ebola outbreak from 2014-2016. RHL is committed to ensuring that these children have access to education and your dollars go directly to that effort.

RHL's Mental Health program continues with the Interpersonal Group Therapy training to treat clinically depressed women. All 10 trainees have just completed a 12 week counseling with their first patient. They are already seeing how remarkably effective this intervention is in treating depression. They are now screening women to recruit into their first supervised group sessions. 

The Women's Weaving cooperative RHL supports has reconvened over the past three months after the extended COVID-related shut down, preventing them to gather together. Due to the interruption, they are re-starting the third apprenticeship with 12 women who are eager to learn this traditional craft and gain the opportunity to generate income from their products.

Thank you for your generosity during these challenging times. Know that we stretch every dollar. RHL, and the people of Kolahun, are very grateful for your gift.

Thank you,

Saundra

Dear Friends of RHL,

While we are grateful that COVID has not ravaged Liberia as feared, we remain vigilant and continue to lead community efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

The pandemic has caused unique and multiple challenges as we've continued our work to support vulnerable children and their households. Our staff has done admirably in spite of the numerous difficulties they face in their day to day activities.

RHL tutors have been visiting children at their homes, practicing reading and providing learning materials, while schools remain closed. It is projected that the drop out rate for Liberian children, and girls especially, will increase significantly after this period of school closures. We are working diligently to ensure that this is not the case for the children we support. Presently, schools are planning to reopen in December and we are working to ensure the children are ready to resume classes.

We have just launched our newest project: mental health and women's empowerment. We have long recognized the need for mental health support due to the compounded trauma Liberians have experienced from the war years, the Ebola epidemic, and the hardships of poverty. The goal of the project is to treat depression in women, which will positively impact not only their wellbeing, but their children's as well. Stay tuned for more information about this project.

Thank you for your support and generosity. Your donation has improved the quality of life of vulernable children in an often neglected community. Each dollar makes a huge difference. Thank you for investing in the future of these children.

Sincerely,

Saundra

Links:

• Learn more about our mental health & women's empowerment project
• Hope Shares