My husband Bill Lawhorn is leaving for Liberia, West Africa on April 30th to visit "Charity Orphanage". Here’s an update on the Liberian Orphan project and the jewelry sales that have supported it to date.
‘A Gem of a Cause’ - Spring Jewelry Sale
All profits from the jewelry I handcraft and sell at http://personaltreasures.etsy.com and http://mufi.etsy.com are donated to 'Charity Orphanage.'
The jewelry will be on sale April 27th - May 5rd with 10% off all the casual jewelry at Mufi Jewels and 20% off all of the elegant jewelry at Personal Treasures. You’ll find details posted at the shops and some jewelry photos in the right side bar.
If you have a jewelry-loving mother, or you are a jewelry-loving mother, this is an excellent, affordable way to buy something special for Mother’s Day. All pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited edition, original designs, and handmade with care by me.
Update on the Liberian Orphan project
• Bill is returning to Liberia to spend time with the children at ‘Charity Orphanage’ in Robertsport and other institutions in Cape Mount County and learn from them, and the people working with them, what they most need. He will be travelling for three weeks - and return with information and photos to share.
• To date, with your generous help, we’ve been sending money to support the children’s immediate needs. The most recent gift purchased over 400 lbs. of rice and other staples for the children.
Background on the Liberian Orphan Project
Bill served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Liberia from 1969 to 1972, where he taught elementary school. During the recent 14-year Civil War a Liberian woman Bill taught with took in 35 children and founded “Charity Orphanage” in Robertsport.
Before the war there were less than 10 orphanages in Liberia. Children without parents were informally fostered by relatives and neighbors. But in the war so many children lost their families that there are now more than 150 – many unable to meet the U.N.’s minimum requirements for the care of children.
Since returning to the United States Bill has been active with several organizations of Liberian expatriates who support Liberia's reconstruction (see Background below). He recently retired as a child welfare social worker.
To learn more about Liberia -
The photo heading this article of the Kemokai family was taken by Bill in 1972. The children in the family were in Bill's classes and he's looking forward to meeting them again - and their children. For recent photos of people and places around Robertsport, Liberia check Luca Varaschini’s blog -
http://varabis.blogspot.com/2009/03/robertsport-grand-cape-mount-county.html
A video interview with Ellen Johnston Sirleaf, the President of Liberia (and the first woman elected President of an African nation) on the Daily Show. http://bit.ly/eCeKW
A Liberian profile from the BBC -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1043500.stm
The U.N. report on Liberia’s orphanages - http://unmil.org/documents/humanrights_approvedthematicreport2007.pdf
The National Association of Cape Mountainians in the Americas (NACA) -
http://www.capemountusa.org
The Friends of Liberia
http://www.fol.org
