Helping the Children of "Charity Orphanage" in Liberia

After thirty-seven years away, Bill Lawhorn (my husband) returned to Liberia last Spring. His plan was to finally visit "Charity Orphanage" in Robertsport, delivering funds we raised for the orphanages' support, to reconnect with friends he made while in the Peace Corp in the 1970's, and to learn more about the reconstruction of this intriguing country. Bill is preparing to launch a blog where he will write about all of these topics in depth, but in the meanwhile I thought you would be interested to see some of the photos from his trip.

Heading this article: Loretta Sambollah with Musu. Loretta founded "Charity Orphanage" in Robertsport during Liberia's recent horrific civil war. Bill met Loretta when they both taught at Methodist Elementary School in Robertsport while Bill was a Peace Corp Volunteer. It is through that connection that Bill and I became involved in helping the orphans, with Bill's experience as a child welfare social worker and through the sale of the gemstone jewelry that I handcraft.
Frank Sambollah (Loretta's husband) with several of the 28 children from the orphanage. When Bill met Frank, he was a lawyer who ran the local community center. Since Franks' retirement he has helped Loretta with the children.This little boy is poignantly named "Noofme" which means "no one for me."
And this is Saifa.
There's a small school at the orphanage. In addition to donating money for direct needs (food, etc.) Bill was able to buy books, paper, chalk, and other school supplies as well as balls and other toys for the children.

Bill had a great trip. He visited the capital Monrovia, and in addition to spending time at the orphanage, he travelled throughout Cape Mount County with the County Superintendent, and even met Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of Liberia. You'll find links to more photos at the end of this article as well as links to more information about "Charity Orphanage" and the history and current situation in Liberia.

"A Gem of a Cause" End of Summer Sale - 5 Days Only

Bill and I send the profits from the jewelry at Mufi Jewels http://mufi.etsy.com to help support the children at 'Charity Orphanage.'

For 5 days only - Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 4th, selected jewelry will be on deep discount. This is an affordable way to add to your jewelry collection with one-of-a-kind or limited edition, original designs, handmade with care by me - and photographed by Bill. You’ll find details about the sale posted at the shop and some jewelry photos in the right side bar.

For more background on Liberia and on Bill's trip click here: http://personaltreasures.blogspot.com/2009/04/jewelry-liberian-children-news-update.html
To see more of Bills' photos click here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26489&id=1035013350&l=ebf8241c50

Jewelry + Liberian Children - News Update

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

"A Gem of a Cause - Jewelry Benefitting Liberian Orphans" - December Update

All jewelry at Mufi Jewels at http://mufi.etsy.com is on sale to benefit "Charity Orphanage" in Liberia.

• Jewelry sales to date have funded 400 lbs. of rice and other staples for “Charity Orphanage” in Robertsport, Liberia! This first donation left the U.S. for Liberia the day after Thanksgiving – details are below.
• Christmas gift reminder for U.S. buyers - To assure timely delivery, I suggest ordering your jewelry gifts by Wednesday, December 17th. After that date Priority shipping is available.

‘A Gem of a Cause’ -

The jewelry sale is continuing through December 31st at Personal Treasures http://personaltreasures.etsy.com and Mufi Jewels http://mufi.etsy.com with discounts up to 20%. All pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited edition, original designs, and handmade with care by me. You’ll find the details (as well as many new ‘gift priced’ pieces) at the shops.

I'd like to help you make your holiday shopping a pleasant experience. Priority and international shipping, packaging in signature boxes, gift wrapping, cards with your message, shipping directly to the recipient of your gift - it's all available at small additional fees. Just ask.

All jewelry at Personal Treasures at http://mufi.personaltreasures.com is on sale to benefit "Charity Orphanage" in Liberia.

Update on the Liberian Orphanage project -

On November 28th, an expatriate Liberian couple boarded a plane to visit relatives for the holidays. In their luggage was the money we’ve collected to date, as well as messages and gifts that they agreed to personally deliver to “Charity Orphanage” in Robertsport, Liberia.

When she was 10-years-old, the woman was a student of my husband Bill when he taught in Liberia. They recently reconnected and we spent a wonderful day with her, her husband, and two of their children. We will be waiting for her safe return to hear more news of the orphanage as there are no longer phones or electricity in Robertsport

During the recent 12-year Civil War another teacher took in 35 children and founded “Charity Orphanage”. 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 – almost none of them meeting the U.N.’s minimum requirements for basic human rights.

Bill is developing a project to improve conditions in Cape Mount County orphanages where Robertsport is located. He will be returning to Liberia in April 2009. Until then we will focus on providing basic assistance to “Charity Orphanage.” We will be sending the next shipment over in mid-January.

Bill recently retired as a child welfare social worker focusing in adoptions. He served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Liberia from 1969 to 1972.

The U.N. report on Liberia’s orphanages - http://unmil.org/documents/humanrights_approvedthematicreport2007.pdf.

A Gem of a Cause - Sale to Benefit Liberian Orphans

Prasiolite Necklace - coming soon to Personal Treasures http://personaltreasures.etsy.com.

All of my personally handmade, original jewelry designs will be on sale through the end of the year at http://personaltreasures.etsy.com and http://mufi.etsy.com with discounts from 10% to 20%. You’ll find the details (as well as many new gift-priced pieces) posted at the shops.



100% of the profits from both stores will benefit my husband Bill Lawhorn's work with orphaned children in Liberia, West Africa.



We have already raised enough funds to buy 400 lbs. of rice and other staples for the “Charity Orphanage” in Robertsport, Liberia. The money will be hand delivered to the orphange around Thanksgiving by a Liberian expat who is visiting family for the holidays.

Labradorite Hoop Earrings - coming soon to Mufi Jewels http://mufi.etsy.com.

Many thanks to all of you who have bought jewelry already and who have sent notes of support and interest, as well as offers to be involved. The response has been very exciting and an affirmation that this work is important and that people are eager to help.

Unique Gift Ideas That Benefit Africans

Many people today are looking for ways to make their gifts more meaningful. These suggestions, all handmade by sellers at ETSY.com, help change the world, one gift at a time. They are chosen from shops where the shop owner donates a percentage of the proceeds from every sale to benefit humanitarian projects in Africa.

This beautiful image is by Unicef worker and photographer Lola Galla. She offers a series of striking photographs and photo-montages of Tanzania with all proceeds donated to the Chalula Project of Friends of African Village Libraries (FAVL). FAVL is a network of individuals and donors committed to long-term management of and support for small community libraries in rural Africa http://www.favl.org/news.html.



Visit Lola Galla's Etsy shop "Lola Oppd" to see more of her original photographic art http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5913863.



The Kibera Jewelry shop (headquartered in the US) sells jewelry made by "Sema na Kufanya" (meaning "Action Speaks"), a 30-person cooperative of HIV/AIDS afflicted mothers in Kibera, Kenya. The proceeds support them as well a nursery school they started for their children. 100% of all profits will reach them. To learn more about the project see http://kiberajewelry.googlepages.com and to visit Kibera's Etsy shop click here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KiberaJewelry



Julie Backman is an artist who sells her handmade charms and pendants with inspirational sayings and graphics, as well as beautifully designed art cards and collages to support teachers’ salaries at four schools in Zambia supported by the Zambia Satellite, a division of Good Samaritan Ministries. For more info about the Zambia Satellite see: http://gsmzambia.org



Pictured is a reversible charm/pendant. One side says "Authentic" and the other is a pretty pink floral pattern. It comes with a 24' ball chain necklace which can be clipped to any size. See this and many other pendants at http://jjbackman.etsy.com





This striking clutch (or wristlet) can be custom made for you from your choice of wax-printed Rwandan cotton by Kristen of Sewn Sunday http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewnsunday.



Kristen explains - When I took a trip to Rwanda I met an incredible man, Pastor David. He and his gracious family have taken on the job of helping to better the lives of the children and families in his neighborhood in the town of Butare. Among his many projects, he has been working with a group of widows and teaching them the trade of tailoring. Learning this trade will allow these women to find jobs that can help them provide for their families. I think because I love to sew I felt a desire to help. 50% of the proceeds of this custom bag will go to support his wonderful project."



And finally there are Mufi Jewels http://mufi.etsy.com and Personal Treasures http://personaltreasures.etsy.com, my own shops where 50% of the profits help support the children of "Charity Orphanage" in Robertsport, Liberia. You can learn more about this project at http://personaltreasures.blogspot.com/2008/09/jewelry-liberian-children-gem-of-cause.html.



The vibrant earrings pictured (from Mufi Jewels) are crafted of rich blue Kyanite and golden pearls and would make a truly special gift. At the shops you will find many, many other options, that will come to you elegantly boxed for giving.

Looking for more gifts that 'give twice' for others on your list? Find links to many other gift guides: "Handmade Children's Gifts That Benefit Charity," "Give Gifts that Give Twice," "Holiday Gifts that Benefit Charity" and more, in the column to the right under the heading Gifts That Benefit Charity. Multiply the impact of your generosity!

Jewelry + Liberian Children = ‘A Gem of a Cause’

new at Personal Treasures

I want you to be among the first to know. . .

My husband Bill Lawhorn is returning to Africa to work with orphaned children. To fund his efforts all profits from my jewelry businesses will be devoted to Bill’s projects. Initially we will focus on support of the children of "Charity Orphanage," Robertsport, Liberia, the details are below.

To launch the fundraising effort, I’m having a sale of all of my personally handmade, original designs in gold and silver, gemstones and pearls from September 24th through December 31st!

Personal Treasures - http://personaltreasures.etsy.com
Mufi Jewels - http://mufi.etsy.com

Buy one piece and receive a 10% discount, 2 purchases receive 15% and buy 3 or more and get 20% off your entire order.

Here’s how to purchase:

- Buy at the stated price and I will refund your discount, and combine shipping if you shop at both stores, through PayPal.
- Voila! Your jewelry is on it’s way to you.

new at Mufi Jewels

About Bill’s project. . .

In his youth Bill did 2 tours in the Peace Corps as a teacher in Cape Mount County, Liberia. Throughout his career as a Social Worker in child welfare and adoptions, he has maintained his connections with Liberia.

Liberia is now recovering from a 14-year civil war in which 300,000 people died and the infrastructure of the country was destroyed. There are many children who have been left orphaned and homeless and in great need of help.

Now that he’s retired, Bill is working with a NGO (non-governmental organization) and a group of expatriate Liberians to develop projects to improve the conditions in Liberian orphanages.

Through these connections he found that one of his fellow teachers in Liberia had taken in 35 orphaned children that she is now struggling to support. So initial focus will be on helping "Charity Orphanage" in Robertsport, Liberia.

He plans to be in Liberia in early 2009. I will post updates on the project here at my blog. You can supscribe to or follow the blog to get the news.

Here's an update from December 11 -
http://personaltreasures.blogspot.com/2008/12/gem-of-cause-jewelry-benefitting.html

Additional ideas for gifts that benefit Africans - with links to articles on other blogs for even more resources - http://personaltreasures.blogspot.com/2008/10/gifts-that-benefit-africans.html