Foundation for Women Executive Director Deborah Lindholm was on hand at Elwa Skateboard Academy in Monrovia, Liberia on International Go Skate Day to celebrate the amazing progress of program participants. Check out their amazing progress over the past few months going from their flat, basketball court learning area to the open road. Skateboarding in Liberia is providing a fun new focus for kids, building camaraderie between students and  introducing a much needed additional mode of transport. From the confident slaloms to the skateboard handstand, some of them look like they've been skating for years already!

–For 60 Helmets Donation
By Omari Jackson for The Daily Observer, Monrovia, Liberia. Read the full article online. 
​The ELWA Academy Skateboard Club yesterday expressed appreciation to the Tony Hawk Foundation for the donation of 60 helmets to help build interest in the sport. The helmets were presented to the club by the founder and chief executive officer of Foundation for Women, Deborah Lindholm, yesterday during skateboard training at the school’s campus in Monrovia.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017 Foundation for Women Monrovia, Liberia
 
I have been back “home” here in Liberia for a week now – and am wondering why I ever leave…  Every time I return, I immediately step back into the love of this West African nation; despite the challenging circumstances, love is everywhere.  Oretha greets me each morning as I complete my workout in the gym.  Karpo and Etta and Claire and Louisa welcome me to breakfast – and James makes my regular scrambled eggs with cheese and tomorrow.  Korto and Seema and Princess and Chris and their front desk team offer warm “Good Morning Deborah!” wishes as I leave the RLJ Kendeja – and greet driver Calvin.  I regularly tell Calvin that he needs to clone himself as “I need a Calvin in Liberia and a Calvin in America!”
 
The greeting on the Foundation for Women office door here reads, “WELCOME HOME DEBORAH!!  ALWAYS FABULOUS TO HAVE YOU HERE!!!”  Love.

Friday, June 2, 2017 Monrovia, Liberia
 
It has been too long since I have contributed to this blog.  For so many unbelievable reasons…  Tonight I must write as I am a witness to the political reality in America and its reverberating affect here in Africa. The US, my country of birth but perhaps no longer my country of choice, has joined Syria and Nicaragua in not supporting the Paris Climate Agreement.  My heart is broken.  I have known my entire life that we are indeed “one human family” – that we are all connected and that we all need each other.  The geopolitical boundaries are just that – geopolitical boundaries – not human family boundaries.