Blog Posts - Foundation For Women

Nearing the End of My Time Here Once Again

7/25/2019

Monrovia, Liberia - As I am nearing the end of my time here once again, leaving next Monday to bring Moses to college in America, I am reflecting on the specialness of these two beings of light – and how “It’s a God-thing” as we all say here that we are connected. Victor Frankl discusses in one of my most treasured books ever, Man’s Search for Meaning, “…human beings’ motive is not money or even happiness, but for meaning. We are driven above all to understand the purpose of our lives. Once that is understood even the most miserable conditions cannot upend inner peace.”

Moses is Going to College in America!

7/21/2019

Monrovia, Liberia - A Moses is Going to College in America Celebration! Over thirty people gathered tonight, Moses’ biological family and chosen family, to celebrate him and his amazing accomplishment of having been accepted to ten universities in America. He has chosen Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania where he will study computer science.

Remembering Precious, and Meeting Marylin

7/19/2019

Monrovia, Liberia - Ten days ago, I shared the unbelievably awful news of the sudden death of a beautiful 6-year-old girl named Precious. She had just graduated from KII and was on her way to 1st grade with such great joy! A very big graduation celebration here in Liberia. That was June 29th. July 4th Precious died in the leading hospital in this country of yellow fever; no ability to help and no medicine here. My outrage and sadness has been tremendous, my heart so broken.

Then tonight I met hope manifested by her parents, Franklin and his wife Mary. And I was beyond blessed to meet their new baby daughter, Marylin – parents Mary and Franklin combined their names which is common here in Liberia.

Something so much bigger

7/13/2019

Deborah’s “son” Moses and baby Lindholm Browne named in honor of Deborah’s recently deceased father.

When I first graduated from college and then graduate school, I opted to teach for several years in return at the time for the cancellation of my accumulated college debt. Armed with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education and counseling, I first went to work for Northwestern University’s Laboratory School in Evanston, IL in America. I had so wanted to take a post at an inner-city all black school on the south side of Chicago, but my father put his foot down with a firm NO – and for some reason I obeyed him. Looking back now, I wonder why…So, I went to the north side of Chicago to the largely affluent suburb of Evanston, which had an integrated population for many years, and economic extremes. My assignment was a special education class for “emotionally disturbed” children. OMG that label haunts me now. I had perhaps 10 students, primarily children of color. Despite big challenges, we loved each other as a family. Joy is my remembrance.

Celebrating 8 Months, but Much Work to Do

7/7/2019

Monrovia, Liberia - I opened my email yesterday morning to find a message from my dear friend Franklin "I am now in tears mommy, my daughter graduated from K2 on June 29 and died July 4."
He took his daughter to the biggest government hospital here on Wednesday. She died Thursday morning. He told me it was yellow fever, a disease that is transmitted by an infected mosquito and easily prevented by a vaccination. Like malaria, yellow fever lives where poverty lives. Inflation is at a historic nearly 25% - where people can no longer afford to buy cold water or rice – where hospitals have no medicine.

The Foundation for Women cannot solve all the problems of the world. We can however bring some light to the darkness. This week we celebrated the first 8 months of operation of the Liberia Community Health Clinic, our first attempt at bringing quality healthcare to the 1000+ students at one of our partner schools.

Letters from Liberia

6/6/2019

Monrovia, Liberia - It feels like Ebola time. Fear. Wonderment. Confusion. Prayers.

I am one of only a very few people staying in my familiar Liberian compound/home, a place with a capacity for perhaps 200 and usually full of life and joy; as in addition to guests from elsewhere, so many local people come to the Kendeja to enjoy the pool and beach and very special seaside setting. It is a sacred place. And today it is empty. The one major airline that serves Liberia whose crew stays here, Brussels Air, is gone until at least Sunday – even though they kept coming during the long civil war and Ebola; not now.

3/26/19 Letters from Liberia

3/26/2019

Monrovia - After months of being home here, I am awe-stuck by the daily reality of members of our human family in Liberia. Friend Emmanuel, who is a lifeguard here where I live and who I consider a son for years now, saw me Saturday and said, “I have a small problem at home – that’s why I have not been here lately.” He then proceeded to tell me that his older sister had just died giving birth, not at home alone but in a hospital. The baby girl lived, Emmanuel’s sister died. Really?? I asked him if he was now taking care of the baby, and he told me his Mom has her; an African grandmother now raising an infant. He then told me that even though it is almost the end of March, he has not received pay for February – so he has had to stop credit in his phone to find transport money to work – even though he is not being paid. I expressed my sincere sympathies as he walked off saying, “All will be OK Mom.” Really?

3/14/19 Letters from Liberia

3/14/2019

Monrovia - I am learning more and more about malaria now that I am personally experiencing it for the second time, this time here in Africa. It is a beyond challenging and humbling disease.

Working with the YMCA to Bring Skateboarding to more children in Liberia

3/1/2019

Enjoy this clip about new skateboarding programs at three schools in conjunction with the YMCA and the nonprofit SaveMoreKids.org.

End of Year Giving

11/20/2018

November 2018 - To My Treasured Foundation for Women Community,
After 12 continuous years working on the ground in Liberia, in spite of a post-conflict environment where infrastructure remains limited, the devastating outbreak of Ebola in 2014-2015, and a recent fire in our partnering medical hospital, the Foundation for Women can report we’re stronger than ever! When I step back, it is truly amazing to acknowledge that FFW Liberia has become a respected humanitarian hub within this country. We are endorsed by the World Bank, by the country’s Ministers of Finance and Commerce, and by the former Vice President Boakai who has been our Chief Patron since the inception of our work here. Our hub has begun attracting smart risk-taking partners who are coming to us with proven methodologies that have worked in other poverty-stricken countries. They want a link to what we have: a vibrant web comprised of market women, small business enterprises, independent schools and community health clinics who are recreating their nation from the ground up.