Build Liberia Youth Reading Center
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Help Build a Youth Reading Center, Computer Lab & After School Program in Paynesville, Liberia, West Africa
“Oh! Oh! I know! Readers make great leaders!” shouted eager Thomas, a nine -year- old Liberian child. Children excitedly sat on make-shift benches and plastic chairs under a Mango tree for read-aloud story time with Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah. This was Summer, 2016.
Post-civil war: Liberian children attentively listened and responded to questions during story time with Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah in Summer of 2016.
Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah stimulated the minds of young Liberian children to develop a love of reading. Summer of 2016 in Paynesville, Liberia , West Africa.
*** Rewind 26 years prior – 1990 ***
BOOM! BANG! BANG! The loud noises vibrated throughout the house. 23 frightened bodies hovered in one small room away from the numerous windows in this large home with six bedrooms and four bathrooms. Some of the inhabitants thought it was the sound of their pounding hearts; others took deep breaths and continued praying. BAMB! BAMB! BAMB! More deafening loud noises echoed. Suddenly, they heard footsteps and the shout of an angry voice, “OPEN THIS DOOR NOW AND COME OUT OF THIS HOUSE; OR ELSE, WE WILL BURST DOWN THIS DOOR AND SPRAY EVERYONE IN THIS HOUSE!” My parents, siblings, host of relatives, and friends that sought refuge in our home spilled out the door. They were ordered by hideous soldiers with guns to leave their home immediately. Several of them hurriedly squeezed into two cars parked in the garage, while some took off running on foot, and fled our home of 28 years, never to return. This was 1990 in Paynesville City, Liberia, West Africa.
Pre-civil war,1988: Front of my parents' home showing original rock-work and garage. Most photos of home were lost when they fled in 1990. Photo of Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah, Mrs. Lucille Nyeba Wolo & others outside home.
Pre- civil war, 1988: Mrs. Lucille Nyeba Wolo relaxing on front porch of her home with grandchild.
Soldiers soon moved in, looted, and took occupancy of the numerous bedrooms, family rooms, and other rooms in the house, bringing along young girls and women they had seized and raped during the war. Full blown civil war soon raged like a wild fire throughout this tiny African nation - Liberia, swallowing over half million lives and resulting in total anarchy. My parents and siblings took on a nomadic journey for several months, wandering throughout the Liberian countryside, crossing into a neighboring country, Ivory Coast, and finally seeking refuge in the United States.
*** Fast forward 26 years later – June, 2016 ***
I returned to Liberia in June of 2016 for the first time since the Liberian Civil War to visit the home I had grown up in, the very one that my parents and siblings fled. This once beautiful and breathtaking suburban neighborhood had rapidly transformed since the civil war. Numerous shacks, sheds, and make-shift dwelling places clustered the road leading to my parents’ home. This home that once sat in the middle of almost an acre of lustrous, green low land was now surrounded by multiple houses and zinc shacks with dozens of children playing in the yard.
Post-civil war-June, 2016: home with crumbling walls, ramshackle foundation and many structural damages.
Post -civil war-June 2016: Back of my parents' dilapidated home. Children playing in backyard.
My parents’ home, long since abandoned by the soldiers, was now in a very dilapidated condition with shabby, crumbling walls, ramshackle foundation, and other structural damages. Many squatters had also occupied this home throughout the years following the Liberian Civil War; some groups digging out tiles, window panes, plumbing fixtures, etc. as they moved away. Others had sealed off the concrete garage and front porch, repainted parts of the house for their use before moving on. A few squatters still occupied parts of the house. There were so many children playing in the yard and several ran up to me!
Since I was young, I always felt the need to defend and empower children; I often had groups of children around me. I would often read to them and give them all kinds of treats and gifts. I have been told over the years, that some of those children, now adults, would often return to the yard inquiring about me. Thus, during my visit to Liberia in June of 2016, the news circulated that I was back in Liberia. Some of the neighbors came by to visit bringing their young children and grandchildren along.
Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah reading to children under a Mango Tree in Paynesville, Liberia - Summer of 2016.
On one of my numerous visits to the home in 2016, I sat under a Mango tree in the yard and read to a group of neighborhood children. You should have seen the excitement on their faces! They were very eager to touch the books, glance at the pictures, and soak in my voice. I asked the children, “Why is reading important?” A young, delightful boy eagerly raised his hand and shouted, “Oh! Oh! I Know! Readers make great leaders!” This warmed my soul and brought tears to my eyes! A seed was planted; an idea was birthed in me to build a youth center with a reading room filled with hundreds of books and other reading materials for these children and other children in the area. Many of the schools in Liberia lack libraries, resources necessary for quality education, or the abilities to build strong readers and critical thinkers. Hence, this youth center will greatly impact the lives of youths in this neighborhood!!
Liberian children attentively listened & responded to questions during story time with Dr. Wolo Saah-2016 in Paynesville, Liberia, West Africa.
Liberian children during Read-Aloud with Dr. Wolo Saah in Paynesville, Liberia -2016.
Sadly, my dad died in USA twelve years ago, NEVER returning to the home he fled in 1990 at gunpoint! My mother, a retired middle school principal, now 82 years old, still lives in United States. She has donated their home and property in Paynesville City, Liberia to be used for the construction of a Youth Center with a Reading Room, Computer Lab, and After School Program. Thus, through the losses and traumatic experiences of my parents, they are able to give back life and hope to a new generation of Liberian youths in this African nation’s post-civil war and post- Ebola era.
It is my dream that my 82-year-old mother will see this youth center built and fully serving children in Paynesville, Liberia during her life time!! PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY!!
Liberian Youths -After Story Time and Refreshments with Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah in Paynesville, Liberia. 2016
Hence, this Go Fund Me Liberia Literacy Fundraising Campaign is to raise $350,000.00 for the following requirements:
1. Building Renovation / Construction
2. Infrastructure
3. Fence Construction
4. Electrical & Internet
5. Landscaping
6. Books for Reading Library
7. After School Curricula / Enrichment / Intervention
8. Materials / Resources
9. Computers / Software / Technology
10. Miscellaneous
Primary Goals:
· Develop Strong Young Readers
· Develop Critical Thinkers
· Help Close Academic Gaps
· Inspire Youths to Reach High Academic & Careers Goals
· Improve Literacy Rate
100% of all funds raised will go to this project. All donations will be highly appreciated.
Thank you,
Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah
Educator, Counselor, Youth Mentor, Youth Advocate
Daughter of Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. Lucille Nyeba Wolo
“Oh! Oh! I know! Readers make great leaders!” shouted eager Thomas, a nine -year- old Liberian child. Children excitedly sat on make-shift benches and plastic chairs under a Mango tree for read-aloud story time with Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah. This was Summer, 2016.
Post-civil war: Liberian children attentively listened and responded to questions during story time with Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah in Summer of 2016.Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah stimulated the minds of young Liberian children to develop a love of reading. Summer of 2016 in Paynesville, Liberia , West Africa.*** Rewind 26 years prior – 1990 ***
BOOM! BANG! BANG! The loud noises vibrated throughout the house. 23 frightened bodies hovered in one small room away from the numerous windows in this large home with six bedrooms and four bathrooms. Some of the inhabitants thought it was the sound of their pounding hearts; others took deep breaths and continued praying. BAMB! BAMB! BAMB! More deafening loud noises echoed. Suddenly, they heard footsteps and the shout of an angry voice, “OPEN THIS DOOR NOW AND COME OUT OF THIS HOUSE; OR ELSE, WE WILL BURST DOWN THIS DOOR AND SPRAY EVERYONE IN THIS HOUSE!” My parents, siblings, host of relatives, and friends that sought refuge in our home spilled out the door. They were ordered by hideous soldiers with guns to leave their home immediately. Several of them hurriedly squeezed into two cars parked in the garage, while some took off running on foot, and fled our home of 28 years, never to return. This was 1990 in Paynesville City, Liberia, West Africa.
Pre-civil war,1988: Front of my parents' home showing original rock-work and garage. Most photos of home were lost when they fled in 1990. Photo of Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah, Mrs. Lucille Nyeba Wolo & others outside home.Pre- civil war, 1988: Mrs. Lucille Nyeba Wolo relaxing on front porch of her home with grandchild.Soldiers soon moved in, looted, and took occupancy of the numerous bedrooms, family rooms, and other rooms in the house, bringing along young girls and women they had seized and raped during the war. Full blown civil war soon raged like a wild fire throughout this tiny African nation - Liberia, swallowing over half million lives and resulting in total anarchy. My parents and siblings took on a nomadic journey for several months, wandering throughout the Liberian countryside, crossing into a neighboring country, Ivory Coast, and finally seeking refuge in the United States.
*** Fast forward 26 years later – June, 2016 ***
I returned to Liberia in June of 2016 for the first time since the Liberian Civil War to visit the home I had grown up in, the very one that my parents and siblings fled. This once beautiful and breathtaking suburban neighborhood had rapidly transformed since the civil war. Numerous shacks, sheds, and make-shift dwelling places clustered the road leading to my parents’ home. This home that once sat in the middle of almost an acre of lustrous, green low land was now surrounded by multiple houses and zinc shacks with dozens of children playing in the yard.
Post-civil war-June, 2016: home with crumbling walls, ramshackle foundation and many structural damages.Post -civil war-June 2016: Back of my parents' dilapidated home. Children playing in backyard. My parents’ home, long since abandoned by the soldiers, was now in a very dilapidated condition with shabby, crumbling walls, ramshackle foundation, and other structural damages. Many squatters had also occupied this home throughout the years following the Liberian Civil War; some groups digging out tiles, window panes, plumbing fixtures, etc. as they moved away. Others had sealed off the concrete garage and front porch, repainted parts of the house for their use before moving on. A few squatters still occupied parts of the house. There were so many children playing in the yard and several ran up to me!
Since I was young, I always felt the need to defend and empower children; I often had groups of children around me. I would often read to them and give them all kinds of treats and gifts. I have been told over the years, that some of those children, now adults, would often return to the yard inquiring about me. Thus, during my visit to Liberia in June of 2016, the news circulated that I was back in Liberia. Some of the neighbors came by to visit bringing their young children and grandchildren along.
Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah reading to children under a Mango Tree in Paynesville, Liberia - Summer of 2016.On one of my numerous visits to the home in 2016, I sat under a Mango tree in the yard and read to a group of neighborhood children. You should have seen the excitement on their faces! They were very eager to touch the books, glance at the pictures, and soak in my voice. I asked the children, “Why is reading important?” A young, delightful boy eagerly raised his hand and shouted, “Oh! Oh! I Know! Readers make great leaders!” This warmed my soul and brought tears to my eyes! A seed was planted; an idea was birthed in me to build a youth center with a reading room filled with hundreds of books and other reading materials for these children and other children in the area. Many of the schools in Liberia lack libraries, resources necessary for quality education, or the abilities to build strong readers and critical thinkers. Hence, this youth center will greatly impact the lives of youths in this neighborhood!!
Liberian children attentively listened & responded to questions during story time with Dr. Wolo Saah-2016 in Paynesville, Liberia, West Africa.Liberian children during Read-Aloud with Dr. Wolo Saah in Paynesville, Liberia -2016.Sadly, my dad died in USA twelve years ago, NEVER returning to the home he fled in 1990 at gunpoint! My mother, a retired middle school principal, now 82 years old, still lives in United States. She has donated their home and property in Paynesville City, Liberia to be used for the construction of a Youth Center with a Reading Room, Computer Lab, and After School Program. Thus, through the losses and traumatic experiences of my parents, they are able to give back life and hope to a new generation of Liberian youths in this African nation’s post-civil war and post- Ebola era.
It is my dream that my 82-year-old mother will see this youth center built and fully serving children in Paynesville, Liberia during her life time!! PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY!!
Liberian Youths -After Story Time and Refreshments with Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah in Paynesville, Liberia. 2016Hence, this Go Fund Me Liberia Literacy Fundraising Campaign is to raise $350,000.00 for the following requirements:
1. Building Renovation / Construction
2. Infrastructure
3. Fence Construction
4. Electrical & Internet
5. Landscaping
6. Books for Reading Library
7. After School Curricula / Enrichment / Intervention
8. Materials / Resources
9. Computers / Software / Technology
10. Miscellaneous
Primary Goals:
· Develop Strong Young Readers
· Develop Critical Thinkers
· Help Close Academic Gaps
· Inspire Youths to Reach High Academic & Careers Goals
· Improve Literacy Rate
100% of all funds raised will go to this project. All donations will be highly appreciated.
Thank you,
Dr. Lychene Wolo Saah
Educator, Counselor, Youth Mentor, Youth Advocate
Daughter of Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. Lucille Nyeba Wolo
Organizer
Lychene Wolo Saah
Organizer
Houston, TX