School is tough for many students in impoverished Liberia.
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It has been extremely tough in the last six months, with the main school closed because of COVID-19.
Wollongong-based Future of the Children (FOTC) founder Jay Jay Ganwaye said studying remotely is almost impossible as most students don't have computers or laptops.
"Those who do, struggle to connect to the internet," he said.
"We are trying to do as much as we can to provide them with laptops and computers and anything else that will help them with their studies."
FOTC volunteer Kate Dolan said the school provides education for students from kindergarten to year nine and operates reading clubs, leadership and sporting programs.
The school in Gaye Town Monrovia, Liberia has over 200 students who are drawn from some of the poorest communities in the country.
Dr Dolan, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, got involved with FOTC in 2018 after visiting Liberia to review the country's prison medical service.
It was during this trip she found out that Mr Ganwaye had brought fellow Wollongong locals [Dr Rob Goodfellow and Mick Fernandez] to Liberia to visit his country and school.
Dr Dolan spent over a month in Liberia visiting prisons around the country.
She also visited the school and was impressed by what they are doing with very little.
Since then her daughter has decided to do a fund raiser for the school and contacted Jay Jay to see how to help.
"She plans to buy a water purifying tank so the children can have clean water to drink," Dr Dolan said.
"Jay Jay has shipping container going to Liberia in August and would welcome all sorts of things to transport.
"People can donate clothes, shoes, books, non-perishable food items, school equipment, computer lab equipment and books for school library. We are also keen to receive laptops or even kindles as this will enable the children to read."
FOTC is hoping to expand the school up to year 12 to help students get their high school education.
"We have 18 teaching staff, three administrative staff and one security," Dr Dolan said.
"Teachers' salaries are the largest expense at the school. The school does not have any sponsor yet and relies entirely on Jay jay to fund it from his salary here.
"He works hard every day to pay staff or give them something so that they can also help their family."
To donate items email either jayjay.fotcm@yahoo.com.au or k.dolan@unsw.edu.au. "If people want to donate money we will email bank details. $30 will pay for a teacher's salary for one month."
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