My Great Purchases from the African Market

My Great Purchases from the African Market at Unity of Charleston. A vest a belt and earrings. All for a Great cause

The Ann Sandell Independent school -History of the School

Ann Sandell Independent School was established by a 22-year-old young woman who lost her family in the Liberian Civil War.  In the mid-1990's she started by tutoring and counseling children in her neighborhood who were traumatized by the ongoing civil war.  Most schools were closed and the need was so great, she recruited a few volunteers and began having regular classes under shelters made of the mat and covered with a tarp.  In 1998 Pastor Ann Sandell of Lovepower in Minneapolis Minnesota made a financial contribution to the school which was used to construct the first classroom and the school was named after her. The school compound now consists of 13 buildings made with mud bricks, plastered with cement.  There are about 800 students from kindergarten through 9th grade.

The school caters to students from poor families in the community who cannot afford the regular cost of education. Basic survival is tenuous for these families, many of whom live in one or two rooms and share bathrooms and kitchens with several other families. The school does its best to provide counseling and to serve as an advocate for students when necessary.  The school also reaches out to children who are not attending school and tries to get them into school.

The operating costs of the school are covered by a small tuition fee based on the family income, donations, and fundraising events.


Core Objectives

Education at Ann Sandell is practical and every effort is made to ensure students READ, WRITE, and SPEAK Standard English.  Emphasis is placed on teaching students to think, to solve problems, and to become self-reliant. Ethics and values are reinforced.  Students are taught about their bodies and how to keep healthy.  They are taught the importance of a clean and safe school and community and how they can help to keep their surrounding clean and safe.

Community leaders, parents, guardians, and students are encouraged and required to participate in the process of providing a meaningful learning environment and to support the objectives of the school.  The school administration works with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the school meets required national standards and guidelines.

The school would like to become more self-supporting and has set a goal to generate income by opening a computer café and copy shop that will serve the community as it also meets the needs of the school in these areas.

Ann Sandell can be a model for other schools serving poor families and communities in Liberia.
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