E-man graduated from Day Treatment today. We had a great morning visiting with his friends and his wonderful teachers. From left to right..Mr. Adam, Case Manager Miss Cinda, Miss Laura, and Miss Jessie. His teachers are the most patient people on the planet. They are doing God's work everyday with kids who have so much potential but have challenges with the smallest things. We are so fortunate to have been able to take advantage of their services. We started a year ago and since then we have a whole new language; big mad, use your words, calm your body, think of others feelings, let grown-ups help, keep your body safe, I'm thinking about you even if I don't see you and many more. Way to Go E-man!
E-man gets a Memory Book from his teachers and a little Lightning McQueen Action
Several of you asked..indeed you can help..here's all the info. Contact me for more....
PEACEFUL BAPTIST
SCHOOL CHARITY
BATTERY FACTORY, LOWER NEW GEORGIA
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
U.S. Contact:
Karen Mathot Monson
Charity Administrator
Peaceful Baptist School Charity
6330 So Haven Oaks Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
801-272-7780; cell 801-231-6404
Checks written to:
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
(Write in memo line)
Peaceful Baptist School Charity
(Please send with pledge form)
March 23, 2009
Dear Friend,
The attached information, operating statement, and pledge form (last page) is offered for your review and consideration as a pledge to the Peaceful Baptist School Charity. The attached information has been provided by Pastor Napoleon Braithwaite, who is the Founder and Head Administrator of this school since its founding in 1986.
You will see how desperately funding is needed to sustain the operation of this school that has served as a light to this very proud, yet extremely poor outlying community of Monrovia, Liberia West Africa that has suffered incredibly from a 15 year civil war. Many of these areas families cannot afford the average of $115 per year to have their child educated. Your contribution will have a direct influence on providing a future for these children.
The following provides bullets to the base structure of your charitable contribution.
-The first stage goal is to raise $12,000 for student scholarships and providing for high level necessities outlined in the attached information (generator, tables, chairs, etc). Adding to the current 100 student enrollment, this revenue will provide a base sustainability for the school, allowing the ability to pay the base administration costs. (Note in the information packet that teachers are paid $1,200 per year.
-Suggested sustaining donations are $50, $100, $150 per month.
-Any amount is greatly appreciated.
-The proper way to write checks and the way to address payments is on the pledge form on the last page of this packet.
-Annual yearend contribution statements will be provided by the Peaceful Baptist School Charity. (Note that St. Thomas More is not the charity but a conduit for the US contributions to be sent to the school.)
-Annual financial statements (unaudited) will be provided upon request.
It is anticipated that a work pilgrimage will be scheduled sometime in 09/10, to provide direct renovation and maintenance to the school. (You will have an idea for the need of this work from the information and picture in the attached pages.) We will provide information on this pilgrimage to all donors to allow them to participate.
Please do not hesitate to call with any questions. We appreciate your consideration for participating in this Charity.
Please make your decision to participate as soon as possible. All that is needed is your pledge form (last page of this document) filled out and signed and sent back by mail as indicated on the pledge form with your check.
Every day that goes by for one of these children to not be educated is a lost day for that child.
God Bless,
Karen Mathot Monson
Charity Administrator
PEACEFUL BAPTIST ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL
BATTERY FACTORY, LOWER NEW GEORGIA
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
The Peaceful Baptist Elementary and Junior High School offers opportunities for self-grown by stressing self-improvement, collaboration and personal achievement through service learning.Its major goal is to train students from diverse backgrounds, in partnership with parents and guardians, to learn and live together successfully.The vision of the program is to bring up a child that will be able to serve significantly in any society.
The goal of this school is to reach the people where they are and take Jesus Christ to them. We believe in these words “Rescue the perishing care for the dying”. It is our hope that as we teach we win some to Christ.
Peaceful Baptist Elementary and Junior High School have always been the light in this Community and we always want to remain that LIGHT. It is our prayer that God will touch the hearts of individuals who will see the need to come to the aid of a Church that wants to minister to the holistic person.
SCHOLARSHIPS/TUITION/ FREE ASSISTANTSHIP
The School is pleased to have students from every wards of life that she can minister to in this way.We have kids who participated in the Liberian civil war; I mean those that actively participated in the war.Some have come without any means of financial assistance or parental support.They are even unable to purchase their uniforms.But from what I see, they are interested in getting an education but without any sponsorship and they really need help.For some, they are over grown for their classes.This is why I would like to enhance the Accelerated Learning Program at Peaceful Baptist Elementary and Junior High School. We are praying for sponsorship to provide tuition wavier for a good number of the many needy students.
TUITION AND FEES
First Semester Tuition and Fees (US$)
Classes
Uniforms
and Books
Activities Fees
Registration
Tuition
Total
INSTALLMENT
SCHEDULE
I60% of Tuition & Other Fees
II40%
K to 3rd
Grades
$50
$10.00
$20.00
$25
$105
$63
$42
4th Thru 5th Grades
$50
$10.00
$20.00
$30.00
$110
$66
$44
6th Grade
$60
$10
$20
$40
$120
$72
$58
7th & 8th Grades
$60
$15
$20
$35
$130
$78
$52
9th Grade
$65
$15
$20
$45
$145
$87
$58
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
For the 2008/2009 academic year, the School has to date 109 students enrolled (89-elementary division; 8-Junior high division.) The School at the commencement of this academic Semester enlisted 391 students. Due to the financial crunch and the lack of jobs opportunities, a good number of the children had to drop school and are out of school and they are hanging around the community.
The school was enrolled into an Accelerated Learning Program this semester to assist lots of the over-aged pupils who have not had the opportunity to enroll in the regular academic school.With this Program, the children learn at a faster paste than the regular academic program.I prayer we can get some sponsorship to continue this program.
EMPLOYEE STATISTIC
For academic year 2008/2009, the school currently has a total of 18 persons duly employed with Peaceful Baptist Elementary and Junior High School.
FINANCIAL STATUS
Since the commencement of Academic 2008/2009, we have raised an income (cash and kind) in the tone of US$2295.00 which has been enough to pay teachers salaries for three (3) of the five (5) months. The school is approaching the third month having to owe the teachers salaries. Our major source of income has come from tuition and other fees.
Operational Cost Analysis
REVENUE PROJECTION
Tuition/Fees per studentno. of studentsannual tuition
K1$10523$2,415
KII$105111,155
1st grade $105131,365
2nd “$105141,470
3rd “$105151,575
4th “$110111,210
5th “$1103330
6th “$1205600
7th “$13081,040
8th “$1304520
9th “$1452290
Total109 $12,125.00
UNIFORMS (Regular and P.E.)5,500.00
$17,625.00
Monson notes:
1st phase charity goal:
Provide assistance for an additional 100 students at approximately $12,000
Sample endowments:
- $600 “adoption” (ongoing) personal contribution would provide education for approximately 5 children
EXPENDITURE
Personnel costMonthly SalaryNo. of staffAnnual Salary Administrator/Principal$2001$2,400.00
Vice Principal/Registrar15011,800.00
(C) Certificate Teachers7086,720.00
(B) Certificate Teachers8032,880.00
(A) Certificate Teachers10022,400.00
Care Givers6021,440.00
Security501600.00
Total Personnel Annual cost 18 $18,240.00
STATIONARIES4,857.00
PUBLICITY600.00
TEXTBOOKS3,000.00
TOTAL$26,697.00
ANNUAL INCOME STATEMENT
Total revenue projection$17,625.00
Total expenditure- $26,697.00
Net Income<-$ 9,072.00>
·This report shows a shortfall of Nine Thousand five hundred and seventeen dollars
which clearly tell that the Institution (Peaceful Baptist Elementary and Junior School)
is running at a loss.
NEEDED ITEMS
School supplies
Ønote books
ØBall Pens
ØPencils
ØSticker pads
ØDusters
ØChalks
ØMarkers
ØWriting pads
ØAssorted books
ØReams of paper
ØChairs
ØDesks
ØTables
ØBenches
II.Equipments:
üFlannel board
ü25 pcs. Desktop computers
ü1 projector
ü1 laptop
ü1 mini generator
ü25 pcs UPS
ü25 pcs CPU
ü5 pcs Printers
ü2 Photo copiers
ü1 paper shrewder (paper destroyer)
Note: Some of these supplies and equipments can be purchased here if the funds were available. The school and her pupils will appreciate whatever help we can get. We will also appreciate funds/kind.
Charitable Pledge Form
PEACEFUL BAPTIST ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL
BATTERY FACTORY, LOWER NEW GEORGIA
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
Checks written to:
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
(Write in memo line:)
Peaceful Baptist School Charity
Send to:
Karen Mathot Monson
Peaceful Baptist School Charity
6330 So Haven Oaks Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
Phone: 801-272-7780; cell 801-231-6404
(Note: Monthly Wires will be sent to the school on the 15th of each month.
E-man with 2 of his Washburn teachers, Miss Laura and Miss Jessie during Monday's home visit
E-man's big graduation from Washburn Center for Children is tomorrow. He said he wanted a car cake for his big day so he helped Mommy make a race car cake. See a video on E-man's school: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w-qRhP4yYM#
It's called Peaceful Baptist School. It's located in Battery Factory, Lower New Georgia. Mean nothing to you? It's outside of Monrovia, Liberia. It is a community that claims the poorest of the poor. But Pastor Napolean Braithwaite still thought the children were rich enough to get an education so he's been trying to keep the school there open since 1986. He works with the ministry of health and social welfare and formed a bond with one of my fellow adoptive mothers when she went back to adopt her daughter's siblings. Yes, she now has four adopted children from Liberia, not to mention four biological ones.
In February Rev. Braithwaite became sick with malaria. It attacked his heart and his blood pressure was 180 over 120. He called my friend to tell her good-bye. But she wasn't going to let this man who had already buried two wives and a sister and was raising five kids of his own go so easily.
"Isn't there some medicine you can take?" asked Karen.
"Yes, but it is too expensive," said Rev. Braithwaite.
"How much is it?" Karen asked.
"It is $42," he said.
Karen bluntly told him he wasn't dying on her for 42 dollars. She wired him the money and his health is steadily improving and he has promised Karen he will take his medicine and eat a good diet.
Before leaving Liberia, Karen and her husband promised to do what they could to keep his school going. This is what they learned about it:
The School is pleased to have students from every wards of life that she can minister to in this way.We have kids who participated in the Liberian civil war; I mean those that actively participated in the war.Some have come without any means of financial assistance or parental support.They are even unable to purchase their uniforms.But from what I see, they are interested in getting an education but without any sponsorship and they really need help. For some, they are over grown for their classes.This is why I would like to enhance the Accelerated Learning Program at Peaceful Baptist Elementary and Junior High School. We are praying for sponsorship to provide tuition wavier for a good number of the many needy students.
Tuition ranges from 105 to 145 dollars. For the 2008-2009 school year, 391 students enrolled, but only 109 showed up. The rest couldn't pay and all but eight are in elementary school. Still it employs 18 people with salaries ranging from 70 to 100 dollars a month for teachers. Karen is keeping her promise and is raising money through her church to put 100 students on scholarship. She is heading over June 15th with a suitcase full of supplies and intends to get a group together in the fall of 2010 to go and help fix up the school which is in need of repairs. Rev. Braithwaite will get to show her his appreciation hosting her at his home. I'm thinking she'll claim about 108 kids when she gets home.
Annie's preschool class headed to the zoo today, you can see by the winter coats its still chilly here. But that didn't stop us from having a great time with the animals. Nothing like a day at the Zoo with four year olds! Quotes from E-man: What have you learned? E: I am not the boss. Big shoes to fill...E-man tries on Daddy's shoes. He doesn't care that its 45 degrees, he is still wearing his summer PJ's because they have Lightning McQueen on them. It's a big week for E-man, he will graduate from his special school, Washburn Center for Children, on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. We'll continue with individual therapy and home visits, but he has mastered his day treatment program. Abegail also has a big weekend ahead, first communion is Sunday.
An E-mail to share: Hi Sue, my name is Caroline Gbanjah.I learned that you adopted two kids from liberia.I am a U.S citizen but, from liberia.I really appreciate people like you.May God continue to guide you and your family and any thing you wish to do in life be sucessful. I got this in my work e-mail today. Whenever we meet people from Liberia they immediately thank us for adopting A&E. It is so nice and appreciated especially since I often wonder if we are doing the right thing.
Watch this, its worth it... http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=58667@wcco.dayport.com.
Susan Boyle is as a person is a story of a good simple woman winning over a bad, complicated society. Ms. Boyle is 48 years old, unemployed, and she says never married.
The Worldwide sensation lives in her childhood home in West Lothian, one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and which has Grapevine, Texas as its sister city according to Wikipedia, meaning they can claim her too.
Ms. Boyle cared for her mother until the elder Boyle's passing in 2007 at the age of 91; her father passed away 10 years before. Living alone, Susan attends church each weekend and it was there that her singing talent developed, and where her late mother encouraged her to sing, but Boyle had reportedly stopped singing and did not know how she would do on that Saturday night she shocked the World.
Susan's life has not been one without pain. Sadly, she was abused and starved of oxygen at birth and has a learning disability because of the act. Ms. Boyle says she was teased by classmates, and reportedly the scars of their comments remain to this day.
The President of Liberia was in Minneapolis and gave a speech on Good Friday. We did not attend but we did get a copy of her speech and these are two parts I thought were worth sharing:
Fighting corruption as pervasive and deep rooted in deprivation will require much more than that. It will require well paid and well placed qualified civil servants, widely installed financial management systems, a political audit system and a judicial system with the integrity and will to pursue offenders as required by law.
Dear Compatriots and Dear Friends, perhaps the best progress we have achieved is the restoration of HOPE. One can see this in the eyes of children as they walk to school. One can see in the gait of farmers who slowly move back to their communitie s on roads that get them there in good time. One can see this in the eyes of market women who can now work under better conditions. One can see this in the eyes of the youth who know that they have a stake in the future, that they will have the opportunity to be anything they want to be. We need only, collective as Liberians, to agree that the future is ours to reclaim.
E-man graduated from Day Treatment today. We had a great morning visiting with his friends and his wonderful teachers. From left to right..Mr. Adam, Case Manager Miss Cinda, Miss Laura, and Miss Jessie. His teachers are the most patient people on the planet. They are doing God's work everyday with kids who have so much potential but have challenges with the smallest things. We are so fortunate to have been able to take advantage of their services. We started a year ago and since then we have a whole new language; big mad, use your words, calm your body, think of others feelings, let grown-ups help, keep your body safe, I'm thinking about you even if I don't see you and many more. Way to Go E-man!
E-man gets a Memory Book from his teachers and a little Lightning McQueen Action
