Our Roots. Our Vision. Our Renewed Commitment.
Our Roots. Our Vision. Our Renewed Commitment.
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Since its founding in 2011 and official launch in 2012, the Fatu Siryon Foundation has been committed to expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in rural Liberia.
Our journey began in Geweh, Bomi County, the birthplace of Fatu Siryon, with a vision to support the local elementary school and eventually extend our efforts to schools in surrounding communities.
Recognizing the challenges facing rural schools in postwar Liberia, we developed a series of initiatives designed to address the educational, physical, and social needs of children. Our goal was to create learning environments where every child would have the opportunity to thrive.
Although communication and logistical challenges interrupted our activities, our commitment to this mission has never wavered.
In 2026, we are renewing that commitment by returning to where we began. We are reconnecting with our original partner school, reassessing its current needs, and preparing to provide essential school supplies. At the same time, we are revisiting and refining our original initiatives to ensure that future programs are practical, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the children and communities we serve.
The following initiatives reflect our founding vision and will continue to guide our work as we move forward.
Partnering with Rural Schools
Partnering with Rural Schools
Building stronger learning environments through community partnerships.
Our work began in Geweh, Bomi County, with a commitment to improving educational opportunities through partnerships with rural schools. At the time, the school faced significant challenges, including limited classroom space, instructional materials, library resources, and recreational facilities.
Our vision was to work with school leadership and the community to create a supportive learning environment where every child could thrive. As we renew our partnership in 2026, we are reassessing the school's needs to guide future programs and support.
Growing Readers
Growing Readers
Opening doors to knowledge through reading and literacy.
Reading opens doors to knowledge, imagination, and lifelong opportunities. The Growing Readers initiative, originally launched as Geweh Reads, was conceived to nurture a love of reading, strengthen literacy skills, and provide children with access to books and a welcoming environment where they can explore, discover, and learn.
When the initiative was first developed, the school in Geweh had designated a room for a library, but it lacked the books, furniture, and resources needed to make it functional.
As we reassess the school's current needs, we hope to revitalize this initiative by exploring sustainable ways to expand access to reading materials, encourage reading habits, and support literacy development among students.
Our Original Goals
Establish a functional school library with bookshelves.
Collect and ship an initial goal of 500 age-appropriate books.
Provide tables and chairs for the reading room.
Introduce a simple library cataloguing and lending system.
Supply solar-powered lanterns to support reading and studying where electricity is unavailable or unreliable.
Little Scholars
Little Scholars
Equipping young learners with the tools to succeed.
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed, regardless of their family's financial circumstances. The Little Scholars initiative was established to help remove barriers to learning by providing essential school supplies, textbooks, and classroom materials to children in underserved rural communities.
The program aims to equip students with the tools they need to participate fully in classroom activities while supporting teachers in creating engaging and productive learning environments.
In 2026, Little Scholars is a central focus of our renewed efforts. We are preparing to provide school supplies to our original partner school in Geweh while reassessing its educational needs to guide future support.
Our Original Goals
Provide textbooks and supplementary learning materials to support students' education.
Supply essential school materials, including notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, and crayons.
Provide educational posters, stickers, and classroom decorations to create stimulating learning environments.
Support teachers with instructional materials that encourage creativity, participation, and effective learning.
Support the Staff
Support the Staff
Investing in the teachers who shape young minds.
Dedicated teachers are the foundation of a successful educational system. Yet educators in underserved rural communities often work under difficult conditions, with limited resources, inadequate compensation, and few opportunities for professional development.
At the time of our initial assessment, the Geweh school had five staff members, only one of whom reportedly received a nominal salary. The remaining teachers relied largely on support from the local community.
Through our Support the Staff initiative, we envisioned strengthening the school's teaching capacity by supporting professional development and exploring modest financial assistance for educators.
As we renew our partnership in 2026, we plan to reassess current staffing needs and explore practical, sustainable ways to support teachers and improve the quality of education.
Our Original Goals
Provide teacher development workshops to strengthen instructional skills and teaching methods.
Explore modest teacher stipends to supplement limited compensation.
Supply teaching aids and classroom resources to support effective instruction.
Encourage professional collaboration and knowledge-sharing among educators.
Get Active
Promoting healthy bodies, teamwork, and confidence through play.
Education extends beyond the classroom. Physical activity and recreational play are essential to children's physical health, emotional well-being, social development, and self-confidence.
The Get Active initiative was conceived to provide children in underserved rural schools with opportunities to participate in sports, games, and outdoor activities. Through structured recreation and play, we envisioned helping students develop teamwork, leadership, discipline, and mutual respect while encouraging healthy, active lifestyles.
As we revisit our original programs, we will explore opportunities to introduce age-appropriate recreational activities and equipment based on the school's current needs, available facilities, and resources.
Our Original Goals
Provide soccer balls and goalposts to encourage team sports and physical fitness.
Supply jump ropes, hula hoops, and other recreational equipment for active play.
Provide basketballs and basketball nets to introduce additional sporting activities.
Explore the installation of swings and age-appropriate playground equipment.
Encourage organized recreational activities that promote teamwork, cooperation, leadership, and healthy lifestyles.
Free Lunch for Students
Nourishing young minds and supporting classroom learning.
Good nutrition is essential to children's health, growth, and ability to learn. For children in underserved rural communities, food insecurity can affect school attendance, concentration, and academic performance.
The Free Lunch for Students initiative was envisioned as a future component of the foundation's educational support programs. Its purpose was to help ensure that children have access to nutritious meals during the school day, allowing them to focus on learning rather than hunger.
Although this initiative has not yet been implemented, it remains part of our long-term vision. As we reassess the needs of our partner school, we will explore the feasibility of a sustainable school meal program in collaboration with school leadership, parents, and community partners.
Our Long-Term Goals
Explore opportunities to provide nutritious meals to students during the school day.
Help improve student well-being, concentration, and school attendance through better nutrition.
Partner with school administrators, parents, and community organizations to develop a sustainable school meal program.
Explore the use of locally sourced food and community participation to support long-term sustainability.
Looking Ahead: Our 2026 Renewal
Returning to Our Roots, Building for the Future.
The Fatu Siryon Foundation is entering a new chapter, guided by the values that inspired its creation and the lessons learned along the way.
In 2026, we are renewing our commitment to the children and communities we originally set out to serve. Our immediate focus is on reconnecting with our partner school in Geweh, Bomi County, reassessing its educational needs, and providing essential school supplies.
Rather than attempting to relaunch every initiative at once, we are taking a thoughtful, collaborative approach to rebuilding our programs—one that emphasizes community participation, practical solutions, and long-term sustainability.
Our 2026 Priorities
Our 2026 Priorities
Reconnect and Reassess: Strengthen communication with our original partner school in Geweh and evaluate its current educational needs.
Provide Essential School Supplies: Support students and teachers by supplying basic educational materials for the 2026 school year.
Review and Refine Our Programs: Revisit our original initiatives and adapt them to the school's present needs and circumstances.
Strengthen Community Partnerships: Collaborate with school leadership, parents, community representatives, and potential partners to identify sustainable solutions.
Plan for the Future: Develop a phased approach to implementing programs based on identified needs, available resources, and the foundation's capacity.
Our journey began in Geweh, inspired by Fatu Siryon's enduring spirit of generosity, compassion, and service to others.
As we look to the future, we remain guided by a simple belief: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
We are returning to our roots with renewed purpose, building on our original vision and working toward a brighter future for the children and communities we serve.
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