In a heartfelt effort to support vulnerable children in Liberia, SOS Children’s Village made significant donations over the weekend, providing essential furniture and equipment to the government and financial assistance to families affected by a fire tragedy in Matadi Community earlier this year.
On February 14, 2025, representatives of SOS Children’s Village handed over assorted furniture and equipment to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) at their compound.
The donation is part of a broader national initiative, themed “Support A Child, Save The Future Project,” aimed at addressing the needs of children facing homelessness and street situations. This initiative comes in light of statistical reports indicating that over 366,000 children in Liberia are living on the streets, with Montserrado County bearing the highest burden.
Mr. Nehmah Yeanay, Program Director for SOS Children’s Village, detailed the donations, which included beds, seating sets, a generator, freezers, and mattresses estimated at a total cost of around $5,000.
He emphasized that these resources will help create transit points for street children, with two points established: one along the RIA highway in Margibi County and another in Grand Bassa County. Yeanay projected that around 216 street children will directly benefit from the support provided by these materials.
“The ministry has a strategy to identify and reach the actual targeted street children. We believe that this initial number will surpass our expectations as we engage further,” Yeanay stated.
The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Garmai Tokpah, expressed her gratitude for SOS Children’s Village’s generosity, noting that these contributions would greatly enhance the ministry’s ability to support Liberia’s vulnerable children. “Together, we can achieve more than we could have done alone,” she remarked, highlighting the importance of partnership in their mission to provide essential services.
In addition to supporting street children, SOS Children’s Village extended assistance to those impacted by a fire incident in Matadi, Sinkor, which occurred in January 2025. Seven families, comprising 23 children, received targeted support, with each child benefitting from $25 for school uniforms.
The affected families also received two bags of 25kg rice each, totaling 14 bags distributed. “We are committed to helping these families recover from this tragic event,” Yeanay, said.
In total, SOS Children’s Village invested approximately $1,000 in supporting the fire victims and addressing the needs of street children, reaffirming its commitment to enhance the well-being of children across Liberia. As efforts continue to provide assistance and create transit points, the organization remains focused on improving the lives of those affected by hardship in the country.
