Zondo Visit 2007

A team of four people, Family of Hope Executive Director Jacob Karngar and Board Members Mary Porter, Barrett Fisher, and Amy Fisher visited Zondo in January 2007. They were overwhelmed by enthusiastic welcomes and gracious hospitality, and they were deeply moved to see the incredible joy and hope that the school has brought to Zondo.

The trip included a four-day visit to Zondo, where Mary led two half-day teacher-training workshops, and six days in Monrovia, Liberia's capital, where the team met with the Family of Hope-Liberia board members and a number of government officials.

Below you will find pictures of travel to Zondo, the Zondo school, daily life in village, and some of the people who live there.

Travel to Zondo

The team began at the Minneapolis airport.

More than 24 hours later they arrived in Monrovia; traffic is heavy in the capital city.

Two cars (the yellow one and the aqua minivan) made the 125 mile trip to the riverside on potholes puntuated by occasional road.

Gas is purchased by the gallon-sized jar.

A short canoe trip led to a long (five+ mile) walk.

Many people helped carry the supplies from the river to Zondo.

The path to Zondo includes several log bridges; only one of the bridges had a handrail.

One brief rest was enough to refresh the weary travelers.

Along the way the team met a government official from Grand Bassa County. He was very impressed with the Zondo school. top

The Zondo School

Hundreds of people volunteered during the building process; please see the school progress page for details.

These outhouses are temporary until plumbing is installed for the school building.

Hundreds of children in assembly hall

Over 100 young children in classroom

PreK and K classes met together for a phonics lesson.

The team gave book bags to each child in first grade and up. The bags had been made and decorated by adults and children in the U.S.

Younger children received a small gift of candy.

Mary Porter led workshops on teaching reading and writing. She discussed some of the donated curricula with the teachers.

Teacher's aides enjoyed pictures of Minnesota snow and of children from Salem Baptist Church, who donated a number of Bibles. top

Daily Life in Zondo

Water can become scarce during the December - May dry season. This well was installed to meet the needs of the school.

Life in Zondo depends upon substinence farming. Women pounded cassava, one of the main crops.

Palm trees are extremely important. Fronds are used for weaving. A man climbed this palm to harvest the palm nuts to make palm oil.

Villagers had to flee Zondo during the Civil War; the few remaining pre-war buildings are severely decayed and are the site of termite mounds.

Children walked on the main path through Zondo. Some children walk several miles to attend school.

The team was honored to be presented with Liberian-grown rice and a chicken; these gifts indicate that the visitors are family!

Few people in Zondo have access to manufactured goods; a special root can serve as a toothbrush.

Fish traps are woven so that fish can swim in, but can't swim out. Crabs and small fish were emptied from this trap.

Jacob Karngar's sister, Hannah, ironed a cloth. The iron is heated by placing embers from the fire in the bottom portion. top

Zondo Friends

Bill, Janet, and Arthur are siblings who lost two brothers during the Civil War. Bill is the school counselor and Arthur is the principal. Both men left families behind in the city in order to follow God's call to help at the Zondo school. Janet was in Zondo to help the visiting team.

Food is often scarce and there is no medical care available for Zondo's children, but the school provides hope for a better future.

Children gathered to wave farewell as the team left Zondo. top