Building Markets Puts Smiles on Faces of Orphans & Students

On Wednesday November 18 Building Markets Santa Claus was in town and presented gift items to two orphanage homes and a school as part of its Christmas Orphanage Drive program, celebrating Christmas with the less privileged children.

The two orphanages and school that benefited from the gesture were Sister Iye’s Children Orphanage home in Kebah, Barnersville, Child Survival Children Ministries in Bernard’s Farm, Paynesville and the Joy Givers International (After School Program) in Congo Town. The gift items which were presented by Santa included bags of rice, vegetable oil, candies and chocolates, Ice Creams, feet wears, clothes, copy books, pencils, etc.

Receiving the gift items on behalf of Sister Iye’s Children orphanage, the founder and Proprietor, Mr. Thomas Momo thanked Building Markets for the kind gesture for as he said in his words “Although we have been in existence since 1990 this is the first time for us to see people come to celebrate with us during Christmas and to give us gifts. For this we truly want to appreciate your help.” Mr. Momo, therefore, called on others to follow the good example of Building Markets adding “For by this gesture the children will feel a part of the society and will know that someone indeed cares.”

For their part Mr. Othello Findley, the Founder and Executive Director of the Child Survival Children Ministries also thanked Building Markets for their thoughtfulness and for such a generous donation and promised the gifts would be used for the intended purposes. He further calls on well meaning Liberians, philanthropists and government begin to see a reason to come to the aid of these children so that they are given proper care and quality education.

As part of the program, there were songs from children and a friendly interaction between them and Santa, although for most children it was their first time of such interaction as some had little fear but gathered courage to play with Santa. There were cheers seen on the faces of children during the events and group photos with Santa as this child (Onesimus Tobe) puts it “I am happy today for the gifts and for taking photos for the first time with Santa.”

Meanwhile, the overall picture from the visit to these orphanages and school was one of a program that was well organized and beneficiaries carefully chosen as the three centers visited showed they had great need as Mr. Joseph Kamara, the Chairman of the organizing committee remarked “The three centers visited today are in extremely difficult conditions and lacked the basic necessity of life and so we have endeavored to include them on the list of homes to be visited.”

Mr. Kamara went on further to thank the local businesses that contributed to Building Markets’ Christmas Orphanage Drive and said if it wasn’t for their generous contributions the donation to these orphanages and school wouldn’t have been made possible.

The local businesses include: Actual General and Marine Services Liberia Inc., Advance Construction, Boima Folley Sport Center, CFE Distributor, Eden Park Cafeteria and Catering Services, Greenfield Liberia Inc., Kysambi Car Rental, Neiama Engineering and Construction Corporation Inc., Rx Pharmacy, Shark’s Entertainment Incorporated and City Sanitation.

Building Markets – a nonprofit organization that creates jobs and sustains peace by championing local entrepreneurs and connecting them to new business opportunities. In

Liberia, Building Markets partners with the Government of Liberia, government aid agencies, UN agencies, NGOs, multinational concessionaires, and private companies in a variety of ways to enhance and increase their local procurement. Building Markets work across sectors and with both large and small companies to support local businesses, build and strengthen local supply chains, and ensure monies spent in Liberia stay in Liberia.