Mother Young receives flowers

Orphans Concern Liberia, a local humanitarian group, has honored long-serving Mother Victoria Young for her numerous support to orphanages in Liberia.  She is the first Liberian to establish an orphanage here over 40 years ago, which caters to hundreds of orphans and indigent children.

Mother Young, 92, runs the Fatima Cottage Orphanage Mission in the township of Dixville, outside Monrovia which carters to hundreds of orphans. She has contributed immensely to orphans and less fortunate children in the country.

Speaking at the program over the weekend in the auditorium of the First Assemblies of God Church in Monrovia, Orphans Concern Liberia executive director, Amos M. Sawboh, said the organization had long held the dream to thank and honor Mother Young for her selfless service to orphans and less fortunate children of Liberia.

Making a tribute on behalf of Orphans Concern, Madam Korpo Freeman said, it was with great excitement that they gathered to celebrate the life of Mother Victoria Young saying, “Seeing our older brothers and sisters coming back to say how grateful they are, is a lesson for us growing up today at orphanages to always remember our roots.”

Madam Freeman said like every child, food, health and education are top priorities saying, “More often than not, they eat but we don’t get filled as much as we would like. I mean we don’t eat correct square meals; If you took a much closer look at us, you will see the evidence of what I’m talking about.’’

She noted that some orphanages run their own schools, which are only primary and basic schools, adding, interestingly, adequate teaching and learning materials (text book, stationeries, and crayons ETC) are lacking in these institutions.

She said some of the schools stop at the senior high level only, so after senior high education, “we get stock along the way to the tertiary level and entering the university becomes a nightmare.” “Besides, there is the issue of teacher’s salaries; our teachers get scanty pay. As a result of that, some of them divide their times elsewhere to earn additional money to keep their families up. On health, we survive at the mercy of country medicine (herbs) and bucket carrying quack doctors for drugs. This is unbearable because those responsible have not seen this as a priority”, she concluded.

By Bridgett Milton – Edited by Jonathan Browne