In the coastal district of Marshall in Liberia, a special place has taken root, one that is transforming young lives, one child at a time.
But first…
The four of us have just arrived in Liberia for a bit of R&R.
Libassa Ecolodge
Melissa has found a place on the coast in Marshall, about a 1.5-hour drive from the capital, Monrovia. Libassa Ecolodge. Looks promising. And it had better be. It will be the most expensive stay on this journey in West Africa.
As it turns out, it is fabulous – and quite a bit more than just lodgings.
This family-run ecolodge focusses on sustainability. Think solar energy, efficient use of power, composting and recycling, planting trees, and my favourite, not serving water in plastic bottles. Instead, they have a rainwater harvesting system, and supply each guest with a bright orange thermo bottle we can fill with well water whenever needed – and keep! Nice touch.
They also focus on wildlife. The owners have established the first sanctuary in Liberia, with rescued and rehabilitated chimpanzees, pangolins, reptiles, birds, and more – including a blind crocodile. The goal is to return the animals back into the wild. Well… that poor croc will probably remain. He is safe here.
Guided tours of the wildlife sanctuary are offered 3 times daily.
My very own digs at the ecolodge; the design is inspired by local traditional buildings. Rooms have names, not numbers. Mine is Chimpanzee, and it comes with an old-fashioned metal key, no plastic cards here.
Now, all that is to be expected from an ecolodge, of course – but Libassa does more. As part of their commitment to local communities, they support the Butterfly Early Learning Centre (also known as the Butterfly School) in Kpan Town, a rural community nearby.
Interesting! Tell us more. Or better yet, let’s go see for ourselves!
The Butterfly School: hope through education
Early next morning, we drive the short distance – about 10 minutes – to Kpan Town. At the school, this cheerful bunch greets us, dressed in bright pink school uniforms.
Instant good mood!
The Butterfly School provides classrooms, but also serves as a community hub where children begin their educational journey, and where a ripple of hope spreads throughout the surrounding villages.
Singing and dancing is an important and joyful part of school
The Butterfly School was established to provide quality early childhood education to children in and around Kpan Town. Before the school opened, many young children in these communities had hardly any access to places of learning, and for the youngest, the nearest public school was too far to travel safely to every day.
With the help of dedicated founders and volunteers, including local businesses and supporters in France, a new school was built. It opened officially in 2016, in partnership with Liberia’s Ministry of Education.
More than just ABCs and 123s
At the Butterfly School, education goes beyond basic numbers and letters. The centre focusses on holistic development, encouraging creativity and a love of learning from the get-go, and importantly, teaching critical thinking! There’s just not enough critical thinking in the world.
The school provides lunch, and for many children, this will be the most nutritious meal they have all day. For some, this will be the only meal.
School uniforms
I have visited low-income neighbourhoods in several African countries. In many places, school and school supplies are free, but mandatory school uniforms are not. If you’re a family who struggle with daily expenses, the cost of a uniform can mean the difference between sending your child to school – or not. It seems downright absurd to me that any country can allow this to happen. Either scrap uniforms altogether, or do what the Butterfly School does: provide uniforms at no cost.
Community support and growth
When Butterfly opened its doors in 2016, about 65 children were enrolled. Some of these were older children who had never attended school before. These kids were offered a “speed school” programme to catch up academically, and then transition over to schools nearby.
Since then, the Butterfly School community has grown, and hundreds of children now attend. Girls make up a significant portion.
One at a time, boys!
We head into the surrounding village –
– where we learn about Liberian cooking –
– and the ingredients and spices they use.
Making cassava porridge, a staple
Growing wings in Kpan Town
Back at the school, the children are busy carrying their chairs back inside. Others are busy at the playground.
For the children in Marshall and nearby villages, Butterfly is more than just an early learning center. It is a place where confidence is nurtured, curiosity is encouraged, and dreams are given room to grow.
In this rural corner of Liberia, where access to education has not always been guaranteed, the Butterfly School stands as proof that when a community invests in its children, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom.
One teacher sums up the spirit of the school beautifully:
We call it Butterfly because we believe every child can grow wings. Education is what helps them fly.
In Kpan Town, those wings are beginning to open.
All photos by David Røgler and yours truly.
Disclosure? Nope, nothing to disclose here.
Liberia: An ecolodge and the Butterfly School is a post from Sophie’s World