When the weekend reaches here, we try to relax, take a walk on the beach, watch TV or simply laze around like couch potatoes.

Lately I have been doing something different; you may call it social work or volunteering for others during my free time. It is really rewarding for the sense of in-touch with the local population.

There is an orphanage right next door from where we live, and when previously I had gone there to meet the lady who runs the place, I learned that most of their things were in very poor condition. Everything is so limited so they try to make use of it to the best extent possible.

The place is called Hebron Homes Orphanage and it is located on Gibson and 21st Street, Fiamah, Sinkor, Monrovia, and it is just 1 minute walking from where we live. The orphanage is run by a nice lady called Sheila Reed. She came here with her parents when she was 14 years old. Her mother was Indian and her father British. Both her parents died in Liberia. Sheila is a kind, collected, soft-spoken woman, a woman who seems strong yet delicate and emotional. She has two daughters. One of them lives in the Orphanage and helps Sheila with the daily errands. There are 14 kids: 8 boys and 6 girls. The oldest is a 16th year old boy and the youngest is a 2 year old girls. They are all so happy to see me come and visit.

The facility runs on donations, unfortunately not regular ones. Some are people like me, living in the neighborhood; others are distant relatives living out of Liberia, who sometimes send money through Western Union to support the running of the operations and expenses, such as buying coal for fire, food, toiletries.

Since the SSR (Security Sector Reform) Staff living in the compound across the street, were so generous to pull out an electricity line and link it to the orphanage, the kids have power 24 hours a day, which helps a great deal. Most of us are taking for granted things like running water and electricity, but the majority of homes in Liberia lack such basic facilities.

The orphanage did not have these luxuries before. They depended on candles and gas lamps to do their homework. Yet the SSR staff did another very nice gesture. They donated a water pump, so that they kids wouldn’t have to procure loads of water from a distant outside well. Imagine how much water they are using to bathe and cook daily! Unfortunately, they don’t have running water yet, as the city just started to connect some streets to the old pipes which did not operate in such a long time.