Photo Collections

MCF Academy Groundbreaking, November 2009

On November 18, 2009, MacDella Cooper and Director Tammy Tibbetts traveled to Liberia for two weeks to work with the builders and administrators on the beginnings of the MCF Academy and to visit the children in MCF's sponsorship program. 

MacDella reviews a draft of the deed for the site of the MCF Academy with the current owner of the land. <!--Session data-->
Joe Debblay and Tommy Elliot, who help with MCF operations in Liberia, set MCF Academy assistant administrator Michelle Quinn up with Internet access in the apartment she shares with MCF Academy administrator Sister Leonora in Monrovia.<!--Session data-->
MacDella and Tammy with James Yarkpawolo, who attends Cuttington University on a MCF scholarship. He will graduate in June 2010.<!--Session data-->
MacDella, Tammy, and the administrators meet the building team, GBS-Liberia, in Charlesville to visit the future site of the MCF Academy.<!--Session data-->
Mark Smart, a project manager for GBS-Liberia, says hello to a big lizard the local children have put on a leash!<!--Session data-->
Mike Murphy, owner of GBS-Liberia, speaks to the MCF Academy administrators, Sister Leonora Tucker and Michelle Quinn, about building plans. Mark Smart, GBS-Liberia project manager, takes a call on his Liberian cell behind them.<!--Session data-->
MacDella stands on a cornerstone to take a look at the site of the future MCF Academy!<!--Session data-->
Children who live near the site of the land, by the Snafu dock in Charlesville.<!--Session data-->
Children who live near the site of the future MCF Academy. Emmanuel, pictured front left, enjoys playing soccer and wants to be a scientist.<!--Session data-->
The official groundbreaking: MCF Academy Assistant Administrator Michelle Quinn; Owner of GBS-Liberia, Mike Murphy; MCF Academy Administrator Sister Leonora Tucker; Mark Smart, Project Manager of GBS; Tom Jeffrey of GBS; MacDella Cooper; MCF Director of Operations, Tammy Tibbetts.<!--Session data-->
A candid photo Tammy captured of MacDella on this productive day!<!--Session data-->
The surveyor gets to work to ensure our boundary lines will include the best six acres on this plot of land.<!--Session data-->
MacDella speaks to a female farmer at the Evergreen Farm, which is hidden down a dirt road not too far from Charlesville, where the MCF Academy will be. The farm grows produce for supermarkets and hotels in Liberia and with better roads, hopes to make fresh food more easily available to Liberians.<!--Session data-->
Cynthia Sackie, one of the students in MCF's sponsorship program, will graduate from 12th grade in June. She hopes to attend Cuttington University to study nursing next.<!--Session data-->
Tammy and Arnet (third from back right), our liaison to the children and families from DuPort Road, take a group photo with many of the students who are in MCF's sponsorship program at the Action Faith Institute in Paynesville, Liberia.<!--Session data-->
Cynthia takes photos of younger children in MCF's sponsorship program. <!--Session data-->
These students in MCF's sponsorship program attend Candlelight Academy. Paul, on left, is the school principal. They had to transfer schools when their guardians, who are squatters on DuPort Road, had to move because some of the original land owners returned.<!--Session data-->
Tammy and Arnet, who keeps track of the MCF children when MacDella and Tammy aren't in Liberia, visit with children at the School of Christ. <!--Session data-->
MacDella and the MCF Academy administrators explain the new after-school tutoring program to guardians -- and MacDella reminds guardians that they must do their part to encourage the students to excel. <!--Session data-->
Kindergarten students in MCF's program at the Action Faith Institute.<!--Session data-->
Sister Leonora reviews activity books with the children at Action Faith Institute during a school visit.<!--Session data-->
Children with the holiday cards that guests of the 6th Annual Sharing the Light Gala had written to them during our evening at the Four Seasons Restaurant. <!--Session data-->
Tammy and MacDella surrounded by just a few of the children that MCF sponsors. <!--Session data-->
Waterside, a chaotic marketplace where Tammy priced out necessities for the MCF Academy. <!--Session data-->
Tammy and MacDella with Penelope Chester, co-founder of the Niapele Project, at Thinker's Beach. MCF is now working with Penelope's organization on a new nutrition program. <!--Session data-->


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