–Fundraiser Spotlights 15 Years of Free Healthcare, Education and Hope for Liberia’s Most Vulnerable Communities
BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County – What began as a birthday celebration for Liberian Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence quickly became something far more profound—a powerful reminder that behind one of the country’s most prominent political figures is a humanitarian mission that has quietly transformed the lives of thousands of vulnerable Liberians.
Family members, lawmakers, government officials, development partners, and well-wishers gathered in Buchanan not simply to celebrate Senator Karnga-Lawrence’s birthday, but to support the work of the Nyonblee Care Foundation, a charity she established in 2011 to provide healthcare, education and economic empowerment to under-served communities across Liberia.
As guests filled the venue, Karnga-Lawrence shifted the spotlight away from herself and onto the foundation’s impact, recounting stories of children rescued from illiteracy, patients receiving life-saving medical care, and young Liberians whose futures have been reshaped through education and technology.
“For this birthday,” she told the audience, “I’m raising money this time to make some impact in the county and in different communities.”
Turning Forgotten Children into Students
Perhaps the foundation’s most inspiring initiative is its accelerated education program for children who had never attended school or had dropped out because their families could not afford tuition.
Karnga-Lawrence explained that the program targets children between the ages of eight and fourteen—many of whom spend their days selling in markets, farming, or roaming communities instead of sitting in classrooms.
The response was overwhelming.
The foundation initially planned to enroll just 30 children but received more than 750 applications, highlighting the enormous educational gap facing disadvantaged families.
Since then, nearly 300 children have completed the accelerated learning program, enabling them to transition directly into the fourth grade of formal schools.
Recognizing that tuition remained a major obstacle, the foundation expanded its work by creating a sponsorship program that pairs donors with students, ensuring they can continue their education through high school.
Today, nearly 300 students are benefiting from that scholarship initiative, with sponsors supporting between one and five children each.
Healthcare Where There Are No Roads
Education is only one part of the foundation’s mission.
Karnga-Lawrence said the organization was born after she visited remote communities where residents had virtually no access to healthcare.
She recalled villages separated by rivers and inaccessible terrain, where expectant mothers, children and the elderly often had to walk for hours—or travel by canoe—to reach the nearest clinic.
Those experiences inspired the creation of the foundation’s Mobile Clinic Program, which brings free medical services directly to isolated communities.
Since its establishment in 2011, the mobile clinics have treated more than 30,000 patients, providing consultations, medications and essential healthcare to people who otherwise might never see a doctor. The clinics now serve at least 300 patients every month, often in communities inaccessible by road.
The foundation has also expanded into surgical outreach, conducting free operations for hundreds of patients at government hospitals and in rural counties where specialized medical care is rarely available.
Karnga-Lawrence disclosed that each outreach has benefited more than 100 patients, with demand growing so rapidly that medical teams have had to return to some communities to accommodate additional cases.
Preparing Liberian Children for the Future
Beyond basic education, the foundation has embraced an ambitious vision to prepare Liberian children for careers in science and technology.
Its STEM program introduced in 2016, teaches students robotics, engineering, computer programming and technology—subjects often considered beyond the reach of rural Liberian schools.
Many initially doubted Liberian children could compete internationally.
The students proved them wrong.
Within months of launching the program, the foundation’s robotics team earned an invitation to an international competition in Kentucky, where they represented not only Liberia but the entire African continent.
In subsequent years, they climbed the global rankings and eventually won the prestigious STEM Robotics Inspire Award in 2019.
Some graduates have since secured scholarships abroad, while others completed advanced technology internships in Ghana, helping design underwater robots for oil exploration.
Several now mentor younger students through the same foundation that first opened the door to their dreams.
A Celebration of Giving
The fundraising dinner drew strong bipartisan support, with senators from across Liberia attending despite representing different political parties.
Karnga-Lawrence praised their presence as a demonstration of unity and shared commitment to humanitarian causes.
One of the evening’s most significant moments came when she announced a US$10,000 donation from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., describing it as the President’s birthday gift to support the foundation’s expanding programs.
She also announced personal donations from members of her family, while lawmakers, business leaders and supporters pledged additional financial contributions toward sustaining the foundation’s work.
More Than Charity
Throughout the evening, one message resonated repeatedly: meaningful change often begins with simple acts of compassion.
For the thousands of children now attending school, the patients receiving medical treatment, and the families finding hope in communities long neglected, the Nyonblee Care Foundation has become more than a charitable organization.
It has become a bridge between opportunity and despair—a reminder that while governments formulate policy, individuals can still change lives one classroom, one clinic and one community at a time.
As guests departed the fundraiser, they left with more than memories of a birthday celebration. They left with a renewed appreciation for a mission that, over the past 15 years, has quietly delivered hope to some of Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens.
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