I went to Liberia for the first time January 2017. My boyfriend was born and grew up there and I went to meet his family and friends. The majority of my trip was spent being in local communities living every day life with the local people. I loved it so much.

There were so many things that caught my attention and sparked my interest in this wonderful country but one of the biggest was the children. There are children everywhere! They are gorgeous! They are usually hanging out under trees in the shade close to their parents who are selling fruit and fish and other produce along the streets. They’re usually there because their parents can’t afford to send them to school. I noticed this fairly quickly and observed as much as I could. Very quickly I noticed that the kids don’t do very much. They don’t play in the way I am used to seeing kids play. They sit around and observe and the girls might braid each other’s hair but they rarely play or create. When I came back to the uk I stumbled across an article by Phillip Pullman who states that “children need art and stories and poems and music as much as they need love and food and fresh air and play.”

I am going back to Liberia for the month of February. I am looking to raise £3000 to buy art supplies to take over so I can create a little creative hub in the local areas where I will be. Anywhere there are children who are hanging around with nothing to do I want to bring them a little bit of art. We will draw and colour and build. I want to try to help them use their imaginations. I want to help nourish their souls. I want to help them find something deep inside themselves that is trying to get out. I am not the most amazing artist but I am a great facilitator and I am so excited more than anything to do this.

Please help me raise the money I need to take enough art supplies for a month, get it over there and have a local Liberian document the kids experience for future development ideas.