10 Community-led Small Grants for Liberia

Since June, the Small Grants program has continued to fund community-led projects and provide no cost capacity building for non-profits and community based organizations working in Liberia. In the second quarter of 2026 the Small Grants committee funded three projects, one of which is a second time grantee doing great work to rehabilitate schools in Lofa County. Read more about the Marvie Foundation's work below:

The Marvie Foundation has been awarded a second Small Grant from Friends of Liberia to continue their work across Lofa County rehabilitating rural schools. Their first grant “Education Empowerment at Rural Liberia by Building Improvement and Learning Materials” funded in November 2025, improved safety, infrastructure, and learning environments for the students and teachers of Bular Primary School. Critical renovations included repairing and replacing the damaged zinc roof, restoring the cracked walls, floors, and stairs, and securing the flagpole. Interior improvements were also made by replacing ceilings and filling in the cement floors. Additionally, the latrines were fully renovated, armchairs and other furniture were fabricated, and a well-stocked library was established with bookshelves and diverse educational materials.

In their final report the Marvie Foundation shared that the project has “strengthened community cohesion and instilled a sense of collective progress." The team continued to report "the improved school environment has become a symbol of hope and resilience, inspiring families to prioritize education and support their children’s learning journeys. Notably, the community has observed a resurgence of students returning to Bulor School, after some parents moved their children to nearby towns with better facilities. Today, Bulor is recognized for having the best library in the district.”

A community member shared: "This project has united our community. We now take ownership of the school’s success, actively participating in activities and decision-making. Bulor is no longer just a school; it’s a symbol of hope and progress for us all."

After receiving a donation of 1,266,467.40 LRD from Kitchen Table Charities Trust (KTCT) the Marvie Foundation did it again and renovated Yandisu Primary Public School in Lofa County in early 2026. This project included the rehabilitation of the school hand pump to ensure its proper functionality. Restoring this water source was critical for ensuring that students have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water which is essential for their health, hygiene and overall well-being. This initiative not only supported the educational environment by reducing water related challenges but also promoted good hygiene practices among students and their teachers and contributed to the sustainable development of the school.

Now, Marvie Foundation has been funded by Friends of Liberia again to renovate Kanela Public School in Lofa County through the “Rural School Enhancement Initiative”. By building on the success of previous projects, this new initiative will continue creating safer, more welcoming learning environments while strengthening the partnership between schools and their communities. We are proud to support the Marvie Foundation's continued commitment to ensuring that rural students have access to quality spaces where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

In other news, the Small Grants program has piloted a training series this year that will wrap up in late October. We are happy to share the series gained over 450 registrants and over 150 attendees. The session recordings will remain accessable by all on the FOL website. We look forward to hearing from the community of non-profit leaders in the Small Grants network regarding their feedback on this pilot and what they would like to see from this kind of support in the future.