Sponsor destitute university students in Liberia

We are grateful. We are happy. And we want to say it as clearly as we can: thank you for your many years of support. You showed up when it mattered, and you kept showing up. That consistency is what changes lives.

Today, we are excited to share an update that belongs to you as much as it does to us. Some of our female beneficiaries recently stood before the academic panel at Cuttington University to defend their thesis. The defense is the moment when years of study, research, and perseverance are tested in one defining moment. It is the final academic hurdle where a student proves their mastery, defends their ideas, and earns the right to be called a graduate.

And they won. Our beneficiary not only presented with clarity and confidence, but also handled every question with the depth and poise of a true scholar. It was a victory earned through sleepless nights, revisions, and faith — faith in themselves and faith in the support system you helped build.

In their own words, they are deeply grateful for your role in this journey. “I would not be here without the people who believed in me when I had only a dream” Harriett said. Your support paid for tuition when funds ran dry, bought textbooks when resources were scarce.

We, the family of this program, are beyond proud to witness some of our female students stepping out of the world of university and into the world of purpose. Each graduate is proof that when opportunity meets determination, lives change. They carry not only degrees, but the values of hard work, resilience, gratitude and values you helped instill.

Our beneficiaries are also happy, and they asked us to pass along their thanks. They know every textbook, every tuition payment, and every word of encouragement has your fingerprints on it. “We didn’t walk this road alone,” Teta said. “We had a whole team behind us.” She continued.

Thank you for walking this road with us. Because of you, another dream has become a diploma. Because of you, another life has been changed forever. We look forward to celebrating many more victories together.

Because of you, another dream has become a diploma. Because of you, VAAFD female beneficiaries has one more reason to believe in what’s possible. We celebrate this victory with you, and we look forward to the next one.

We are thrilled to share with you the transformative impact of your generosity on the lives of VAAFD scholarship beneficiaries. VAAFD scholarship program will share the story of Tata. A girl who’s academic journey was on the verge of being derailed due to financial constraints.
Tate, a beneficiary of VAAFD scholarship said “The scholarship has been transformative for my academic journey. Before receiving this scholarship, I was selling and thinking about going to write the University of Liberia entrance, which was going to make me exhausted and limit my ability to fully engage in my studies. But after I received this financial support, I've been able to leave the selling, and have allowed me to focus more deeply on my classes, maintains a higher GPA, and participate actively in lessons and discussions.”
According to her, this scholarship has given her the mental space and stability to pursue challenging courses that she might have otherwise avoided, and have seen a noticeable improvement in her academic performance and confidence as a student, she said.
In her words, she thanked all VAAFD donors for this amazing support. “The scholarship has directly supported several key aspects of my educational goals. It covered a large portion of my tuition and fees, which removed the immediate pressure of student loans and allowed me to enroll in a full course load without delay,” says Teta.
“The financial support has been a game changer in my life. Major challenges particularly the constant stress of financial instability,” Teta shares. “Coming from a low-income background, even though I can sometimes worry about covering basic expenses like rent, food, handouts, and transportation, which often distracts me from studying sometimes.”
She said the scholarship opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed. It enabled her to participate in a summer research internship in her field of studies, where she gained hands-on experience like teaching and volunteering to a school that perfectly helped her to gain more interest in her studies.”
“I believe the scholarship will be foundational to my future career and personal goals by allowing me to graduate debt-free and enter the workforce ready to make an immediate impact.” She added. “It has positioned me to build a strong resume through teaching, research, and extracurricular, making me more competitive for top jobs or graduate programs.”
Teta said; “the most significant difference has been the sense of possibility and hope it restored in my life. Before the scholarship, I often felt limited by circumstances beyond my control, questioning whether higher education was truly attainable despite my hard work and determination. Now, I feel empowered and believed in. It has shifted my mindset from survival mode to one of growth and ambition, allowing me to dream bigger and pursue excellence without constant fear of falling behind financially. Ultimately, it's not just about the money; it's about the validation that my efforts matter and the freedom to invest fully in my future.”