PHOTO: Queen Lelai Yekelorde Donates Much Needed Items To Orphanages
By Austin J.Wisseh, Sr. jaustinwisseh100@gmail.com
HARBEL, Liberia- Thursday afternoon was the scene of joy in Barclay Farm when Margibi County’s representative for the Miss Liberia Beauty Crown, Miss Lelai Bendu Yekelorde visited the Mother Bendu Vah Orphans Home in Barclay Farm, Lower Margibi County.
The Beauty Queen and her management team on Thursday, July 7, 2022 embarked on the donation after finding out from the children’s home about the kids’ basic needs and the items most needed.
Items Miss Lelai Yekelorde donated included assorted food items, clothes, several foot wears, toiletries and sanitary pads, which brought excitement to administrators and residents at this orphanage.
Margibi County’s Beauty Queen took up time to find a close friend amongst the over 25 girls who welcomed her at their home, Davidetta Kerkula, Lelai’s Manager spoke during the donation.
“It’s not an easy thing to raise a child; what more about all these children. Thank you and all the staff and the kids as well.”
Madam Kerkula said in Liberian parlance, “your don’t give lay oldma hard time.” (I plead with you all not to cause trouble for your guardians in this home)
She continued: “It’s good to be educated, please take your lessons seriously. Education is an empowerment force to you become successful. Do not limit your thoughts because you are in orphan home so you feel all hope is lost. All hope is not lost! You can still make it in life. This is a starting point. Everybody needs somebody to nurture them. You are here for somebody to nurture you as you grow to become successful. Pay attention to your lessons.”
Davidetta paused, looking at the kids and the founder of the children’s home and added: “Tomorrow you’ll grow up and be like Lelai or a representative or senator then you will look back and thank Ma Bendu for raising you.”
Referring to the head and founder of the Mother Bendu Vah Orphanage, Davidetta Kerkula had these words of gratitude: “Thank you Ma Bendu, thank you to the staff and to the bigger ones amongst these kids, thanks so much. We will commit ourselves to making sure the children’s needs are looked after.”
Mother Bendu M. Vah, proprietress of the orphanage in Barclay Farm, Margibi-Liberia spoke in simple Liberia we translated; “your thank for coming to us…” ‘Thank you all for visiting with us. Some of my children who have since graduated from high school and colleges are the ones helping to support the kids in here. A leader takes care of children, old folks, disabled and all those in need. I have a dream that the world is for the youth. Those who do human sacrifices will not make it in life. But these donations are the right sacrifices to make; at prison compounds, hospitals and orphanages, among other institutions.”
Mother Vah then turned to Miss Yekelorde and said, “you are a leader and God will bless you”.
During her tour of her maternal county, Miss Lelai Bendu Yekelorde encouraged the kids to be determined in life. She also visited Youth Elementary and Junior High School for Orphan in the vicinity of the Kakata Administrative Building in Kakata City, Margibi County – Liberia. Queen Lelai made another donation.
And at the Youth Elementary and Junior High School, this was what she had to tell the young people:
“I was not born with silver spoon or in a rich family. But a rich family will come from me. I’ve told myself that I’ll reach out to orphans and identify with them. You are an integral part of the society. Presidents, Lawmakers and Beauty Queens like me, will come from amongst you. My major goal or advocacy is serving humanity. I want to do more for our county and this nation. A rehab center for disadvantaged youths and trade school for the needed to earn skills for themselves is key on our agenda. We are touring lower and upper Margibi today; and a win or not, I’ll come back from time to time to check on you all. God bless Margibi, God bless Liberia.”
The Mother Bendu Vah Orphanage was founded in 2002.
According to inside sources, this orphanage is yet to receive any budgetary allotment from the government of Liberia since 2016, though it receives gestures from the Ministry of States during National celebrations, especially during the Christmas season.