In 2018, Destin Rotarian Zhalman Harris teamed with a local nurse practitioner who shared his passion for helping underprivileged orphans in Liberia. Amazingly, they were introduced by a mutual friend and within four weeks were in Liberia, West Africa, with 250 lbs. of clothing, flip flops, vitamins and toys. At that time, they adopted an orphanage with 60 kids and were determined to change their lives for the better by improving their living conditions and their health.
Many children, ages 4-17, were orphaned in Liberia during the Ebola virus epidemic from 2014-15. One of the results of the 14-year civil war that ravaged the country and the more recent Ebola virus epidemic was that approximately 40% of primary school students ended up being three years older than the appropriate age for their grade. In addition, clean water and lack of functioning bathroom facilities further impacted the quality of early education for children in Liberia.
Eventually Zhalman founded Aletha’s Legacy, a 501(c)3 non-profit, to focus on his commitment to meeting the educational needs of Liberia’s orphaned children and honor his mother, Aletha, who lost her life and their home during the 14-year civil war that ravaged their country in West Africa.
Now ongoing through mission trips, Aletha’s Legacy continues to improve these under-privileged children’s lives in his home country. Humanitarian and financial support is mostly funded with the support of our communities, area businesses and, of course, the Rotary Club of Destin.
On his most recent trip, Zhalman was able to deliver much-needed medicine to a remote village in western Liberia. The Rotary Club of Destin gave $500 for this critical care. Destin Rotarian Jim Brechin also donated $15,000 to purchase a van for Aletha’s legacy.
And more good news—in the past few months, the Abedu-Bentsi School in Logan Town, Monrovia, has been completed! Destin Rotarians sponsored a classroom in the recently completed educational facility. The new school building includes 10 classrooms, a mess hall, a kitchen, boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, a library, a science lab and a computer lab. A new fence and steel gate were also installed for the children’s safety.
Zhalman said the school has grown at a rapid pace with many more students. A new project is now in the works to build a new wing to the school, as students are overflowing into the current dilapidated, old building. With ongoing support from the Rotary Club of Destin, businesses and our communities, we have no doubt this, too, will be accomplished.
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