School in West Africa enjoys the benefits of growing partnership with Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School

PHILADELPHIA, June 2024 - For the young students of the Benia International School in Duazon, Liberia, the shipment was an answered prayer.

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Last month, students at the West African elementary school received more than 2,000 used textbooks and study materials from Franklin Towne Charter Elementary School, thanks to the good work of Assistant Principal Jamie Neal, who learned about Benia's need for the materials through the Philly Educators website.

"Sometimes we take for granted our good fortune and that there are children in other cities and countries who don't have opportunities to benefit from access to textbooks as part of their education," said Neal, who leads Franklin Towne's programs for students in grades K-3.

"We changed our curriculum and no longer needed these materials, and we didn't want to see these books go to waste. So, it was a win-win when we found the opportunity to donate them to the Benia School.

"They win because they needed the books, and we win because it gives our children and our school a chance to learn more about children in other parts of the world," Neal said.