Liberian Artisans

Through our adoption journey we've met a number of incredible people. There are a couple different online groups that we've been members of the last few years that have put us in contact with dozens of other families who either have adopted or are still waiting to bring children home. We were able to meet one of these families, the Glanvilles, a couple times before we left for Liberia. They have since started a non-profit to help Liberian artists sell their wares in the US. You can visit their website at www.fourcornersmarket.com. With Christmas just around the corner, I'm sure everyone can find something on their website and help to support Liberia.

I recently visited some of the people that Peter and Amber purchase from. here's a picture of the wood carvers busy making different projects.

The finished products.
Some of Yassa's baskets.
Some paintings from vendors near the US Embassy.

I almost walked past these without taking notice. One of the vendors is making these cars...out of old slippers (what Liberians call flip flops). They are really pretty neat.
A helicopter made from slippers. Complete with a working rotor tied to the wheels.

A few other non-artist pictures from my travels this day. There are no ready-mix concrete companies in Liberia so all concrete is mixed by hand with 50kg cement bags. The bags are delivered by vendors who load and unload hundreds of bags from trucks like this, typically into roadside shipping containers that serve as retail stores for local vendors. The guys that provide the muscle typically pack the bags on their head. It is a little hard to see, but the guy on the right looks like the typical laborer...covered in cement dust by the end of a hard days work.
An interesting ministry name.
and an even more interesting business name.