Our Mission
Nurture Liberia’s Children With Education That Inspires Learning, Respect, and Service.
At The Garden School, we nurture the minds and hearts of Liberia’s children through education that inspires curiosity, respect, and service. We promote a lifelong love of learning, peaceful cooperation, and care for the environment while preparing students with the skills and values to uplift their families, communities, and country.
About Us
The Garden School, located in Gbarnga, Bong County, Liberia, is a pioneering early childhood institution introducing an innovative, developmentally appropriate model unique in West Africa. As the first school of its kind in Liberia, it offers an evidence-based curriculum designed to give the nation’s youngest learners a strong educational foundation.
The Garden School provides 3, 4, and 5 year old children with the foundational skills needed for lifelong learning and success.
By investing in early childhood development through initiatives like The Garden School, Liberia moves toward brighter futures for its children, families, and communities.
01
Community School Approach
The Garden School serves the local Gweeta community, giving enrollment priority to nearby children. This approach builds local pride and inspires other communities to create their own “garden schools” across Liberia, supported by shared resources and guidance.
02
Professional Teacher Development
Each Friday, The Garden School staff meets with the principal, advisor, and U.S.-based funder via video conference. Once a month, these meetings focus on teacher development through collaboration with American educators.
03
Evidence-Based,
Age-Appropriate Education
The Garden School’s experienced educators design hands-on, play-based learning for 3 to 5 year olds, encouraging exploration and creativity over rote memorization to nurture curiosity and imagination.
04
Parent Involvement
The Garden School requires active parent participation, with each student's parent volunteering in the classroom every other week. Organized into rotating groups, parents assist teachers daily—reducing class ratios, supporting lessons, and reinforcing learning at home. This hands-on model strengthens family engagement, enhances education, and builds a true school community.
A Dream Rooted in Liberia, Built in 48 Hours
The Visionary Spark
While most people spend years drafting blueprints and fundraising before laying a single brick, Stephen and Chris Griffith built the foundation of a legacy in just one whirlwind weekend.
In 2014, Stephen, an attorney and a former Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, accompanied his wife Chris, an expert in early childhood education, to Liberia for an early childhood education conference. While traveling through the town of Gbarnga, they were struck by the sight of countless school-aged children with no place to learn. It was a heartbreaking reality that they felt called to change.
During a quiet conversation in their bunk room, the spark was lit. Right then and there, Stephen and Chris decided to act. With only 48 hours left before they had to head back to the United States, they put their plan into action. Committing themselves to a radical mission: to build a model for world-class, joy-filled learning in the heart of the rainforest.
The Whirlwind of 48 Hour
A Story of How 48-Hours Rewrote Our Forever
Finding the Faculty
With only 48 hours left in the country, Stephen and Chris realized they were already in a community with the ten best early childhood educators in Liberia. They first approached Nowai Kapu, a standout educator they had met only days prior. On the spot, they asked her to take a leap of faith and serve as their Principal; she agreed without hesitation.
Knowing they needed a strong founding team, they then consulted Nowai about Yatta Nrotoe, another talented and experienced local educator. With Nowai’s enthusiastic endorsement, they approached Yatta right away. After hearing their vision for the children of Liberia, Yatta committed to the mission, and the school’s first faculty was officially in place.
The Search for a Home
Next came the "where." When Stephen and Chris pondered this question, the answer was immediately apparent -- Gbarnga.
For Stephen, Gbarnga was the same town where he had served in the Peace Corps 50 years prior. The "clouds in heaven were parting," he describes with a smile as he retells the story. The pair took a taxi two hours upcountry and met Nowai’s husband. He drove them to different plots of land to explore.
The third plot was perfect, and the location was settled.
2017
First Groundbreaking For The School
In 2017, the dream moved from conversation to construction with the school’s official groundbreaking. On a one-acre plot outside Gbarnga, the walls began to rise. This was more than just a building; it was a sanctuary designed by their friend Toby to thrive in the tropical climate. With the help of a dedicated local contractor, this milestone turned a 48-hour vision into a permanent home for learning in the rainforest.
2018
Staff are hired and first classroom opens for students
Our school is private but community focused. Every parent commits to volunteering one full day every other week, ensuring the learning continues in 60 homes across the community.
2019
Second Classroom Opens
At The Garden School, we believe children learn through play, curiosity, and joy. Our curriculum, guided by American PhD advisors, focuses on active, play-based learning suitable for the restless, exploring nature of a child. We are building a nation by instilling a moral code of hard work, honesty, and respect in every student.
.jpg)
2022
First class of students graduate from The Garden School
Board Integrity
and Commitment
The Garden School’s board is led by former Gboveh High School classmates who reunited after decades and a devastating civil war in the country led them on disparate paths. Those former students -- now leaders in education, health, and business -- came together to give back to their community. The board models selfless service. Members take no compensation and personally donate to the school each year, reflecting the school’s values of integrity, dedication, and hope for Liberia’s future.
