Saran Kaba Jones has been quite busy these past two years! In 2008, Ms. Jones launched FACE Africa, a non profit organization that works toward transforming impoverished communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The young organization has already raised an estimated $75,000 to support these communities by helping to provide access to clean water and sanitation, education and training, as well as health and nutritional programs. I had the honor of speaking with Saran last week to learn about her atypical upbringing, the birth of her new organization FACE Africa and her collaboration with All for Africa.

Saran was born and raised in Liberia. In 1989, at the young age of eight, she left Liberia right before the civil war broke out. For the following ten years she lived in several different countries—the Ivory Coast, Egypt, France, Cyprus and then finally the United States where she has lived ever since. She attended Lesley College and Harvard University as an undergraduate and now works for the Singapore Government in Venture Capital. In addition to that, she runs FACE Africa full time. WOW! I was blown away just maybe two minutes into our discussion. I thought; here is a woman who has seen it all and done it all but doesn’t stop at that. Instead, she continues to follow her passion of helping those who are less fortunate than she toward a brighter future.

I asked Saran (my new role model) what encouraged her to help those in Liberia and Sierra Leone. She replied, “Ever since I was a young girl I have had a strong concern and compassion for others.” She explained further that, “as a result of my father’s diplomatic position I was constantly traveling and exposed to various forms of community service and diplomacy. My experience traveling the world made me certain that I wanted to do something that would involve helping people, and I knew that I wanted it to involve something with education.” Saran strongly believes that “the way to develop the continent of Africa is through educating the children.”

Saran traveled back to Liberia nearly 20 years after the conflict broke out. Her compassionate instincts kicked in and she began to support a young Liberian man by paying his way through high school. He has since completed high school and has gone on to enroll in University where he is currently a student. After seeing what an incredible impact she was able to make with the small amount of support she gave to one young man, Saran “wanted to scale up (her) efforts— to give others opportunities to live out their own dreams.” She went on to launch FACE Africa in 2008 to support rebuilding and development efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone, a country with similar needs and challenges as Liberia. The organization’s focus is on education, health, water and sanitation as well as economic opportunities for women.

My next question for Saran was “why on top of everything that you have going on have you chosen to work with and support All for Africa?” She explained, “I believe in the power of collaborating… forging partnerships with other groups of people doing similar work, with people who are passionate about building communities in Africa.” She went on to compliment our work here at AFA, saying “It is no question that All for Africa is an amazing organization, passionate about doing something to promote development on the continent… so choosing to work with All for Africa was not a hard decision to make.” Saran also highlighted the important role All for Africa plays in helping organizations like FACE Africa carry out their mission by awarding them Trusts that help fund programs and cover operational expenses. (FACE Africa was awarded an AFA Palm Out Poverty Trust in 2009)

Next up on Saran’s agenda is a trip back to Liberia! She is scheduled to be in Liberia over the next couple of weeks to begin work on FACE Africa’s second clean water and sanitation project in partnership with Concern Worldwide. But wait there is more! This upcoming fall, Saran will partner up with a young American designer and household name to kick off a women’s empowerment project also in Liberia. The plan is both creative and simple: to establish a partnership with a women’s clothing factory in Liberia called the Liberian Women’s Sewing Project. A line of tshirts and other types of apparel will be designed by Saran and said designer; the products will be manufactured in Liberia by the Liberian Women’s Sewing Project, thus helping to empower women in the country with gainful employment. The products will then be marketed and sold in the United States with proceeds from the sales going directly to FACE Africa to fund health, education and other social programs that benefit young girls and women.

Towards the end of our discussion, Saran informed me that as of August 31st she will be leaving her current position with the Singapore Economic Development Board to focus full time on FACE Africa, while also working on a few fashion project, one of which is Fashion Expose, an event organized by her and best friend Prajje Jean-Baptiste during Boston Fashion Week. I could hear the excitement in her voice as she explained “it has been my dream to focus my time and energy on FACE Africa and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.” This energy was evident in her recent efforts that led FACE Africa to win a $20,000 grant from the Chase Community Giving Program, an initiative that awarded $5 million to 200 charities selected out of hundred of thousands. She concluded that she is very much looking forward to concentrating on her upcoming women’s empowerment project.

Saran will be taking part in All for Africa’s Palm Out Poverty week festivities, which will take place during the week of September 28th- October 4th. These events include a Golf Outing on Tuesday, September 28th at the Glen Arbor Golf Club, an Art Festival featuring a showcase of African Art and an educational discussion on Wednesday, September 29th as well as the Palm Out Poverty Festival on Monday, October 4th which will take place at The Marquee and will include world-renown African entertainment, food and beverage, celebrities and dancing! Be sure to save these dates so that you too can join in on the festivities and help support sustainable development projects across Africa! All of us here at All for Africa wish Saran the best with her upcoming trip to Liberia! We look forward to staying in touch with her as she launches the women’s empowerment project providing women and girls the opportunities that they need and that they deserve.

To learn more about Saran and FACE Africa visit the organization’s website: http://www.faceafrica.org.

By Meredith FitzPatrick