Save My Future Foundation - SAMFU

28/07/2026

SAMFU raised awareness on the protection of Land and Forests in Grand Gedeh County..

Monrovia, Liberia— More than 20 community leaders from B’hai, Cavalla, and Konobo Administrative Districts in Grand Gedeh County gathered for a training session on customary land and forest protection, emerging with a firm resolve to strengthen local governance structures, confront illicit mining, and place women at the center of resource management decisions.

Facilitating, SAMFU’s Project Officer Benetta Bowah opened with a foundational discussion on customary land, community-owned land passed down from grandfathers to fathers and, ultimately, to children.

She reminded Participants that such land relies heavily on honor, tradition, and customary law to keep the peace among neighbors, and that clear, agreed-upon boundaries remain one of the most effective tools for preventing land and forest conflicts.

Speaking at the Training, Konobo District Dean Elder G. Young Beldeh stressed the urgency of carrying the training’s lessons back home and committed to holding follow-up meetings so that every citizen understands their legal and customary land rights.

He pledged to widely share the educational stickers distributed during the session to extend the campaign’s reach.

Meanwhile, the participants pleaded with SAMFU team to include both the Elder Council and the Traditional Council, stressing that they are two different roles that needs to be present doing such discussions.

“As for me, the Elder Council and the Traditional Council are different… I want us to involve both the traditional youth and the traditional leaders because we have elders and we have youth. We must talk with the tradition” Cavalla women leader Evelyn Saydee indicated.

Participants clarified that the Elder Council advises on broader matters such as historical boundaries and governance, while the Traditional Council and youth structures manage cultural practices and enforce community rules on the ground.

According to them, the Forest protection efforts will only succeed if outside partners engage both bodies deliberately, rather than treating them as one and the same.

Moreover, participants called for women’s full inclusion in forest protection efforts.

Participants noted that resource management groups have historically excluded women entirely, despite their education, local knowledge, and capability.

Women leaders in the room pointed out that when environmental conflicts erupt or resources collapse, it is women and children who bear the heaviest cost, often displaced from their homes or left to manage the health fallout in hospitals.

They indicated that going forward, women must be included “by honor or by fire,” with active recruitment into roles such as forest guard or coast guard positions to ensure balanced, accurate management of natural resources.

In closing, the participants pledged their commitment to pushing aggressively for stronger local regulation and enforcement, determined to protect both their forests and the customary systems that have sustained their communities for generations.

The training held on July 4, 2026 is funded by Misereor and implemented by Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU).

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26/07/2026

06/07/2026

SAMFU Launches Three-Year Project to Protect Land Rights and Forests in Grand Gedeh

Monrovia, Liberia— Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) has officially launched a three-year project aimed at strengthening customary land rights and forest conservation across three Administrative Districts in Grand Gedeh County, with funding from MISEREOR.

The three Administrative Districts include: Konobo, B’hai and Cavalla.
The launch ceremony, held over the weekend, brought together community delegates, traditional leaders, youth and women representatives, and an official from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).

Speaking at the event, SAMFU’s Project and Communication Director, Benetta Bowah said the initiative, titled “Protecting Customary Tenure Security & Forest Resources,” is designed to build local capacity through continuous training, community awareness, and stronger collaboration with traditional and statutory authorities.

“The goal is to equip communities with the tools they need to sustainably manage their forests, defend their customary land rights, and push back against land grabbing and outsider encroachment,” she indicated.

During the launch, the delegates raised concerns over what they described as unrestricted land claims by private individuals and families, along with a growing entry of non-residents exploiting community land.

The participants also pointed to weak enforcement of legal boundaries and worsening forest degradation linked to unsustainable farming and illegal logging.
They further criticized what they called a lack of oversight from regulatory institutions, calling on the FDA and LLA to tighten monitoring of land allocation and forest resource extraction in the region.

Participants singled out youth unemployment as a driver of illicit forest activity, urging that livelihood support be built into conservation efforts going forward. Women delegates, meanwhile, said they bear a disproportionate burden from deforestation and land scarcity, and called for targeted education and greater representation in land governance decisions.

Also speaking during the launch, the Forestry Development Authority Zwedru Chapter CA Abraham D. Wallah pledged the FDA commitment to scaling up field monitoring in Grand Gedeh County, working with SAMFU and local leaders to resolve boundary disputes, and exploring green livelihood and youth employment opportunities tied to conservation.

Meanwhile, SAMFU said it will begin post-launch training sessions and community field assessments in the coming weeks, alongside a formal registry to document grievances for advocacy with the LLA and FDA. Outstanding concerns including allegations of fraudulent land claims and illegal logging in protected areas remain under review.

The launch closed with SAMFU thanking local leaders, citizens, and government representatives for their participation, and a shared pledge toward continued collaboration on natural resource governance in the county.

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13/04/2026

SAMFU Advances Community-Led Sea Turtle Protection in Lake Piso Landscape; Grand Cape Mount County.....

Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) in partnership with the Environmental Justice Foundation make progress in strengthening community-based sea turtle conservation efforts across six coastal communities within the Lake Piso Multiple Use Reserve.
The initiative focused on building local capacity, raising awareness, and improving monitoring systems to protect sea turtles and other endangered marine species.
As part of its implementation, SAMFU conducted awareness sessions in Bombojah, Falie, Latia, Sembehun, Robertsport and Bomie through six town hall meetings.
These engagements reached 61 participants, including fishermen, fishmongers, sea chiefs, youth leaders and community members. The sessions highlighted the importance of protecting sea turtles, dolphins and manatees, while addressing community concerns about interactions between marine species and fishing activities. A total of 65 awareness materials were reproduced and distributed, increasing outreach from a 10% baseline to 75%.

In strengthening community ownership, SAMFU mobilized and recruited 12 volunteers across the six communities to serve as sea turtle patrollers. Each community selected two individuals who were subsequently trained during a three-day capacity-building session.
The training focused on identifying, documenting and reporting sea turtle activities. Although the TIMBY mobile application was not deployed, participants were equipped with practical skills in using mobile phones and provided with standardized reporting templates.

Following the training, all 12 patrollers were deployed and have since been conducting daily beach monitoring activities. Since January 19, 2026, a total of 180 patrol visits have been recorded across the six communities. Monitoring efforts led to the identification of a sea turtle nesting site in Bombojah, where approximately 58 eggs were safely relocated and are currently being monitored within the community.

Additionally, patrollers in Sembehun reported a case involving a community member engaged in hunting sea turtles and collecting eggs for sale or consumption, highlighting ongoing threats within the project area. The monitoring process also captured sightings of other marine species, including humpback dolphins and manatees, as reported by local fishermen.

SAMFU remains committed to working with communities and relevant stakeholders to sustain monitoring efforts and further strengthen conservation measures within the Lake Piso landscape.

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01/01/2026

Happy New Year 2026! ✨
Save My Future Foundation wishes everyone a prosperous year filled with hope, growth, and sustainability. Together, let’s continue working for nature conservation and a better future for all. 🌱🤍

25/12/2025

Wishing our partners, supporters, and communities a joyful and peaceful Christmas season!!🎄🤍