Reaching Hearts, Changing Lives
Empowering marginalized children and vulnerable groups in Liberia to build strong families and shape their futures through holistic support and community development.
What We Do
At Shepherd’s Heartbeat, we are committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by addressing its root causes, starting with food insecurity, limited access to education, and unsafe living conditions.
We believe that lasting change begins within the community. That’s why we take a bottom-up approach, working together with the people we serve to understand their unique challenges, building on their strengths, and co-create sustainable solutions.
Our Focused Initiatives
Ending Food Insecurity:
We provide consistent access to nutritious meals so that no child goes hungry and every family has the nourishment they need to thrive.
Expanding Access to Education:
We remove barriers to learning by supplying essential resources, supporting school attendance, and empowering students to reach their full potential.
Improving Living Conditions
We help create safe, stable environments where families can grow in dignity and hope – because a secure home is the foundation for a better future.
Highlights of Shepherd’s Heartbeat Family
Abas, the youngest of four siblings, became part of the Shepherd’s Heartbeat family in 2018 after a local social worker brought his situation to our attention. In 2014, at just three years old, Abas tragically lost his father – who was the family’s primary provider – to the Ebola virus.
This devastating loss plunged the family into severe poverty. Since joining our program, Abas has been given the opportunity to grow in a stable, supportive environment and pursue his education. He has embraced every opportunity with determination and hope. Today, Abas dreams of becoming a medical doctor – a goal that reflects both his resilience and his desire to give back to others.
At Shepherd’s Heartbeat, we are honored to walk alongside Abas on his journey and to witness the incredible potential that lies ahead of him.
In 2018, the Tarr family’s life changed forever.
Mr. Tarr, a blind father of four young boys, was found on the streets of Monrovia – alone, vulnerable, and struggling to survive. With no roof over their heads and no access to education, the boys spent their days begging for scraps of food and spare change, clinging to each other for comfort and hope.
Their path into adversity began long before. During the Liberian civil war, Mr. Tarr lost his sight – a life-altering blow that left the family vulnerable. His wife became their sole pillar of strength, shouldering the burden of survival with unwavering resolve. Losing their mother a few years later shattered their fragile stability, leaving the family exposed to the harsh realities of life on the streets.
Then, in 2021, another heartbreak struck. One of the boys passed away at just 17 years old. The loss was unbearable – a wound that words cannot heal. Yet, even in the depths of grief, the Tarr family held on to each other. Their resilience became their lifeline. When Shepherd’s Heartbeat welcomed them into its family, it was more than just a program – it was a lifeline of love, dignity, and hope.
Today, the three remaining boys are thriving. They are in school, exploring the world beyond survival, and finally have a place to call home. No longer do they wander the streets in search of mercy – they are building a future filled with promise.
The Tarr family’s story is one of unimaginable pain, but also of unbreakable spirit. It is a testament to what can happen when compassion meets courage – when a community chooses to see, to care, and to act.
Victor’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of community. As a visually impaired student in Liberia, Victor has faced significant challenges on his path to higher education. Yet, his unwavering drive to succeed has never faltered.
In 2022, Shepherd’s Heartbeat stepped in to support Victor’s academic journey by providing a digital recorder, allowing him to capture lectures and review them at home – making note-taking and assignment preparation more accessible. He was also equipped with a braille-compatible computer, a vital tool that empowered him to engage fully with his coursework.
However, just one year into his studies, Victor faced a major setback: the international organization funding his education ceased operations in Liberia. With his future hanging in the balance, Shepherd’s Heartbeat reassessed his situation and made a life-changing decision – to fully fund his education, including off-campus housing.
This comprehensive support has lifted a tremendous burden from Victor’s shoulders. Today, he is thriving in his studies and is on track to graduate with a degree in Social Work in 2025. Victor’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when compassion meets opportunity.
At Shepherd’s Heartbeat, we are proud to walk alongside students like Victor, helping them turn obstacles into stepping stones toward a brighter future.
Junior and Ellen are the youngest of six siblings who tragically lost their mother during the Ebola epidemic in Liberia. In 2019, at the ages of 14 and 13, they joined the Shepherd’s Heartbeat program during a time of great hardship. Their father, unemployed and struggling to provide for the family, relied on handouts from relatives who themselves were facing severe economic challenges.
Faced with impossible choices, their father had to decide which of his children could attend school. With limited resources, Jr and Ellen – being the youngest – were left without access to education.
Since joining the Shepherd’s Heartbeat family, Junior and Ellen have embraced the opportunity to learn and grow. With consistent support and their own determination, they’ve made remarkable strides in their education.
Their story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, hope and perseverance can pave the way to a brighter future.
Meet Our Partners
In 2024, Shepherd's Heartbeat received a generous grant from the Rotary Club of Chester, PA with a great support from the Rotary Club of Swarthmore. This funding was instrumental in enhancing SHB’s farm, which plays a vital role in providing nutritious food for children in our program and supporting income-generating activities that contribute to their overall welfare. The grant also enabled the installation of two new hand-operated water pumps and the renovation of an existing one, significantly improving access to clean drinking water for both the school and surrounding villages.
The Rotary Club of Swarthmore PA
The Wilmington, DE Days for Girls Team is part of the global Days for Girls movement - an international organization committed to breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and empowering women and girls through access to menstrual health solutions and education. Days for Girls provides DFG Kits and comprehensive menstrual health education that support improved health, education, and economic opportunities. Since 2021, the Wilmington team has partnered with Shepherd’s Heartbeat to extend this mission to Liberia, distributing over 1,500 reusable sanitary kits to women and girls in our program. This collaboration continues to uplift communities we serve by promoting dignity, confidence, and long-term sustainability.
Days For Girls
Led by the HOLY SPIRIT, we enter communities to share the love of KING JESUS CHRIST. We first build relationships with local ministers, listen to their needs, and work with them to shape solutions. This partnership empowers the community to take ownership and sustain the change. WeRemnant make a monthly donation to ensure children in our program have access to essential resources and basic needs.
WeRemnant
The Rotary Club of Chester, PA, USA, has generously donated eight Uzima Water Filter buckets, which provides clean drinking water for over 60 school-going children and their teachers at the Joshua Irwin Early Childhood Education Center (aka Shepherd’s Heartbeat village School).
The Rotary Club of Chester PA