Cutting Palm Nuts as a way to pay for School

May 28, 2013 Balama Project

Palm trees are one of the very important spices of plant in Liberia and western Africa. Africans use all parts of the palm tree for multiple purposes. These include the use of palm log for building bridges, palm thatch or leaves for roofing in building construction and craft making, palm bark and roots for medicinal purposes, and palm nuts for oil production. Edible oil used for cooking and soap production is extracted from both the pulp of the fruit and the palm kernel.

A palm tree can grow to a height of 20 or more feet, which makes cutting palm nuts a very dangerous operation. But what else is there to do for many village dwellers who have no alternatives? Palm trees are the primary source of income and livelihood for many Liberian adults and school-age children, including students at Balama Elementary School. Students use rope or bamboo reed to climb and harvest palm nuts for oil production. Their families use some of the oil for cooking and making soap, and they sell the extra oil for money needed to purchase school supplies. Below, students at Balama School and BDA Director for Evangelism and mission are gathering palm nuts while holding conversations about Jesus Christ and his love for all humanity.