Local Hero Saves Tips, Builds Schools in Liberia

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - Edward Fahnbulleh has been working at Trio Restaurant ever since he moved to Washington, DC from Liberia back in 1985. He works two jobs, six days a week, twelve hours a day. But in 25 years, he hasn't saved a single cent. That's because Fahnbulleh's not making money for himself. He's making money for his school in Liberia, the United Christian Academy. It took ten years to build and lots of tips, but Fahnbulleh's school finally opened in 2006. "I am not saving a penny, except in my checking account to pay off my bills at the end of the month. Everything else goes directly to the school to pay teachers or to get instructional materials," said Fahnbulleh. "If I don't do what I'm doing now in the area of education where I am operating in Liberia, those children will never have the opportunity for an education. And because of that, that gives me the energy, the driving force, to do these two jobs at my age." "Eddy works nonstop for this school in a way that is pretty much mind boggling," said Sean O'Connor, a former co-worker at Trio Restaurant. "Eddy swooped us all off our feet. When we learned what he was doing there, we were just blown away. Then the question was Eddy how can we help you, what can we do We can give you more tip money or we can raise you new money." So Fahnbulleh and a team of former Trio employees formed Fuel Youth in 2009. It's a non-profit who's goal is to make Fahnbulleh's dream of an educated Liberian youth come true. But for now, it's still up to Fahnbulleh to keep his school open, and he's doing it one turkey sandwich at a time. "It doesn't matter where you work, what work you do, how much you make, its what you do with what you make," said Fahnbulleh. United Christian Academy currently has 340 students between Kindergarten and 8th grade. Fahnbulleh says he plans to eventually expand the school to include high school students. He's also already in the process of building his second school in Liberia in Messima Village. If you would like to help Fahnbulleh bring quality education to kids in Liberia, go to the Fuel Youth website. Their first fundraiser of the year is set for February 11th at Bourbon in Adams Morgan from 6-9 PM.

Written by Kristin Fisher
9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com

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