BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – A non-profit organization has provided scholarships for 36 students at two schools in Buchanan.

The Initiative for Democratic Alternatives, which made the donation, was established in 2016 and has since supported children’s education and efforts to improve literacy.

Of the 36 students who benefited from the IDA scholarships, 21 were drawn from Lower Hardlanville Public School while 15 came from the Fred Mart Memorial School. All the Fred Mart students were females while 15 of the 21 students from Lower Hardlanville were females. The students were selected after a thorough vetting process.

The organization gave L$88,050 (US$554) to the administrations of the two schools.

IDA’s program consultant, Alvin Freeman, clarified that the funds provided to Lower Hardlanville were only for the purpose of paying student activity fees since tuition was free at the government school.

“But yet, most of the parents are unable to still pay, so we have come to help them,” Freeman added.

Freeman said, as time goes by and those who are also benefiting improve by maintaining their grade points, the organization would increase the number of beneficiaries at the schools.

“Beneficiaries who will maintain the grade point of over 80 average will be maintained and those who will not reach the grade point will definitely be dropped to give chance to others,” he pointed out.

He said, since 2016, the organization has had a series of programs for children across Liberia, including supporting rural girls’ education and hosting community talk shows.

Freeman said IDA’s focus is on students who cannot afford to continue their education due to lack of money. Many of these students risk being thrown out of school for lack of payment, he said.

Speaking at the ceremony marking the presentation of cheques to the two schools, the district education officer, Amos Teloe, thanked IDA for the initiative and called on them to extend the gesture to other schools in the district.

He also urged parents whose children were benefitting from the scholarship scheme to ensure that their children continue to meet the requirements of the scholarship.

The acting principal of the Lower Hardlanville Public School, Hamilton Smith, thanked IDA for the support and asked that the program will keep going.

He also suggested that IDA help pay for extra classes to tutor the children to ensure that they maintain their grades.

“We hope that the parents will play their part by making sure that their children study to be maintained on this scholarship,” Smith added.

The Hardlanville school was established in 1952 and now has enrolls 475 students from the elementary to junior high levels.

IDA is currently sponsoring 213 students across 5 counties, including Grand Bassa, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, and Montserrado.

Featured photo by Sampson David