GBARNGA, Bong- Kponyekpoyah Organization in the Americas or KOA, a U.S. based social development organization has completed the distribution of textbooks and other educational materials to students of four schools in rural Bong County. The schools are Gorpu Dolo Boi Elementary and Junior High School; Belefanai Lutheran School; Belefanai Community School and the United Christian Institute in Zota district.
At least 700 students benefited from the distribution of 94 cartons of assorted learning materials to the schools.
The initiative followed the visit of KOA’s Acting President, Harvey Diggs to Liberia, in 2017. During his visit, Diggs expressed shock over the appalling situation of learning institutions and conditions of pupils in the country. He said the situation appealed to the urgent need to mobilize education materials upon his return to the U.S along with other colleagues through the organization.
“We need to collectively work to ensure our educational sector is revived where kids particularly in rural Liberia will have access to better learning environment and available resources to earn quality education,’’ he told The Bush Chicken in a communication from the U.S.
The Principal of Gorpu Dolo Boi Junior High School, Johnson Flomo lauded the president and his organization for the timely intervention by providing the learning materials.
Garmai Kesselly, a representative of Harvey Diggs presenting donating books at one of the schools. Photo: James Binda.
Flomo said the donation will ease some of the challenges both students and teachers are confronted with concerning access to learning resource materials.
He expressed willingness for a further partnership with the U.S. based organization to address challenges facing the school, including the lack of adequate instructional materials and logistical infrastructures that would create an enabling learning environment for students.
Meanwhile, the acting KOA president has promised to establish a reading room and mini learning resource center that would be equipped with an initial 10 desktop computers for the youths of Zota district in Bong.
He believes that investing in youth development through technical and vocational education is the best way to provide marketable skills through which young people can become productive to contribute to their society.
According to him, despite the advancement of technology across the world, Liberia is still a distance away from utilizing technology to foster development at the community level.
KOA was established in 2012 by a group of Bong Citizens residing in the U.S. as a non-political charitable organization with a mission to tackle illiteracy and poverty through educational development, mainly targeting rural youths in Liberia.
Featured photo by James Binda