Support to Rural Girls Education in Liberia

INTRODUCTION: 

This report covers recent activities implemented under the above-mentioned Project covering the month under review (August 2019 –October 2019). Activities were held in Bomi, Cape Mount, Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado counties in Liberia. The report reflects the beginning of the new school year in Liberia and the beginning of the rural women’s loan project in Kakata Margibi County.

2.0 PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH:

2.1 Preparation of application forms for the scholarship program 2019/2020;

2.2. Launch of the Back to School Book Ride;

2.3 Organized meetings with County stakeholders and schools’ authorities;

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW:

Application Forms:The Support to Rural Girls educational project begin its second year with schools in all five Counties including one additional county applying for acceptance on the program. Schools in all five counties have applied for the 2019/2020 scholarship program including one school from Bong County has also applied for acceptance on the program.

 The application form is the first document that schools have to complete before being accepted on the program, this document includes criterial for schools and students wishing to be on the program.  

Schools applying for this application are:

• Jenneh Public School & Kingdom Builders Community School, Bomi County,
• Madina Public School & Konjah Public School, Sinjah, Grand Cape Mount County,
• Fred-Mart Community School and Lowerhardlanderville Community School in Buchannan, Grand Bassa County,
• Minor Community School and St. Eafa Community School in Kakata, Margibi County.
• Bong County central high school, Bong County

Back to School Book Ride: Learning Squared Liberia officially launch the Back to School book ride in Liberia during  the month of September 2019, the aim of this Book ride is to provide some school material to school going children in five counties in :Liberia. The Book Ride visited schools in Montserrado, Margibi, Bassa, Bomi and Cape Mount Counties. The Back to School Book Ride is an initiative of Learning Squared Liberia which provides notebooks, pens, pencils and other learning materials to students benefiting from our direct scholarship program and other underserved rural students in the community. 

During the Book Ride, students receive free school supplies, interact with the program team and seek information about our 2020 scholarship program. This year’s Back to School Book Ride brought significant value in working with children of Liberia.  We envision every child having the best learning opportunities possible, beginning with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.

The Back to School Book Ride provided the underserved students with the supplies they need to succeed this school year. Learning Squared Liberia was able to supply over 2000, 1- 6 grade students in five counties we are currently implementing our support to rural education initiative in Liberia.

Staff and partner training: During the month of August 2019, Learning Squared-Liberia team conducted training for staff and other partners on the criterial and application for the new school year. The training was aimed at refreshing the mind of staff and partners on child safeguarding standards practices and how to complete the scholarship application form for 2019/2020 school year. 

Stakeholders Meeting: During the period under review, Learning Squared Liberia facilitated five (5) town hall interactive sessions with County and District Education authorities, policy makers and local and community leaders in the project areas.The purpose of this meetings were to provide complete information to all stakeholders and policy makers on completing the scholarship application forms and criterial set for student wishing to be on this year  scholarship program 2019/2020.

These meetings which brought together over 200 persons in all five project communities was very interactive open to all participants, question were  asked, and participants spoke on other issues and promise to work in line with  Learning Squared Liberia policy on safeguarding children and education.

4.0 Constraints:

There were few challenges that the project team encounter during the period under review, Increased in the demand for the project to other communities and high cost of transportation for volunteers and staff, due to the bad roads condition in rural Liberia, Our team had to travel on motorcycles to get to communities and schools.

 5.0 Recommendations / conclusion: Thanks and appreciation to our supporters, donors, GlobalGiving, local communities and schools for the level of commitment shown towards the successful implementation of the project. Learning Squared Liberia continue to receive calls and appeal from other communities for similar intervention.