IPNEWS: One hundred and fifty students have benefited from initial support from the Maisha Washington Education Foundation (MWEF) scholarship program through Sehwah Liberia in four of Liberia’s 15 counties.
The MWEF scholarship program in Liberia is being spearheaded by Sehwah Liberia in closed partnership with the Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus (SRDC) sponsored by the foundation.
SRDC is a US-based organization that comprises of black people who were born outside of Africa.
It may be recalled that in 2021, Sehwah Liberia Inc, and SRDC jointly launched the Maisha Washington Education Foundation Scholarship in 2021 for Liberian high school students.
The program was a component of SRDC’s ongoing initiatives aimed at creating connections between the African Community on the continent and the Pan-African Diaspora.
The scholarship program is also part of the Sehwah’s recent text-books distribution with support from its partners. The project also provided the targeted schools with scholarships, with ten (10) students from each institution receiving awards based on merit.
In early July of this year, Sehwah Liberia and SRDC kicked-off the distribution of more than 20K textbooks to 13 public schools in Montserrrado, Margibi, Bong and Nimbi Counties covering a variety of areas, including biology, economics, accounting, and mathematics.
During the tour in the four counties the organization also presented L$30k to each school for those who are expected to enroll at the University of Liberia this year after sitting the UL entrance.
Louise M. W. Siaway Founder Sehwah Liberia said: “Our aim is to develop a workforce since training is necessary when introducing a new institution to the community,”
In those government schools, 150 work force are expected to be trained. 50 of those people are preparing to enroll at the University of Liberia (UL).
Siaway stated, “We collaborate with the Liberian Government through the Diaspora Engagement Program and the Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) for free book distribution.
She emphasized that when it comes to reading and comprehension on a global scale, Liberian students have tremendous challenges, and particularly in the rural areas as such they want to increase the reading proficiency of Liberian kids. She continued, “Our aim is that they will match the international requirements.”
Additionally, she revealed that Liberia is about to have its first public literary, therefore, “We do not have modern scientific library. We also need to teach our young people at this time before the library can come to Liberia.”
Meanwhile administrators at various schools, in separate remarks, described the kind gesture as essential for developing students’ ability in reading and writing.
They mentioned that this is an added advantage to the reading and writing skills of the students.
The first phase of the distribution was done in Montserrado, Bong, Nimba and Margibi Counties on Friday, July 8, 2022. The schools that benefited included, Lango Lippaye High School in Kakata, Margibi County, Doleken Gboveh High School in Bongo and J. W. Pearson, Sanniquille Central High, Bahn High School in Buutuo, Karn High School in Karnplay, Sawway Doe Memorial High School in Gbloulay all in Nimba County.
However, the textbook distribution was aimed at advancing quality education, lower the country’s illiteracy rate, build a mini school library, boost students’ reading and comprehension, as well as improve Liberian students’ scores in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to the group, this distribution effort is a prelude to the first Liberia Pan African Library and Culture Center Project, which is already in sight.
