IPNEWS: Residents in some of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s host communities in the three operational counties are gearing up for the construction of three new playgrounds.
Bong county’s Zoweinta, Bassa’s Frank Diggs Town, and Nimba’s Camp#4 in Yekepa are expected to benefit from the new AML children’s recreation drive.
Community entry and site selection for the kids’ grounds project under the theme “Safeguarding our Community Program” has been completed in the select towns.
This will be the first time hundreds of children in these off-city communities will benefit from such facilities to help set out for adventures in open air and make childhood memories forever cherished.
At each playground, there will be installing of equipment like swings, seesaws, slides, monkey bar, jungle gym, etc to provide relaxation for hundreds of children.
AML’s Community Relations Supervisors from the Bong, Bassa and Nimba worked with women, youths and elders who identified specific areas where they believe the playgrounds should be built.
As the sites are identified and selected by the local community, 3D pictures of the playgrounds are displayed to community dwellers to give a feel of what they’re to see when construction is done.
With the 3D blueprint, the beneficiaries can make essential suggestions that could get incorporated into the project plan.
Fabrication of materials for the playgrounds are being concluded by a local constrictor with who has until the end of April 2023 to completed construction works.
Along with ArcelorMittal staff, stakeholders in communities along have agreed that groundbreaking in Zoweinta, Bong County, and Frank Diggs Town in Grand are set for Friday, March 10 and 17, 2023.
A team of AML Staff and partners implementing the project say reception from people living in the host communities “is really welcoming” with the pledge of commitment to support full implementation of the project.
Since their dedication in late 2022, ArcelorMittal’s playgrounds in Yekepa, and Buchanan continue to witness huge influx of children between varying age groups.
This, couple with the lack of open space playgrounds in most communities informed ArcelorMittal’s decision to do more of this project in towns and villages mostly impacted by its mining and logistics operations.
