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Why Liberia?​

For people in Liberia, anything is everything

83% OF THE 4.4 MILLION POPULATION LIVES ON LESS THAN $1.25 A DAY.


 

The official language is English – the name Liberia derives from “Liberty” meaning freedom. Liberia’s former president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female head of state in Africa! The Liberian education system is emerging from a prolonged and brutally destructive period of civil unrest. Long standing impacts from the war, compounded by the recent school closure due to the Ebola Viral Disease outbreak continue to take a toll on the fragile education system. The country is significantly behind most other African countries in nearly all education statistics. Primary and secondary education is free and compulsory from the ages of 5-16 though enforcement of attendance is lax. On average, children attain 10 years of education (11 for boys and 8 for girls). Liberia's education sector is hampered by inadequate schools and supplies, as well as a lack of qualified teachers and corruption.

 

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LIBERIA'S EDUCATION IS IN A

STATE OF EMERGENCY

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A 14 YEAR CIVIL WAR DESTROYED 80% OF THE EDUCATIONAL

INSTITUTIONS

Each one of the 25,000 applicants to the University of Liberia in 2013 failed the entrance exam.

65% of primary school age children are out of school.

More than half (51%) of young people aged 15-24 are illiterate and approximately 73% of all women and girls in Liberia are illiterate.

Only 20% of students enrolled in Grade 1, enroll in Grade 12.

In 2010, the literacy rate of Liberia was an estimated 60.8%

Young people account for 65% of Liberia's population.

HOW DO WE TACKLE THIS CRISIS?
 

We work with local non-profits, impact-driven groups, and community members to find the best sustainable solutions and provide guidance, school and medical resources to remedy the needs of Liberia’s children. AIE’s current efforts are focused on developing a sustainable after-school program initiative in collaboration with a local nonprofit, Mother’s Pride Academy, that will instill discipline, confidence, and a sense of responsibility in Liberian youth. We have put together robust programs that will include the following components:

Health and Wellness
Language Arts and Education
Recreation and sports 
Technology 

Our goals are as follows: 1) increase retention rates in participating primary schools to an average of 80% 2) raise literacy rates among all participating primary schools to an average of 90% 3) increase average examination scores across all subjects among all participating schools to 70% or higher. To effectively achieve these goals, AIE would require training sessions for teachers and helpers who would lead workshops, tutoring sessions, and interview students, scholarships, electronics, school supplies, and materials to properly measure the progress of its after-school program launching in October 2019. 

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