On Saturday, October 15, 2016 KEEP dedicated its 2nd Reading Room at the JLM Public school in Gbengbar’s town.
The turning over ceremony was graced with the presence of the Minister of Education, Hon. George W. Werner, the Assistant Minister for Basic Education, Mrs. Felecia Doe-Somah, Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education, Mrs. Yuhiko Amnon, the County Education Officer (CEO) Mrs. Cecelia Reeves and the District Education Officer, Mr. Patrick Dortu, among other development and support partners.
Making remarks at the program, Minister Werner commended KEEP for the laudable effort done at the school and said Liberians love education and that Liberian children want to be in school, parents are spending a lot of finances to keep their children in school. He admonished the school, the students and members of the community to do their best to maintain the reading room in a good condition and to utilize the books. To safeguard the assets placed in the room.
Brenda B. Moore, Founder and Executive Director for KEEP noted to invited guest that she is excited and proud that KEEP has again made another bold step in providing access to books to hundreds of school children from underprivileged backgrounds. She informed them that KEEP does not just create the safe space and stock it with books and walk away, no, rather, the organization sticks around, long term to work with the kids in developing better reading skills. One child at a time. Week after week. Mrs. Moore said “We love what we do and we are happy to have volunteers who freely and generously give their time to come by and help us work with the kids”
Brenda noted to the students that reading is fundamental to learning and that without good reading skills, they cannot excel in any other subject, be it mathematics, physics, literature, etc.
“Reading develops the minds of children and helps them in so many ways. It helps build their vocabulary, their diction, their comprehension skills, analytical skills and their creativeness.”
KEEP has promised to work with the students, the teachers and the parents in promotion a culture of reading among the children and to helping them become better readers.
The DEO, Mr. Patrick Dortu encouraged the school administration to make sure they allow the students to access the books and to encourage them to come and read, not to keep the room as a beautiful unused addition. He said he noticed that most public school administrators do not allow the students to use the MOE prescribed textbooks. He encouraged the parents to monitor the work of their children and work with the school
KEEP also used the occasion to donate one computer to the office of the DEO to facilitate the work of the officials in the office. Making the presentation on behalf of KEEP, the Chair of KEEP’s Board of Advisors, Mrs. Chantal Wiles Doe said that few months ago while planning activities for the school, the Executive Director of KEEP, Mrs. Moore had sent several email to the DEO but had not gotten a response. She narrated that Ms. Moore then inquired from the DEO why was there a regular delay in reponses from his office and that is when the DEO explained that he did not have access to a computer and that most times, had to go to an internet café to check his email account to respond to messages. She said that is unacceptable in this day and age, so with KEEP being a developmental support partner to the Ministry of Education, has decided to donate a brand new computer to facilitate the work of the office of the DEO to hopefully make them more efficient.
This reading room brings to 2 that KEEP has completed and established in 2016.
The Reading Room has been completely rehabilitated, furnished and equipped with 4 brand new computers.
