On December 12, 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held its Annual Development Awards Program. The Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP) was the proud recipient of the Civil Society Organization of the year 2023 Award.
The Development Awards Program is organized by USAID-Liberia in collaboration with the Government of Liberia and other partners. The event honors individuals and organizations whose works and lives provide compelling narratives about Liberia’s positive development, achievements, and potential for improvements. It also identifies and celebrates individuals and organizations doing good work in difficult developmental spaces, as well as taking risks, adding value, innovating, and positively impacting the lives of their fellow Liberians.
Awards categories include Health Worker of the Year; Teacher of the Year; Farmer of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year; Youth of the Year, Gender Champion of the Year; Civil Society Organization of the Year; and (8) Environmentalist of the Year.
This year, KEEP Liberia emerged as the winner of the Civil Society Organization of the year 2023.
Other winners were Agroretti (Entrepreneur of the year), Alphia Kemokai (Youth of the year), Miatta Kamara from the Gbegbedu Rural Women Group -Lofa County- (farmer of the year), Dr. Benjamin Yele Wehye, President of LICOSSE (Teacher of the Year), Ms. Evangeline Isreal King (Gender Advocate of the Year), Anita Collins – Grand Kru County (Health worker of the year) and Grace Kotee Zansi Development Hero of the year.
Representatives from KEEP’s Board of Advisors were present to receive the award, including Dr. Romelle Horton (President- Cuttington University), Dr. Deddeh Supuwood (Oncologist- JFK Hospital), and Mrs. Helen Hariz (CEO-Royal Grand Hotel).
Established in 2014, the Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), is a national social justice non-profit organization that is working at the grassroots level to champion equity through the promotion of literacy and sustainable economic programs.
Among other things, KEEP Liberia is most known for its work in building mini-libraries all across Liberia, promoting women and girls’ economic independence, livelihood, and empowerment, as well as access to justice.
KEEP also works to promote rights in schools, strengthening youth education through computer and reading literacy programs and activities, the training of teachers, and has been a very vocal advocate against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and abuse against women and children.
Earlier in 2023, after an intense nationally competitive process, KEEP-Liberia emerged 3rd place in the MTN Momo Heroes of Change Award, and in 2020, was the recipient of the National Literacy Award presented by the Ministry of Education.
For more information about the work of the organization, follow their social media pages (IG-keepliberia), facebook (kidseducationalengagementproject), and their blog www.keepliberia.
