Established in the year 1951, the Sumo Kota Public School is the oldest to three other public schools in the Fissebu Community. Although the oldest educational facility in the vicinity, it has been without a library since its establishment.
In line with its mission to provide public schools with safe, adequately stocked, and welcoming mini-libraries, the Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP-Liberia) dedicated its 40th reading room at the school on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The reading room dedication event brought together local dignitaries, school administration, students, and parents, all united in their commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in the community.
During the ceremony, the CEO of Lofa County, Mr. John S. Sallay, took a moment to honor the late principal of the school, acknowledging the significant improvements observed in the students. After his words of appreciation to the KEEP Family, he encouraged everyone present to motivate students to visit the reading room daily, even in the evenings. He applauded KEEP Liberia for providing lights for evening reading sessions and reiterated the transformative power of reading. The CEO affirmed the Ministry’s support for KEEP Liberia’s efforts and pledged a partnership to ensure the reading room’s sustainability. He also urged school administrators to promote reading through radio broadcasts.
Mrs. Brenda B. Moore, KEEP’s Executive Director, encouraged the school principal to prioritize the upkeep of the reading room and urged students to utilize this vital resource. She emphasized the numerous benefits of reading and called on parents to motivate their children to take full advantage of the resources available.
The new KEEP-Liberia Reading Room was stocked with diverse text books, readers, and leisure books worth approximately U$8,492.3 and the creation of the reading room cost approximately U$ 2,614, thus making the total value of the project U$11,106.3.
Highlighting more remarks, the School Principal, Mr. John Y. Sumowuo, expressed immense gratitude to KEEP Liberia for their initiative, promising to maximize the benefits of the project. His statements expressed eager anticipation of further educational developments from KEEP Liberia, reinforcing their commitment to improving student learning outcomes.
Local government representative, City Mayor Mr. Yanquoi Dolo, welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of maintaining the reading room’s intended purpose. He further expressed appreciation to KEEP Liberia and reiterated the local government’s openness to supporting additional projects aimed at fostering educational growth.
On behalf of the Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A.), Mr. Sumoiwuo Sarwee- PTA Chair, lauded KEEP Liberia for creating an environment conducive to effective learning. They committed to protecting and managing the reading room and honored KEEP Liberia with gifts to recognize their remarkable contributions to the school.
Attending the event was Mr. Thomas K. Johnson, Town Chief, members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), the student body, and parents.
KEEP-Liberia again extends thanks and appreciation to all the well-meaning friends of KEEP who donated towards the project, and urges parents, teachers, and educational administrators to steadfastly commit to literacy in the country, especially improving the passion for reading of students and all children.
The dedication of this Reading Room brings to 40, the number of mini-libraries the organization has established since 2016. To learn more about their work, visit their blog www.keepliberia.com and visit their social media pages at Kids Educational Engagement Project- KEEP Liberia across all social media platforms
