Liberia: Nimba Community Celebrates New Seven-Classroom School Funded Through ArcelorMittal Social Development Fund

YOKOPA, Nimba County — Residents of Yokopa and neighboring rail communities in Nimba County have welcomed the construction of a modern seven-classroom school building, describing it as a major step toward improving access to education for children in the area.

Located near Duo and along ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) rail corridor, Yokopa has struggled for years with inadequate educational facilities. The community’s existing wooden-plank structure accommodates 165 kindergarten and elementary pupils but is plagued by overcrowding and a shortage of seating. Some children are forced to sit on the bare ground during lessons or bring benches from home.

The new school, which began construction in July last year, is the first direct development project Yokopa has received through the Social Development Fund (SDF), according to community representatives.

Community Chairlady Betty Yoko said the project would provide much-needed relief to families and create a better learning environment for children.

“We are grateful to ArcelorMittal Liberia for its contribution to social development, which has made our new school building possible,” Yoko said. “Our children will soon move into a better learning environment, and we hope the relevant stakeholders can complete the project soon.”

Yoko also highlighted the challenges facing children who need to attend higher primary grades. Those seeking such opportunities must walk to nearby Duo, exposing them to road safety risks, including speeding motorbikes, as well as bullying.

Melvin Divine Ziamo, ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Community Relations Officer for the rail communities, said residents had played an active role in advancing the project, with women particularly involved.

Community members have voluntarily provided locally available materials, helped fill the building’s foundation and clear the construction site, and offered food and accommodation to workers without charging the contractors or project sponsors.

The completed facility is expected to include seven classrooms, administrative offices, a teachers’ lounge and modern restroom facilities.

The project is financed through AML’s annual US$1.5 million contribution to the Nimba County Social Development Fund. Under the fund’s arrangement, 20 percent, or US$300,000, is allocated to the Community Development Fund (CDF) for communities directly affected by the company’s operations.

Schoolteacher Isaac Meneyengehn described the conditions at the existing facility as “deplorable and unbearable,” saying pupils often return home covered in dust after sitting on the dirt floor during lessons.

He said the new building would provide a more suitable environment for teaching and learning.

Local resident E. Karwah Slaipeh also commended the company’s financial contributions to rural development but urged the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Education, to assign qualified, government-supported teachers to the school when it is completed.

He said additional trained teachers would strengthen the work of the community’s current volunteer educators and help ensure that pupils receive the instruction they need.

The project highlights the role of the Social Development Fund in supporting infrastructure in communities affected by mining and related operations. However, residents say the benefits of the new building will depend not only on its completion but also on the availability of qualified teachers and other resources needed to sustain quality education.

For Yokopa, the school represents an opportunity to move beyond years of overcrowded and inadequate learning conditions. Residents are now looking to the relevant stakeholders to complete the facility and ensure it becomes a fully functioning school for the community’s children.