Melekie Town – The Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) has donated school furniture and paid registration fees totaling LD$194,000 for 194 students at the Dolokelen–Barror Elementary and Junior High-Bridge School in Melekie Town, Bong County.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The donation was made as part of GPFA’s commitment to improving access to quality education in underserved communities. The organization also provided 25 armchairs and 40 benches, each capable of seating 3–4 students.
Speaking at the presentation, GPFA Administrative Director Melvina O. Bright said the support follows a 2023 visit where the foundation observed poor seating conditions at the school. She noted that the contribution reflects GPFA’s broader goal of ensuring Liberian youth learn in a supportive environment.
“This donation represents our ongoing partnership and our shared commitment to education, which is one of our core investment areas,” Bright said. “We hope it enhances the learning conditions for both students and teachers.”
The Dolokelen–Barror school had been struggling with inadequate seating, forcing students to use wooden planks and blocks in class. Principal Edward Massaquoi said the new furniture will significantly improve the learning environment.
“We were often asking students to bring planks or blocks for seating, which was not conducive,” Massaquoi said. “This support has brought us major relief.”
Gbarnga City Mayor Gallah Varpilah and the school’s Parent Teacher Association Chairman, Cooper K. Flomo, also praised the foundation and called on other organizations to follow its example.
The Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, founded in 2012 by Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, operates across Liberia with a focus on education, leadership development, and peacebuilding. The foundation’s Education for Peace and Development (EPAD) program has supported thousands of Liberian students through scholarships, partnerships, and grants.