Gender Ministry Transforms Girls’ Hostel In Bong: From Darkness to Hope

GBALATUAH TOWN, Bong County — Adolescent girls residing at the Victoria A. Tolbert Girls’ Hostel in Gbalatuah Town, Bong County  have praised the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for improving their living and learning conditions, saying the interventions have restored their hope for a better future.

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By Patience M. Jones

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The girls said the installation of solar lighting, renovation of the hostel building, improved living conditions and provision of basic services have made it easier for them to study, live safely and pursue their education without some of the challenges they previously faced.

The improvements were highlighted Tuesday, October 27  during a visit by Gender,  Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP)  Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie, who interacted with the students and encouraged them to remain focused on their education, describing them as the future leaders of Liberia.

Before the Ministry’s interventions, the students said the hostel was frequently dark, making nighttime studying difficult and exposing them to injuries while moving around the facility.

The girls also described the difficulties they experienced before gaining admission to the hostel, including financial hardship, interrupted schooling and limited access to basic necessities.

For some beneficiaries, the facility has become more than a place to live; it represents an opportunity to obtain an education that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Students Recount Their Struggles

Deborah D. Wamah, a 10th-grade student, said her admission to the hostel had significantly changed her life after she lost her mother at age 10 and her father struggled to provide for his five children.

Wamah explained that her family’s financial difficulties made it challenging for her to continue her education, leaving her uncertain about her future.

However, she said her situation had improved since she became a beneficiary of the hostel, where she receives meals and other essential support while pursuing her studies.

“I’m so happy to be selected to be here because I don’t have anyone to help me. My mother passed away when I was 10 years old, and my father couldn’t afford to send me to school,” Wamah said.

She also welcomed the installation of solar lighting, explaining that the previous lack of adequate lighting created difficulties for students who wanted to study at night and those who needed to move around the hostel.

According to her, students sometimes sustained injuries after accidentally hitting their heads against walls or hurting their hands and feet while navigating the dark facility.

“Now we have solar panel lights that are available 24/7. We don’t have to hit our heads against the walls anymore, and we can wake up at night to study,” she said.

Wamah expressed gratitude to the government and the Ministry of Gender,  Children and Social Protection

 for improving the facility and providing students with an environment in which they can concentrate on their education.

She also said the support had helped protect girls from the pressures that could force them into early marriage because of financial hardship.

Hostel Provides Relief for Students Facing Financial Hardship

Hannah K. Gbanyan, a seventh-grade student, also described the hostel as a source of relief after years of educational uncertainty caused by her family’s financial circumstances.

Gbanyan said her family previously struggled to meet basic needs, including food, while school fees sometimes prevented her from attending classes consistently.

She recalled watching her classmates attend school while she remained outside the classroom because of unpaid fees.

“Before I came to this dormitory and school, I faced lots of challenges. Sometimes, I was out of school because of school fees while my friends were in class, and that broke my heart,” she said.

Gbanyan said her circumstances had improved since joining the hostel, allowing her to attend school more consistently and study whenever she had the opportunity.

She added that the improved lighting had made it easier for students to study without waiting for daylight.

The seventh grader praised the Ministry for reaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds and providing them with an opportunity to continue their education.

Improved Facilities Bring Hope

Annie Y. Kerkulah, a ninth-grade student at Williams R. Tolbert Elementary, Junior and Senior High School, said she was grateful to have been selected from among children in her village to benefit from the hostel.

Kerkulah, who has lived at the facility since 2023, said the transformation had improved the students’ ability to study and participate in their daily activities.

She noted that the installation of solar lighting had addressed one of the major challenges previously confronting the girls.

Kerkulah also praised the renovation of the hostel building, saying the newly painted walls had improved the appearance of the facility and created a more welcoming environment.

She thanked the government, through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the support provided to the students.

Matron Commends Government’s Support

Angeline N. Camue, matron of the Victoria A. Tolbert Girls’ Hostel, expressed appreciation to the government and the Ministry of Gender for their continued efforts to improve the welfare of the students.

Camue said the Ministry had previously provided fuel and other assistance, including lighting support, to address some of the challenges facing the hostel.

She explained that the building was painted during the students’ break, although the painting work damaged the facility’s existing solar lights.

Despite that setback, she said the improvements had contributed to better living and learning conditions for the girls.

According to Camue, the improved lighting has enabled students to study at night and participate in their activities without the fear and inconvenience associated with moving around in darkness.

“We are grateful to the government of Liberia and the Minister of Gender. Our children can study anytime, and they can do their activities without fear of darkness,” she said.

Camue urged the government to sustain its support, emphasizing the importance of investing in girls’ education.

“The ones they educate today will be the ones to lead the nation tomorrow,” she added.

Gender Minister Pledges Continued Support

Meanwhile, Minister  Kollie reassured the students of the Ministry’s commitment to improving their welfare and ensuring they have access to quality education and a conducive learning environment.

During her interaction with the girls, the Minister encouraged them to take their studies seriously, remain determined and prepare themselves for future leadership responsibilities.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the students receive the educational and social support they need while residing at the hostel.

The Minister also announced plans to introduce additional extracurricular and skills-training activities to equip the girls with practical abilities and livelihood opportunities after completing secondary education.

The proposed activities are intended to help prepare the students for life beyond the classroom and provide them with skills that could support their future economic independence.

The visit highlighted the importance of sustained investment in girls’ education, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who face financial and social barriers to completing their schooling.

For the beneficiaries at the Victoria A. Tolbert Girls’ Hostel, the improvements represent a meaningful step toward a safer learning environment and a renewed opportunity to pursue their educational ambitions.