Liberia: Renowned Humanitarian Kolu Sokodolo Walters Advocates for Investing in Early Childhood Education

According to her, investment in education, especially at the primary level, will help prepare citizens to become productive citizens and to contribute to the socio-economic and infrastructure developments of the nation.

She made the call in a telephone interview with FrontPage Africa on Thursday, June 15.

Madam Sokodolo-Walters maintained that education remains the bedrock of any society and as such, humanitarians and other philanthropic organizations operating in Liberia should see the need to provide opportunities to less fortunate Liberian children and others to have access to quality education.

She noted that these less fortunate children would immensely contribute their quotas to the nation’s rebuilding process if they are adequately supported educationally.

She said when they are fully grown up as men and women, these less fortunate children will be able to compete with their counterparts across the African continent.

Madam Sokodolo-Walters observed that government cannot do all alone due to the numerous challenges confronting the country and its citizens, and as such, Liberians and others who are in the position should help provide scholarship opportunities to less fortunate children to enable them realize their full potential.

She maintained that it will be a win-win situation for sponsors, parents, school administrators and Liberia in general if these less fortunate children are educationally molded to become future leaders.

“If we can contribute the little that we have to provide education to a less fortunate boy or girl-we are not only doing that to put smile on that child’s face, but we are also investing in the future of our country. Education plays a pivotal role in the development of any society; that’s the reason why people who are in the position to help should kindly contribute the little that they have to improve enrollment at the primary level of education.”

Expect nothing in return    

Speaking further, Madam Sokodolo-Walters stressed the need for those providing scholarship and other educational opportunities to deserving less fortunate Liberian students to expect nothing in return from the beneficiaries or their parents or guardians.

She said the act of giving is a biblical responsibility of every Christian and as such, those providing educational opportunities and aid to others should not see this as a mean to exploit or request for undeserved favors and pleasure from the beneficiaries, especially young girls or their parents.

She, however, observed that people most often established humanitarian foundations in Liberia and other countries only when they intend to run for public offices.

Madam Sokodolo-Walters emphasized that though it is a good time to provide assistance to the needy; doing so under false pretense or expecting a reward must be discouraged.

She used this medium to clarify that despite the mountainous humanitarian assistances she has rendered, and continues to render to Liberians, including old folks, youths and students, she does not intend to run for any political office in Liberia.

“Many times people ask me this question, ‘all the things you are doing in Liberia, it like you want to be a Representative or Senator.’ I always tell them that I will not run for any elected position and I don’t want to be a politician. God is using me to be a blessing to others. It is a good thing to provide help to those who are in need. But people should not use this as a mean of getting back something from those who they have helped or they are helping. Our humanitarian works should impact the lives of people.”

Madam Kolu Sokodolo Walters won four awards in the United States for her unmatched and untiring contributions to humanity.

She was the only black among 60 persons who received awards from The Gawad Amerika Awards under the category of Outstanding Civic Leader at the ceremony held at the Celebrity Center International Pavilion in California, USA on Saturday, November 19, 2022. She was awarded the accolade for being very instrumental and sensitive to addressing the plights of underprivileged Liberian children, visually impaired, physically challenged, abandoned and neglected citizens, among others.

She also received the Dr. Nina L Meyerhof Leadership Award at the 3^rd Award ceremony of the Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies in the US. The award was presented at an event ceremony held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Centre, in the USA on November 12, 2022.  Madam Sokodolo-Walters shared the award with Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who was represented at the occasion by Madam Sarah Fyneah Dorbort, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, DC. VP Howard-Taylor received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the group.

Early in April last year, Madam Sokodolo-Walters won the Virtuous Woman and Most Respected Individual Awards from the I Am Magazine based in the United States.

Subsidize private schools

For his part, the Country Director of the Kolu Sokodolo International Foundation Mr. Shine Gbelemah disclosed that the foundation’s school was established in August 2016 in Monrovia.

He said the foundation has been providing scholarships to several students from grade to university levels.

 ‘Most of the students you see in our school are victims of the Ebola crisis. We recruited them when we started and we started to feed about 500 of them after every two weeks in the month.”

Mr. Gbelemah disclosed that following the intensive feeding program, the need for the establishment of the school to provide educational opportunities to children of less fortunate Liberian parents was realized.

Speaking further, Mr. Gbelemah stressed the need for government to provide subsidies to private schools that are running tuition-free programs across the country.

“Over the years we have been crying on the government and the county’s legislative caucus to provide support because this is the only opportunity that we have to give them a better future; but to no avail.”

He said despite the lack of extended support to the institution, the foundation CEO Madam Kolu Sokodolo Walters and her husband, Bishop Moses Walters have been very committed to providing the basic needs of both the students and instructional staff.

He commended the pair for their numerous supports in helping to provide education and others to not only the Ebola survivors and less fortunate children, but youths and elderly persons across the country.

“If the government looks to up and provides support, we will be one of the best schools across the country. The children will develop and learn more than what they are learning. Right now we are not receiving any support from outside; the school and foundation are supported by mother Kolu Sokodolo and her husband.”

Mr. Gbelemah disclosed that the school intends to establish a computer lab and reading room to equip its students for the digitized world, but the lack of adequate support remains a challenge.