Monrovia – When Joseph Nyuma Boakai campaigned on rescuing Liberia during the 2023 presidential election, children appeared to hold a special place in his agenda. That priority is now becoming evident through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), which is aggressively tackling the long-standing issue of children living on the streets across the country.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
In Montserrado County, where a pilot phase of the Street Children Project is currently underway, over a thousand children have already been removed from the streets and placed in schools—making them the true beneficiaries of the Unity Party’s “Rescue Mission” slogan.
Speaking at a recent dedication ceremony, Project Lead Alex Devine highlighted the progress made under the initiative. He said the government’s swift response has resulted in thousands of children being rescued, with hundreds now enrolled in schools as part of the pilot program.
The ceremony marked a milestone with the enrollment of 373 students and enlistment of 263 caregivers, involving 15 schools—12 private and three public. These numbers underscore the tangible success the project has achieved in a short period.
Launched in August 2024, the initial 12-month pilot phase aimed to support 7,689 children and 1,920 caregivers. In just six months, 5,465 street-involved children were identified, documented, and successfully reunited with caregivers, thanks to the dedicated work of MGCSP and its partners.
During the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, 702 former street children were enrolled in 19 public schools, with support from Street Child of Liberia. An additional 682 were placed in 46 schools—17 public and 29 private—across four zones in Monrovia and its suburbs for the second semester. This effort is backed by a US$44,980 enrollment package, part of a US$300,000 government allotment through MGCSP.
“We are grateful for the level of progress that we have made,” Devine said. “This could not have been possible without the support of the Minister and her team, as well as our partners.”
Devine praised the social workers, describing them as the backbone of the initiative. “They are in the communities every day, identifying vulnerable children and ensuring they are brought into the fold,” he noted.
So far, 1,384 former street children are receiving formal education—an opportunity many never imagined.
Gender Minister Gbemie Horace-Kollie reaffirmed the government’s commitment to child protection. “It is our responsibility to ensure that every child is saved, protected, and supported,” she said. “President Boakai wants to see all of our children safe and in school.”
The Minister recalled that before the project’s launch, the government carried out extensive groundwork to assess the issue. “We now have a comprehensive document called the ‘Roadmap of Street Children,’ which provides critical data on the number of children living on the streets and the reasons behind it. This roadmap has informed our strategy and pinpointed key areas needing urgent attention,” she explained.
Parents are beginning to see hope for a better future for their children. “We are grateful to President Boakai for helping take our children off the streets,” said Ma Sarah Kollie at the ceremony. “Only God will reward him for what he and his people are doing for us.”
“If Boakai rescues nothing else, we will be okay as long as he rescues our children,” another parent declared. “Their future was being wasted in the streets. Now they are in school. We are forever grateful.”
The Street Children Project follows a three-pronged intervention strategy: academic enrollment – Transitioning children from the streets into classrooms; family strengthening and livelihood support – Equipping caregivers with essential resources and training and one-off businessgrants – Providing financial support to help caregivers sustain their households.
These components have already yielded significant results in improving the lives of children and the ability of caregivers to provide stable homes.
The success of the pilot phase is due in large part to collaboration between the government and partners such as UNICEF, Save the Children, the Chinese Embassy, GiveDirectly, Street Child of Liberia, SOS Children’s Villages Liberia, and direct government funding.
These combined efforts have set the stage for expansion. By 2026, the project aims to extend its reach to the three counties most affected after Montserrado—Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Bong.
The recent ceremony, held in Zone 4, Gardnerville along the Japanese Freeway, celebrated the project’s achievements to date. Highlights included the distribution of school kits provided by Save the Children and food packages—including rice, oil, and milk—courtesy of the Chinese Embassy.
The event also acknowledged the government’s commitment to covering second-semester enrollment costs, including school fees, uniforms, and shoes, as well as small business grants for caregivers.
As Liberia continues on the path of recovery and reform, the Boakai administration’s focus on rescuing the nation’s most vulnerable children is becoming one of the defining successes of its early days in office.