A New Season of Learning: School Registration in Liberia
Updated: 6 days ago
Last week, we shared the hopes of three sponsored students. Today, we're taking you behind the scenes to look at what school registration in Liberia actually requires.
In Liberia, payment upfront is a reality of everyday life.
Need surgery? Families are required to purchase medications and supplies beforehand.
Renting a home? A landlord requires a year, or even two, of rent in advance.
Education is no different.
Most schools require 75–90% of annual school fees before a student can even be registered.
Keyara’s Gift students are funded entirely through annual sponsorship. When those funds aren’t yet available, our caseworkers rely on relationships with school administrators to negotiate payment plans and help keep students from missing the start of school.
Registration is underway now. Will you help? We have a $40,000 matching grant to double whatever you give!
More Than Paying School Fees
Our relationships with schools go far beyond finances.
Keyara’s Gift caseworkers and school administrators sign formal contracts outlining their shared responsibilities for each sponsored student. We pay school fees directly to the schools, and our caseworkers are welcomed onto campuses to monitor progress, address challenges, and advocate for our students.
The contracts also ensure that funds paid for a student remain designated for that student’s education for the academic year.
This year, 109 students will be attending over 50 different schools, primarily in a three hour radius of Monrovia. Additionally, “up country” schools offer a handful of students education in more rural areas, several hours outside of Monrovia.
Here are three of the schools we’re partnering with this year:
Shepherd International School | Reservoir Community, Monrovia
Founded with the goal of serving the underserved, Shepherd International School prioritizes affordable education for students from pre-grade through senior high school. Cynthia, age 13, is a Keyara’s Gift sponsored 4th grader at Shepherd.
ELWA Academy | RIA Highway, Monrovia
Originally founded for the children of missionaries and doctors serving at ELWA Hospital, ELWA Academy today serves nearly 1,000 local students from preschool through secondary school. Keyara’s Gift sponsors Benjamin, age 10 (4th grade), Alvin, age 17 (11th grade), and Francis, age 11 (6th grade).
Morning Star Academy | ELBC Community, Paynesville
In addition to its K–12 curriculum, Morning Star integrates moral development, technical and vocational education, sports, and competitive academic “quizzing” — Liberia’s version of academic quiz-bowl tournaments. Praise, age 14, is a Keyara’s Gift sponsored 8th grader.
It takes a partnership between sponsors, caseworkers, schools, families, and students to make all of this possible.
Will you partner with us to help 109 students begin a new season of learning?
$750 per student covers school fees, uniforms, and school supplies but every gift, no matter the size, helps!
With our $40,000 matching grant, your donation goes twice as far.
Warmly,
The Keyara's Gift Team
For Other ways to donate, visit: www.keyarasgift.org/donate
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