WALTHAM, MA | November 30, 2012
Schools across Liberia are receiving nearly 20,000 new books and other materials thanks to a project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Advancing Youth Project, implemented by EDC, is distributing the books through a series of book fairs throughout the country.
Book fairs held last month in Kakata, Ganta, Totota, and Zorzor made it possible for facilitators to review and choose books and materials to be used in classes for out-of-school Liberian youth and young adults who have marginal to no literacy and numeracy skills.
“When young people have books and can carry them home, it motivates them to read and ask their teachers in class about what they don’t understand,” said Marcia C. Edwards of the Ministry of Education. “I am certain that these books will go a long way to motivating the students.”
The books available to the schools range from fiction to mathematics, life science to vocabulary building. Some of the books are written by internationally acclaimed authors, such as Eric Carle, Mem Fox, and Chris Van Allsburg. All of the books were donated by U.S. publishing companies through the Brothers’ Brother Foundation.
“We’re delighted to collaborate with our partners to deliver these books to Liberian schools,” said EDC Chief of Party Simon James. “It’s now up to the teachers to make sure that the books and materials are taken into the community to help our learners improve their reading and broaden their education.”
More than 7,000 Liberians aged 13–35 have taken part in classes through the Advancing Youth Project this year. The project provides access to quality alternative basic education services, social and leadership development, and livelihoods for out-of-school Liberian youth who have no or marginal literacy and numeracy skills. The project’s goal is to train more than 10,000 Liberians by 2016.
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), is a global nonprofit organization that addresses some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and international development. EDC manages more than 250 projects in 30 countries. Visit edc.org.
