In the Seehole community in Liberia’s Lower Margibi County, schoolchildren sat on logs, broken chairs and the floor. Toilet facilities were unsanitary, doors and windows were broken, and ceilings and roofs were collapsed. The facility began as an adobe structure, but fell into disrepair over time.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped install new classrooms, kitchens, washroom facilities, water towers, chairs, desks, tables, and blackboards.
Elder Alfred Kung, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Africa West Area, formally handed over the school to government and area leaders on February 21, the Church’s Africa Newsroom reported.
He explained that the Church’s humanitarian efforts are motivated by the Savior’s commandment to love one another, and that education, which helps young people build self-reliance, is an important part of these efforts.
“Today is truly a day of gratitude and hope,” Elder Kyung said. “What we are dedicating today is much more than a brick-and-mortar store. It is an investment in children, families, and the future of this community and this country.”
This project is one of many initiatives across Africa to improve access to education.
ghana
Before receiving church support, hundreds of students at Saasabi KKMA Basic School in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana suffered from leaking roofs, crumbling walls, inadequate facilities and overcrowding. In some cases, 95 to 100 students were together in one classroom.
There were also no toilets in the schoolyard. Students used bushes and grassy areas around the school, and rain washed waste into the playground, causing illness and disease.
The church provided new classrooms, offices, laboratories, computers, washrooms and a cafeteria, and repaired floors, roofs, windows and doors, Africa Newsroom reported.
President Isaac Darko-Mensah, First Counselor in the Accra Ghana Adenta Stake Presidency, told those gathered on February 26 that the Church believes deeply in education.
“Our beliefs stem from a simple truth: Learning changes lives. A child who can read gains a voice. A child who can reason gains a choice. A child who gains knowledge gains dignity,” he said. “Years ago, a church leader taught that the glory of God is intellect. In other words, learning is sacred.”
Nigeria
In Nigeria, the church worked with COAFRICA and the African School Building Initiative to support government technical colleges.
At a handover ceremony held on February 4, church representatives presented the school with six newly constructed classrooms, 120 desks and chairs for students, and additional educational materials.
Elder Victor O. Bassey, Area Seventy for the Africa West Area, expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the Church, government leaders, and community partners, Africa Newsroom reported. He encouraged students to value their education and use the new facilities responsibly.
“Receiving wealth is one thing, but putting it to good use is another,” Elder Bassey said. “Education changes the way we think, work and ultimately contribute to society.”
kenya
Hundreds of students gathered outside under a tree at Kanamkemer Primary School, located in the northwestern desert of Kenya. Many of the students staying in boarding houses also had to do so, and there were problems with water and sanitation.
The church, in collaboration with the International Council of Religions of Kenya and UNICEF, provided Kanamkemer School with new classrooms and desks, a water tower and pump, a water station, new washrooms and offices, Africa Newsroom reported.
At the handover ceremony, Joshua Muchiri Njoroge, head of the Church’s Central Africa region, said: “We are not only handing over a building or a physical structure, but also a space of hope, a sanctuary of learning, and a foundation for future generations.”
The next day, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new building at Canaan Elementary School. Dennis Mukasa, Regional Humanitarian Services Manager for Africa, said: “We do this work regardless of religion, race, color, creed or any other distinction. We do this work without expecting anything in return. We do this for the benefit of our communities.”
Democratic Republic of the Congo
On February 6, the church donated benches, chairs, tables, wells, and toilets to Tango Hapo Elementary School 1 and 2 in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Elder Ndaramba Ilunga of the Africa Central Area Seventy expressed his gratitude to local authorities and donors for their cooperation and assistance. He also shared his joy and gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, saying that Jesus Christ is the source of inspiration for this humanitarian effort.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the church is focusing on improving access to drinking water, repairing sanitation infrastructure, and providing medical and educational facilities, the church’s Africa Newsroom reported.
To continue this work, further initiatives are planned at elementary schools.
