Residents of Yokopa and neighboring communities in Nimba County, Liberia, are welcoming the construction of a modern seven-classroom school building. The new facility, funded through ArcelorMittal Liberia's Social Development Fund, aims to improve access to education for children in the area. The community's existing wooden-plank structure, which accommodates 165 kindergarten and elementary pupils, has been plagued by overcrowding and a shortage of seating.
The new school, which began construction in July last year, is the first direct development project Yokopa has received through the Social Development Fund. Community Chairlady Betty Yoko expressed gratitude to ArcelorMittal Liberia for its contribution to social development, which made the new school building possible. She said the project would provide much-needed relief to families and create a better learning environment for children.
The completed facility is expected to include seven classrooms, administrative offices, a teachers' lounge, and modern restroom facilities. The project is financed through ArcelorMittal Liberia's annual US$1.5 million contribution to the Nimba County Social Development Fund. Under the fund's arrangement, 20 percent, or US$300,000, is allocated to the Community Development Fund for communities directly affected by the company's operations.
Schoolteacher Isaac Meneyengehn described the conditions at the existing facility as "deplorable and unbearable," saying pupils often return home covered in dust after sitting on the dirt floor during lessons. He said the new building would provide a more suitable environment for teaching and learning. Local resident E. Karwah Slaipeh commended the company's financial contributions to rural development but urged the Government of Liberia to assign qualified, government-supported teachers to the school when it is completed.
Melvin Divine Ziamo, ArcelorMittal Liberia's Community Relations Officer for the rail communities, said residents had played an active role in advancing the project. Community members have voluntarily provided locally available materials, helped fill the building's foundation and clear the construction site, and offered food and accommodation to workers without charging the contractors or project sponsors.
The project highlights the role of the Social Development Fund in supporting infrastructure in communities affected by mining and related operations. However, residents say the benefits of the new building will depend not only on its completion but also on the availability of qualified teachers and other resources needed to sustain quality education.
For Yokopa, the school represents an opportunity to move beyond years of overcrowded and inadequate learning conditions. Residents are now looking to the relevant stakeholders to complete the facility and ensure it becomes a fully functioning school for the community's children. The new school is expected to address the challenges facing children who need to attend higher primary grades, who currently have to walk to nearby Duo, exposing them to road safety risks.
Key points
- The new school was funded through ArcelorMittal Liberia's Social Development Fund, which contributes US$1.5 million annually to the Nimba County Social Development Fund.
- The project was made possible through the active involvement of community members, who provided locally available materials and support to the construction process.
- The completion of the school is expected to improve access to education for children in Yokopa and neighboring communities, but its success will depend on the availability of qualified teachers and other resources.
