PHOTO: A view of the computer lab at KESOITP
Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Emary Amos Jessie is a 2016 graduate from Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.
Emary, Chief Executive Officer of Kwageh Enterprise School of Information Technology and Printing Press, says despite his condition, he is prepared to impact the lives of his fellow Liberians. Located in the Sinyea Community in Suakoko Disrict, Bong County, Kwageh Enterprise School of Information Technology and Printing Press (KESOITP) was established in 2018 to help impart computer knowledge to people residing in that central Liberian county.
Mr. Jessie who is the founder and CEO of the enterprise is a visually impaired. According to him, he lost his sight when he was in the 7th grade class in 2007, in Margibi County. When the unfortunate incident occurred, Emary became devastated and thought all hope was lost. But he later gained courage and embarked on an educational journey that became for him a remedial move for facing an uncertain future.
Subsequently, Emary was enrolled into the School of the Blind, and later graduated at the top of his class; he became the valedictorian of the graduating class that year. His excellent performance earned him financial aid opportunities at Cuttington University and provided him the opportunity to acquire his undergraduate degree in Sociology.
Emary has developed a deep passion for teaching as a way of being meaningful and giving back to his society and the country at large. According to him he has not allowed his physical condition to deter his contribution to the society. He said setting up his institution was met with huge challenges from the onset.
It was difficult for people to accept his institution in the area, he explained, underscoring his disability. But over the years, and as a result of his hard work and resilience against societal discrimination, the narrative has changed and people are doing business with him freely and continuously.
The Kwageh Enterprise School of information technology and printing press offers a wide range of services including basic computer science training, internet explorer, desktop publishing, typing and printing of documents. It also does photo designs, printing of IEC materials including T-shirts, caps, banners, and computerized identification cards, among several other things.
According to the KESOITP CEO he initially started his computer training program with 25 students within the Sinyea community and other nearby areas, and only charged a little fee that was primarily used to maintain the institution. He said unfortunately only half of that number went through the full eight-month intensive training circle mostly due to financial issues facing the students at the time. His institution, according collects a little fee of five thousand $5,000.00) Liberian Dollars or $29 United States Dollars as maintenance fees per student for the time being.
Emary told this Reporter that he has five persons within his employ and pays them fairly at the end of each month. He said while he and another employee are teaching the pupils, the other four are helping with the other aspects of the business.
This visually impaired Cuttington University graduate believes that his technological knowledge is impacting hundreds of inhabitants of Suakoko District and beyond, adding that the fees paid are little, thus folks of the district are making use of the institution.
Eradicating the stereotype against people living with disabilities in Liberia is one of his greatest aspirations. He believes strongly that if people living disabilities are provided with employment opportunities, they can have a wonderful contribution in the society.
“Let me tell you clearly that my people are coming daily to transact with my institution. This place is also helping to ease transportation burden just to print or photo copy. People are not really travelling as far as Gbarnga or Phebe anymore just to do phot-copy or desktop publishing works. I appreciate their contributions as well,” Emary Amos Jessie asserted.
Meanwhile, the young Liberian computer mentor has announced the opening of additional two branches of his institution within the Phebe Community and Gbarnga, the capital City of Bong County later this year. According to him, the move is intended to further impact others to prepare them for today’s digital world, adding that he is currently in search of the place (shops or stores) to open the additional branches. “As soon as I get the two places, I will open them simultaneously. I don’t have money but passion is driving through to invest,” Emary has announced.
He added: “One way I have motivated myself is that, I don’t allow my condition to strangulate me. I have always been eager to making a difference in society. I don’t care about my condition, as long as God is providing for my family, I will also invest in my people.”
Emary also serves as Bong County Coordinator for Association Friends of Raoul Follereau (AIFO) Liberia, and has benefited from several trainings on Persons Living with Disabilities (PwD) with certificates, which according to him has given him the urge to muster the courage to train others.
He is indeed multi-talented, with one of his gifts being music. Emary has obtained a certificate from the Marion Casselle Institute in voice training. It can be recalled that at the height of the first Coronavirus wave in Liberia, he produced a six-minute musical video documentary on the mode of transmission and the necessary tips to avoid the virus. This video documentary trended on several social media platforms, with many lauding him for the free and impactful documentary.
A major challenge alluded to by Emary in the running of his computer literacy institution is the issue of irregular electricity supply. He is managing with a mini generator that is “on and off”, he said.
Asked how he feels about his contribution to the community, this young talented visually impaired role model replied: “God is giving me the knowledge to keep helping my people despite my condition. Every time I go to bed, I will always dream of innovative ways to share messages with people because life is about history and legacy.”
According to UN statistics, there are currently over 600 million persons with disabilities throughout the world of whom 400 million live in developing countries and 80 million in Africa. A World Health Organization source maintains that about forty percent of Africa’s population consists of people with disabilities, including 10-15 percent of school-age children. This percentage would translate into about 300 million people with disabilities in Africa.
Disability is caused by many factors, including malnutrition and disease, environmental hazards, traffic and industrial accidents, and civil conflict and war, and the number of people with disabilities continues to increase.
A vast majority of Africans with disabilities are usually excluded from schools and opportunities for work, virtually guaranteeing that they live as the poorest of the poor. School enrollment for the disabled is estimated at no more than 5-10 percent and as many as 70-80 percent of working age people with disabilities are unemployed. The social stigma associated with disability results in marginalization and isolation, often leading to begging as the sole means of survival. This Report was made possible with support from Internews Liberia Inclusive Media Project.