By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Alfalit International Liberia and L-GM has officially dedicated and turned over its first rural computer lab project in Liberia.
The computer lab was handed over to the Tailor Ta United Methodist School and the General Education Department of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Liberia.
With the opening of this facility, students of that rural school now have access to learning computer; which now puts them on par with students in the urban areas giving them exposure to the emerging world of technology.
The construction, setting up and tuning over of the lab is in fulfillment of commitment made by Alfalit International’s President, Dr. Joseph Milton when he visited the school in 2016.
His visit was to assess the impact of Alfalit educational assistance to 81 supported students at the school at the time.
During his visit, the students of the school made a passionate please to Dr. Milton and the CEO of L-GM Rev. Emmanuel J. Giddings to provide them a computer lab in order to gain computer skills and enhance their learning, despite finding themselves in a rural community where they lack other basic educational opportunities.
The project is part of Alfalit L-GM’s mission of increasing Liberian students’ access to quality education under its scholarship and educational assistance program.
This program supports 45 schools that are considered as adopted schools and supports students in regular grade schools. Some 7,300 sponsored students in about 500 grade schools and nearly every university, technical and vocation institution in 7 of Liberia’s 15 counties being supported this year 2018/2019.
The structure hosting the computer lab was also built by Alfalit and it has 20 new desktop computers and accessories.
As a computer literacy program, Rev. Giddings informed the gathering that the computer literacy program will benefit residents from nearby towns and villages, especially school going youths to obtain skills in computer without necessarily relocating to the city. They feel strongly that Monrovia is not Liberia as students in the rural community must equally have access to learning opportunities.
According to the Director of Alfalit L-GM Rev. Emmanuel J. Giddings, the management, operation and supervision of the computer literacy program will be done by the School’s administration and the General Education Department of the United Methodist Church.
Speaking at the turning over ceremony, Rev. Giddings encouraged the students to make adequate use of the opportunity now put to their disposal to become computer literate.
He said the Alfalit L-GM’s role was to provide them what they had requested for 2 years by providing the structure, the computers and all the accessories needed to making learning easy and possible.
The school and the students have the responsibility to ensure the goals and objectives of the program are achieved, Rev. Giddings sai.
“When Dr. Joseph Milton and I came here 2016, you said you wanted computer lab, and today you now have it turned over to you, you also have a responsibility to take your learning seriously and make sure you don’t damage what we have given you.
“When we come back here after a period of time, we want to come and see all the computers and the program working and not shutdown.”
The Alfalit L-GM’s Director also turned over a 5.5 kva generated which will be used for the supply of electricity to computer lab for its smooth running.
He called on the General Education Department of the United Methodist Church of Liberia’s Associate Director Madam Helen Roberts Evens and her team to closely work with the school in getting computer teacher and manage the day-to-day operation of the access now being provided the school.
In remarks, Madam Helen Evens, the Associate Director of General Education Department of the United Methodist Church Liberia thanked Alfalit L-GM for the computer lab project and renovation of the school building, describing the organization’s initiatives as a great help to her department .
“When I last came here(Tailor Ta), there were no doors, no ceiling, there were mats dividing the classes and the school building was not painted, but today I see all these have changed and now have the computer lab, I want to acknowledge what Alfalit L-GM has done by saying thank you,” The UMC’s Education Associate Director said.
Teachers and the students were urged to be good stewards by taking good care of everything Alfalit L-GM has provided them.