PHOTO: Some of the beneficiaries
A local nonprofit, nongovernmental and charity organization, Rescue Youth International has for the first time launched its scholarship program, with two beneficiaries from two separate schools in Paynesville City outside Monrovia.
Rescue Youth International (RYI) is a registered not for nonprofit, nongovernmental and a charity Organization founded on September 5, 2019 by a young Liberian Journalist, Alfred Kollie. The aim is giving back to society, especially underprivileged in Liberia and the world at large.
The organization is in to Charity, Education Youth empowerment, mental health education/awareness, Period poverty, Community base Developmental initiatives (sanitation), and Advocacy.
At the launch in Paynesville recently, there was distribution of educational materials to vulnerable students.
The Organization’s Founder and Executive Director Alfred Kollie said the scholarship is his organization’s way of identifying disadvantaged kids, who have either lost either both parents or one and has no other support.
‘’This scholarship program which is the first and the beginning is an annual program that will be part of the organization initiative. The first scholarship program will cover registration and tuition fees only for the 2021/2022 academic year while other items or educational materials will be decided in the future when necessary,” he said.
‘’We are pleased to officially launch and announce after going through a rigorous application process followed by an intensive interview and vetting process, Joseph Paye, age 17 of the J. Chancey Goodridge, Jr. Memorial School of the 8th grade class; and Biblelyn D. Wolo, age 5 of Hope China International Academy of the K-1 class in Paynesville City, as our two beneficiaries for academic 2021/ 2022.”
According to Mr. Kollie, both scholarships valued over forty thousand Liberians dollars but urged others to see the need and support vulnerable kids in order to achieve their educational dreams.
Meanwhile, the organization has also presented several school materials to underprivileged school going kids in observance of World Children’s day in the GSA road Community of Paynesville city.
The organization donated several copybooks, pencils, pens, coloring and other educational materials to children between the ages 4-15, respectively as part of the institution’s mission in giving back to society.
Speaking during the donation, the Organization Board Chair Mr. Daniel O. Dahn said the initiative is the organization’s own way of identifying with kids in the community whose parents cannot afford to provide all the necessary educational materials to support their children’s studies.
“We have observed that since schools reopened, many school going kids do not have access to basic educational materials like school bags, copybook, shoes, pencil and pens and others due to the inability of their parents to provide as a result of the current hardship facing the country,’’ Mr. Dahn explained.
According to him, it is against this backdrop that the organization thought to intervene by providing the educational items to vulnerable students to help keep up their studies.
Speaking in observance of International Children’s Day, Mr. Dahn urged parents and society including the government to promote a feeling of togetherness among children and to create awareness around children’s welfare in all sectors.
He also called on parents, guidance and government to lay emphasis on the importance of child rights and building a better future for them as they are considered future leaders.
In remarks, GSA Road Bloc G-2 Community Chairman, John Jacobs thanked the organization for helping parents in such a difficult economy in the Country.
‘’Organization since its establishment continues to identify with the community and its people evidence of the COVID-19 awareness, the donation of anti COVID -19 materials, training of community kids and the clean-up exercise it regularly carries out in the Community,’’ Mr. Jacob said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries’ parents, Madam Ruth Eddie lauded the group for the gesture noting that it came as a surprise to many parents thus describing it as timely.
‘’We want to take this time on behalf of the parents to say a big thank you to Alfred Kollie who along with his group always working in the community for our children to come out good and become somebody tomorrow,’’ she said.