Appeals For Help To Cover Cost
PHOTO: LICOSESS prospective graduate, James Kaiawu, visually impaired, making an SOS call
“I’ve always dreamed of this moment, It’s my prayer to see myself succeed and grow with my colleagues, and this graduation is a dream come true. However, I cannot afford the fee on my own.”
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Monrovia – James Abraham Kaiawu, a visually impaired student from the Liberia Cooperative Standard Education School System (LICOSESS), is urgently seeking financial assistance to cover his graduation fees, after successfully completing studies at this institution of higher learning.
Mr. Kaiawu, who is set to graduate on February 20, 2025, with a Bachelor’s degree in English, faces a fee of US $340, which he says is beyond his means.
Some social works experts have called the education crisis for Liberia’s visually impaired a national emergency, warning that without significant reforms and increased funding, the prospects for this vulnerable population will remain bleak, perpetuating cycles of poverty and exclusion.
Despite his struggles, Kaiawu remains determined to graduate and fulfill his dreams of walking shoulder-to-shoulder across the stage with his peers.
He is calling on Liberians both at home and abroad, as well as humanitarian organizations, to help cover the cost.
“I’ve always dreamed of this moment, It’s my prayer to see myself succeed and grow with my colleagues, and this graduation is a dream come true. However, I cannot afford the fee on my own,” this young, smart and determined visually impaired intellectual said.
Mr. Kaiawu has been working hard to support himself, running a small business selling coal water and dry goods to cover his school fees, transportation, and daily needs.
He emphasized that his goal is to add value to himself through hard work, not to beg for help in the streets.
His aspirations extend beyond his bachelor’s degree. “I plan to pursue two master’s degrees—one in law and the other in education,” Kaiawu shared.
“It’s my goal to improve myself and contribute to society.”
In Monday January 2025 interview with News Public Trust, Kaiawu appealed to philanthropists and organizations to assist him in paying his graduation fees.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Liberia, many of whom are marginalized and face societal discrimination.
“Persons with disabilities often face rejection, abandonment, and discrimination,” Kaiawu said. “Most end up begging on the streets for survival, and this has become a way of life for many.”
Mr. Kaiawu’s plea highlights the urgent need for societal and institutional support for people with disabilities in Liberia, particularly in education.