Monrovia, Liberia, 21 February 2025 – Six-year-old Linda from Paynesville wakes up each morning excited to put on her uniform and head to school. “I love learning new things every day,” she says with a big smile. But just a few months ago, going to school seemed impossible. Her mother, struggling to support her and her three siblings, couldn’t afford the basics — tuition, books, or even a pencil.
“I used to watch other children go to school while I stayed home,” Linda recalls. “It made me sad, because I want to be a police officer when I grow up.”
Linda’s story is too common. Across Liberia, thousands of children are forced out of school due to poverty and the lack of basic learning materials. Without books, pencils, or uniforms, their education comes to a halt before it even begins.
To help children like Linda, SOS Children’s Villages in Liberia is supporting the government-led “Back to My Classroom” campaign, providing much-needed school materials to students at risk of dropping out. Through this initiative, Linda and 118 other children across 24 schools in Monrovia received essential supplies to continue their education.
“These school materials are enough to end the school year,” Linda says with a cheerful smile. “Now, I can focus on learning instead of worrying.”
Marcus Krangar, Local FSP Coordinator at SOS Children’s Villages in Liberia, highlights the importance of this support. “Education is more than just attending school — it’s about having the tools to succeed. Without learning materials and a safe environment, children are more likely to drop out,” he explains.
For Linda, having a notebook and a pencil means more than just writing letters and numbers. It means holding on to her dream. “I know I can become a police officer because I have the support and what I need to continue my studies,” she says with confidence.
But for many children in Liberia, the challenge is far from over. No child should have to choose between their dreams and survival. You can be part of the solution. Supporting a child will help ensure that every child, like Linda, has the chance to learn, grow, and build a better future.
Together, we can keep hope alive — one child at a time.
Written by Joseph Joboe, SOS Children’s Villages in Liberia Communications Brand & Advocacy Coordinator