Liberia continues to rebuild following the destructive civil wars that lasted from 1989 to 2003. While the war had a devasting effect on the entire country, the educational system in rural communities like Teahplay continue to struggle to achieve scholastic standards. The challenges range from:

• inadequate facilities,
• poor human resources, such as qualified teachers,
• family factors where parents face extended unemployment,
• lack of support by National Government.

Teahplay is part of Ninkewah Chiefdom. It has one elementary school, owned and operated/supported by the Government of Liberia. There are no junior or senior high schools in the entire chiefdom. It is estimated that Teahplay has the population of 2500 people. While there are more than 1,500 school age children, as of January 2021 the school’s total enrollment is only 132 boys and 93 girls. In addition to the substandard conditions, many children go to other towns to continue a higher level of education. 

The Teahplay school program is limited to pre-primary through 6th grade. It has five classrooms, but no office space. The school is administered by a principal, vice principal and seven teachers, including several volunteers.  

The Ministry of Education prescribes English as the language taught in all schools across Liberia. In addition to English, both Geo or Dan, the language spoken by local citizens, are used in the Teahplay school. 

Information obtained from school administration, students and community members, including Parent/Teachers Association (PTA) recognize the challenges to improve education in Teahplay.

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Until our next visit…. stay healthy, be happy and share your love.
Sincerely,
Carol and Sammy Kamara

Is it possible to fall in love and not know it? I think so. Because that is what happened to me. My name is Carol Mills Kamara and I still feel surprised when I realize the magical power of love. It is what Blaise Pascal said: “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of… We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.” Sometimes our hearts and emotions lead the way, and the brain follows.

As a result of all these emotional experiences, we have been called to serve. I am genuinely happy to be called to love and serve alongside Sammy, a man who embraces the same love for God that I possess. A man who has been knocked down by life so many times, yet he keeps getting up. He is very loving, passionate, hardworking, forgiving, kind and faithful. He makes me feel deeply loved, protected, and cherished.

It’s no surprise that Sammy also loves the humble village of his birth, Teahplay in Liberia. Although he has been separated from his native land for forty years, he has never forgotten it. When we fell in love, I immediately knew that accompanying him back to Teahplay would become an unavoidable – and welcomed – assignment for me.

Sammy knows the conditions of poverty and lack of education that he experienced as a child, continue to this day. It became his ambitious dream to build a modern Learning Center and dormitory in Teahplay. This has become my vision too. When we created R.O.C.K. – Reaching Out to Children with Kindness in 2010, we envisioned bringing education, emotional and spiritual support to children and teens in Jamaica – where I was born – Liberia and the United States.

The Learning Center in Teahplay is a natural extension of our vision. It will include a 2-story building with 24 classrooms, a library, offices and outdoor stage. Also, on the campus will be a 2-story, 20 room dormitory, rest room facilities and a water tower.

Estimated cost of the Learning Center will be $300,000 to be raised by December 31, 2021.

I hope you will visit our DONATE PAGE you’ll learn more about our mission, our accomplishments and our dream for building the Learning Center – plus how you can share in the excitement by your tax-deductible contribution, as well as other ways you can become involved.

Imagine for a moment that you could not read this sentence.

Or add 2 + 2.

Or write your name.

I do not have to imagine such a tragic existence. As a youngster I lived it.

It will include a 2-story building with 24 classrooms, a library, auditorium, offices, and outdoor stage. It will also include a 2-story, 20-room dormitory, along with rest room facilities and a large water tower.

Estimated cost for the Learning Center is $300,000. Our goal is to raise the amount by December 31, 2021.

We encourage you to browse our website:  You’ll see an artist’s rendering of the future Learning Center, along with more details about R.O.C.K.’s mission and accomplishments.

You will also see ways you can become a part of this important project with your tax-deductible contribution, plus other ways you can become involved.