YOCEL LAUNCHES #BACKTOSCHOOL WEEK CAMPAIGN IN LIBERIA

YOCEL in partnership with Future First Global launched a #back to school week campaign in Liberia, calling on all alumni to go back and give back to their former schools.  This campaign was launched as a result of a nine country research piece with polling commissioned shown an incredible propensity amongst adults to ‘give back’ to their old schools as mentors, career role models, school board members, after school club coaches and more. It also showed a failure to turn the propensity into action – particularly in the public and private sector. ‘Back to School Week’ is a global campaign running from February 1st to 15th to galvanize people around the world to think about how they can support their former schools.

The campaign has seen a mass movement of people turning their social media profiles to their old school photos and posting their advice to their 16-year-old selves. It will also see mobilization of alumni to support current students in schools in Pakistan, Spain, the UK, Kenya, Sierra Leone, India, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Liberia and beyond.

And here in Liberia YOCEL, formally called the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia, a non- profit Liberian owned organization that promotes quality education and provides a supportive platform challenging the creativity of young people, is leading the Campaign with a local content aimed at inviting people from all around Liberia to think about what contribution they can make to their old school and young people as well.

According to Beyan Flomo Pewee, Founder/Executive Director, YOCEL, Volunteering in school is a very essential element to building a strong community and people that are best suited to take on that task are alumni, so they must be equally engaged and encouraged to give back.”

“From Grand Gedeh to Montserrado and other parts of the country, people wants to give back and there is no greater force for strengthening education systems than communities. Whether you are a journalist or plumber, a beautician or politician, you have something to give.

A research conducted by YOCEL in three counties shows that 99% of alumni in Liberia are willing to give back but have not been engaged.  

The Back to School Week campaign which started Feb 1, 2016, engaged personalities ranging from Minister, Politicians, Chief Executive Officers of various cooperates institution, students communities etc, to send out a Cleary message about the importance of giving back.

The campaign led Hon. Munah Pelham Youngblood, representative of District #9, Montserrado County to  her old School in New Georgia Estate, the St. Michael Catholic High School after 15years, where she committed herself to series of  renovation work at that institution ranging from rehabilitating the school’s library from the current state to that of a modern Library, rebuilding of the school fence, basketball court, reestablishing the after school club that will include the drama team at the school, the committed herself in strengthening the school sporting department in providing those basic needed services for players etc.

Whereas; the campaign visited prominent Liberians including the Senate Committee Chair on education Sen. Jewel Howard Taylor, Senior Senator of Bong County, Mr. Aagon F.Tingba Jr. , Deputy Minister of Administration, Ministry of Education, Mr. Mr Vafee Siryon Jr, CEO  S4 INFINITY, Mr. Mahmud Johnson, CEO,  J-Palm Liberia,  Mr Varney A. Jarsey, President, the Liberian National Students Union (LINSU), Ms. Satta Sheriff, Speaker Liberian Children’s representative Forum all signing up for the campaigns.  

The campaign is led in partnership with S4 INFINITY, COMAX ICT and LIGHT TV, and remember there is no better will to change Liberia than serving your community.

Mr Tetoe Ian Zogar, Program Manager, YOCEL quote” Remember your creator in the days of thy youth”,