Hamilton organization helps build library, learning centre in Liberia

A Hamilton organization raised over a million dollars to build a one-of-a-kind learning center and library in the war torn country of Liberia in West Africa.

But their work isn’t done yet as they still need more money to finish off the project that will give people in that country something they haven’t had, access to books.

The Liberia Learning Centre is a combination of a public library, a small business incubation centre, as well as a recreational facility, and a cultural archive, and will be the only one of its kind in the country.

Leo Nupolu Johnson, who founded Empowerment Squared in Hamilton, said it’s taken 15 years of work to make this dream a reality.

“In essence it’s taken an incredible amount of work first of all to convince people this was even possible,” Nupolu Johnson said.

“Donors were skeptical, even Liberians living in Liberia did not believe this was even possible to begin with because for a very long time this hasn’t been something that is in the realm of possibility in Liberia.”

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Nupolu Johnson said $1.2 million USD was raised locally to build the first phase of the Liberian Learning Centre in Paynesville, not far from Liberia’s capital of Monrovia.

“The work has been incredible on all sides, locally in Liberia, raising the funds to actually do it from people who have never been to Liberia in Canada, it’s incredible. Many people are still trying to believe that we are at this stage,” Nupolu Johnson said.

But the project isn’t done yet as the group still needs another $1.3 million to complete the learning centre.

“I wanted to do this because in a country like Liberia, if you are my age group, all you’ve ever known is the war and relief…there’s never been a time, an opportunity to aspire,” Nupolu Johnson said.

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“I’m excited about the building, I’m excited about the opportunities there, but I’m even more excited about the fact that a young Liberian can now aspire to aim for the best, and if you do what you have to do well, others are willing to join you in that endeavor.”

Nupolu Johnson – who fled the war torn country in 1998 – said there is only one textbook per 15 students in Liberia, and no public facility of this kind in the entire country.

“Our biggest concern is our ability to meet the demand for this facility,” Nupolu Johnson said.

The facility will be run by Empowerment Squared Liberia.