Access to Education

In rural Liberia, the journey to an education often hits a dead end after primary school. With few secondary schools nearby, students are forced to migrate to urban centers. Without a safe place to stay, many are forced to drop out and return to a cycle of poverty. The statistics are stark: according to the Liberian Demographic Health Survey (2020), Urban Liberians are more likely than their rural counterparts to be literate. Sixty-three percent of urban women and 84% of urban men are literate, as compared with 34% of rural women and 61% of rural men. Interestingly, only 12.8% of males and 8.9% of females in rural areas reach senior high school. To change this narrative, we are launching Cheerful Housing. This supportive student housing program provides a "home away from home" for rural students pursuing their secondary education in the city. Beyond a safe bed, we empower our residents with digital skills and financial literacy, scholarship opportunities, and part-time job placement to ensure their social integration and long-term career success.