Sinoe County – Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (‘GVL’) has dedicated one newly constructed public school in Tarjouwon District and rehabilitated one school in Kpanyan Statutory District, Sinoe County as part of its ongoing eff orts to support the development of local communities.

The construction of the Shaw David Community School and the refurbishment of the Quiah Town public form part of GVL Educational Support (GES) program which supports the educational needs for both GVL employees’ dependents and pupils from the surrounding communities.

GVL Vice President for Strategy and Stakeholders (VPSS), Mr. Elvis G. Morris, said these projects demonstrate GVL’s efforts in supporting education with its partner communities and fulfilled key commitments set out in the Memorandum of Understanding Incorporating Social Agreement between the communities and GVL. These MOUs provide that GVL may develop community land for oil palm, and in return, GVL will provide employment opportunities, benefits and deliver various community support projects, such as school rehabilitation projects.  “These projects are part of our social commitments to communities under these MOUs. We see communities are our partners and will continue to work with them to improve social and economic opportunities,” VPSS Morris said.

Presenting the keys to the school to the communities at the Shaw David School dedication ceremony, GVL Senior Manager for Sustainability, Abu S. Kamara, urged the school’s administration and the communities to take proper care of the schools. He said that GVL could play its part by building and rehabilitating the schools, but it was up to the community to encourage their children to attend and look after the school so as to maximize the value it could give to educating future generations.  “We are partners in giving your children this valuable opportunity. We urge you to ensure your children make use of the opportunities we are providing. Without education, the children cannot be future leaders. He added that despite many challenges GVL is faced with due to the COVID 19 pandemic and poor infrastructures in the southeast, it remains committed to delivering the promises made to the host communities.”

In separate remarks, Tarjouwon District Education Officer, Mr. Charles Manson, Paramount Chief Jacob Gbayee and District Commissioner Philip Pantoe lauded GVL for the project being delivered, acknowledging that the schools brought new hope for the communities’ children and youth.  “We are delighted to have these facilities in our communities. GVL is a true development partner and the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting improvements in our communities. We could not have taken on these projects easily ourselves. Now our children will have a good place to learn,” they proudly said.

In addition to the two dedicated schools, GVL has contributed and provided school materials such as school desks, teaching and learning materials to the sixteen schools in Sinoe County and also provided stipends for teachers valued around US$280,000 under its GVL Education Support (GES) program.