According to a dispatch from New York, the United States quoting I-Help Liberia USA Board, this year, Hunter College High School has reached out and partnered with other high schools in New York City to raise funds for the advancement of STEM education in Liberia. Despite the school year being cut short due to COVID-19, a donation drive was successfully held at Hunter as well as the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
Students from both schools donated clothes, books, and school supplies for Liberian schools. These materials were logged and totaled at around $5,950. The I-HELP Liberia Project aims to ship them later this year along with the supplies donated last year, which had a total value of $10,975.
The annual I-HELP Liberia Concert was also held at Hunter College High School earlier this year and it brought together high school performers from all over New York City to raise money and awareness.
Although this year’s annual summer trip has been canceled because of the coronavirus, Hunter students have continued to support education in Liberia from home. After coordinating with the Liberian Ministry of Education, students Helen L., Victoria L., Aruna D., Sophia Li., and Clytie Q. have spearheaded an initiative to teach a group of Liberian teachers’ ways to supplement the 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade science curriculum.
The I-HELP Liberia Project is reimbursing the cost of data plans for these teachers so that they can participate. Meetings are currently held three times a week over Zoom, a video conferencing platform, to explore creative ways that teachers can connect their knowledge with real-world applications so students gain a deeper understanding of the material.
These workshops consist of quick, easy, and fun demonstrations that relate to what is being taught in the classroom. Hunter students aim to continue supporting Liberian education even from across the world.
(Source: GNN Liberia)
