The United States Government (USG) in collaboration with Save the Children launched the second phase of the Liberia Empowerment through Attendance, Reading, and Nutrition (LEARN) project.
This project was made possible by a $25 million donation from the United States Department of Agriculture via the McGovern-Dole Food For Education and Child Nutrition Program.
LEARN II focuses on improving the literacy of school-age children, increasing the use of good health and dietary practices, and improving the effectiveness of food assistance through purchasing locally and regionally.
The June 2, launch follows the first phase of the LEARN project launched nearly four years ago. In August 2018, the Government of Liberia, USDA, and Save the Children officially launched the LEARN project.
Since that date, the LEARN project has provided over 10 million nutritious school meals to over 45,000 schoolchildren.
For LEARN II, a consortium led by Save the Children with Mercy Corps and Kawadah Farms will again join efforts with the Government of Liberia working in 234 schools in Grand Bassa, River Cess, Grand Gedeh, and River Gee counties.
In 2021, the LEARN project collaborated with other USG funded initiatives including USAID’s Read Liberia literacy project to help build capacity at the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Through this collaboration, LEARN promoted improved teaching approaches by training 164 teachers, principals, and regional MOE staff, and provided early grade reading materials to 59 schools.
With schools closed due to COVID-19, the LEARN team worked closely with the MOE to support their Education in Emergency (EIE) strategy.
The project also worked with community radio stations to promote literacy and language development and with mobile phone networks to send SMS messages on positive discipline techniques, promoting a safe and positive learning environment, and on COVID-19 prevention awareness.
The project distributed 1,500 Home Learning Packets, including home learning tips, short stories, and worksheets as part of ways of reaching children who could not attend reading clubs during school closures.
As schools began reopening from January 2021, the LEARN team continued its joint work with the MOE on Early Grade Reading working with regional MOE staff to teach and supervise teachers.
As part of the COVID-19 mitigation measures, approximately 350.23 metric tons of food was distributed as take-home rations to 47,620 households whose children are attending primary schools served by the LEARN project.
The launch of LEARN II not only celebrates the previous project’s many achievements but increase the program’s benefit by reaching 85,129 pre-primary and primary children, 176,958 direct beneficiaries, and 361,402 indirect beneficiaries over the next five years.
