Provide a quality education for girls in Liberia

Germinating Every Mind-Liberia (GEM-Liberia) and the Jennifer Albee Enrichment School (JAES) extend their profound gratitude to GlobalGiving and all our generous donors for their continuous support to the girls of Liberia.

GEM- Liberia is pleased to present its quarterly report. The periodic report is part of our commitment to GlobalGiving and donors. This period's report covers from May 22-Sept. 14, 2025.

Huge Milestones
Since May we completed a successful academic year and graduated our first batch of students to the senior high division. Those seven (7) excellent students have been enrolled into five (5) notable institutions. Two of the girls have taken class presidents positions in their new schools based on their academic performances during the first two weeks of schools commencement.

The school also graduated six (6) six graders and four (4) nursery division students.

Academic Excellence

How a child succeeds in their education ahead is built on the foundation they acquire during their Early Childhood Education. Therefore, we continue to prioritize our learners including those at the beginner level. There is evidence that our beginners can independently identify letters and use their motor skills.

Participation in a Regional Education Training

JAES was recognized by Edify, a non-governmental organization to participate in a one-day seminar on the importance of strengthening Liberia’s Educational System. The training was meant to build partnership with schools that are promoting the rights of learners in an innovative way, rather than using antiquated systems.

Commencement of the New Academic Year 2025/ 2026

JAES has commenced preparation for 2025/2026 academic year. We have erected a new signpost, painted, and renovated the school facility. Registration is ongoing. Classes official commence by September 22, 2025.

Maintaining Our Vision

While girls’ education is our key focus, for a variety of reasons, the school has decided to incorporate boys in the school at the beginner level. Our families value the quality education their girls are receiving at JAES and want the same for their sons. While they may have access to other schools, most don’t offer vocational and skills training along with the academic program that JAES has. As those boys leave secondary schools, they become an added economic burden to their parents and society until they achieve a full college education and can find a job. If this problem is not given attention now, our girls will tomorrow have a society where the girls will be overburdened by family financial issues.

To provide a solution, we will gradually enroll boys into the junior high level after they have gone through our elementary division where they will be taught about how to uphold and respect the rights of girls as developmental partners. That means that the junior high level will maintain an all-girls enrollment this academic year. However, in the next school year, the school will enroll only boys who graduate from the Grade-6 class of the Jennifer Albee Enrichment School during this school year. Eighth and 9^th grade classes will remain all-girls, not accepting boys from other schools. The goal is to have boys who will be fashioned in a model of promoting and respecting girls’ rights.

Girls will continue to be given priority in our scholarship programs to be sure they maintain access to education. The safety of all our students is always top of mind. Safe spaces will be secured at the school including a special bathroom only for girls and separate hygiene sessions for the boys and girls.

Our goal has always been to improve education opportunities for the children of Liberia and create a society that values and encourages our girls to live to their full potential. By integrating boys into the school, we aim to raise men and support families who share this vision for generations to come.

Conclusion
We are gratitude to everyone who has placed in their resources to reach our project to the level we are at. Thanks to GlobalGiving for affording us the space for such wonderful fundraising opportunity.

With gratitude,

Davidetta Togba Cassell

Executive Director & Project Lead

Germinating Every Mind-Liberia (GEM-Liberia) and the Jennifer Albee Enrichment School (JAES) extend their profound gratitude to GlobalGiving and all our generous donors for their continuous support to the girls of Liberia. GEM- Liberia is pleased to present its quarterly report as part of our commitment to GlobalGiving and donors. This period's report covers from January 23, 2025 to May 21, 2025.

The school has operated for the last three academic years and is about to conclude its fourth year. More than 100 girls have gained increase literacy skills, while about 100 girls who have attended the school have acquired at least one vocational skill.

Huge Milestones
Participation of District Spelling Bee & Debate Competition

JAES participated in the District Spelling Bee and Debate Competition. The school made great memories and made it to the semi-finals in both sections.

Academic excellence

During the period under review, the school operated two periods. During those two periods, the first semester came to a close with 72% of the 60 students improving academically and showing strong literacy skills. While literacy remains a big challenge for Liberian students, girls at the Jennifer Albee Enrichment School are making strides in spoken and written English, As a major achievement, girls in the Grade-6 can independently write a business letter, a biography, and autobiography. Girls in the Grades 7-9 can effectively write the four kinds of paragraphs in addition to writing an effective business letter. Students in the lower elementary division are capable of writing short sentences and writing sentences to describe images. Eleven students received promotions during the first semester for maintaining 95% and above averages, while 20 students maintained averages of 83% to 89%. Five students scored averages between 90% to 94% and seven students were between the required pass score of 74% to 79%.

Bravo to the girls! For the first time since the school’s establishment, six Grade-3 students participated in the regional test exam and made a successful pass.

Celebration of Gala Week

Learning without play makes learning boring. Therefore, the school completed its gala celebration with outdoor and indoor games.

Conclusion
So much is being achieved at the school with the girls. We express our gratitude to everyone who has placed their resources to reach our project to the level we are at. Thanks to GlobalGiving for affording us the space for such wonderful fundraising opportunity.

With gratitude,

Davidetta Togba Cassell

Executive Director & Project Lead