News from The Informer:
LDS Builds U.S$35,000,00 Modern School in Bong
The Informer (Monrovia)
20 April 2010
The Lutheran Development Service (LDS) in Liberia has constructed a modern school building in the Togbata Community, Zota District, Bong County to provide quality education to hundreds of students, especially the less-fortunate.
The modern elementary school was constructed at an estimated value of thirty five thousand United States dollars, inclusive of contributions from local dwellers through man power and the provision of local materials.
The School which was constructed as the result of an appeal made to the LDS by the local community, was officially dedicated on Friday, April 16, 2010 and turned over to the government of Liberia for the education of school going children in the area.
Presenting the keys to the building, the Executive Director of the Lutheran development Service (LDS) in Liberia, Mr. Joseph S. Binda said the Lutheran Church in Liberia through the LDS remains committed to working with partners aimed at buttressing efforts of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) of the Liberian government.
Mr. Binda said the LDS is a semi-autonomous Lutheran Church-related NGO that carries out highly quality holistic development programs with emphasis on grass root level development, meanly designed to help the needy and actively work to fulfill basic human needs irrespective of religion, tribe, race, origin, beliefs or political affiliation.
The LDS executive called for unity among the local dwellers, and cooperation between the locals and other organizations to foster development. According to him, development is easily achieved when the people unite their efforts with development partners.
Mr. Binda challenged the citizens and residents of Togbata to take advantage of the modern school building by prioritizing the education of their children.
Receiving the keys to the building on behalf government, the Commissioner of Zota District in Bong County, Mr. Joseph Urey described the construction of the school as timely and important to the education and empowerment of children in the area.
Com. Urey urged the parents to utilize the building by sending their children to school, if they are to remain his friends. According to him, penalty awaits parents who fail to send their children to school.
He also challenged the locals to join efforts with the school authority in maintaining the newly constructed modern school building.
Com. Urey appealed to the Lutheran Development Service to continue to assist them with the construction of additional schools to secure a brighter future for the children.
For his part, the principal of the James Togbata Public Elementary School, William T. M Togba commended LDS for the construction of the building, saying it will go a long way in addressing the educational needs of the students.
Mr. Togba assured that the building will be fully maintained, and called on the parents to champion the education of their children.
Also Speaking, a member of the LDS Board, Rev. Peter D. Kpakela praised Old man Togbata for donating the land to be used for the construction of the school, and also urged parents to prioritize the education of their children.
Rev. Kpakela who is also the Special Assistant to the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, said education remains a true transformer in preparing students for nation building.
He pledged the commitment of the Lutheran Church in Liberia to join government and other development partners to improve the welfare of the people.
Meanwhile, the dedication of the James Togbata Public Elementary School was marked by jubilation, with the citizens and residents of the District commending the LDS for the many development programs.
The Lutheran Development Service (LDS) in Liberia is a Lutheran Church-related semi autonomous non-governmental Organization established in January of 2002.
LDS has four thematic areas of operations to include; Agriculture and Food Security, Infrastructure Construction and Rehabilitation, Micro-Finance for Empowerment, and Capacity Building/Skill Training.
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