Middle Island Resources (MDI) Liberia – contribution to the education sector
Middle Island Resources Limited (MDI) and the Australian Government have constructed a school building comprising three (3) class rooms, a library, teacher’s lounge, storeroom, Principal’s office and modern toilet as an annex to the Gborho Jr. High School in Zai Town, and also renovated the Toe Memorial Institute in Toe Town, both in Grand Gedeh County.
Sarah Mackenzie (MDI) turns school over to the GOL through the office of the Development Superintendent of Grand Gedeh County, represented by Hon. Washington Sah-Flah Yonly
Newly constructed Gborho Sr. High School Building ZAI Town, Tchien District Grand Gedeh County
Renovated Toe Memorial Institute
Before Renovation of Toe Memorial Institute
Middle Island Resources Limited (MDI), an ASX-listed company, listed on 16 December 2010, has gold exploration assets in Liberia. The Company has a stated policy commitment to contribute up to 5% of its exploration budget each year to social development initiatives within the communities in which it operates.
In an effort to meet up with this commitment which is carved under its Social Development programmes, MDI decided to address one of the major and prioritized needs in Zai Town, Tchien District, Grand Gedeh County where the company main camp has been established. This need which the community placed above all other needs submitted is the construction of an Annex to the government school in Zai town and renovation of the Toe Memorial Institute in Toe Town.
These schools cater to close to one thousand students from the Gborho Chiefdom including Zai Town and several surrounding towns and villages (Bargblor Town, Tuzon, Gwien Town, Sowaken, Barteh Jam, Jojailah Town, Bassa Village, One Man Village, Koon Village, Zomplee Village, and Mleyee village) and Gbarzohn district. The Australian Government, through its Direct Assistance Programme, also showed its support for the people of Grand Gedeh by providing the essential co-financing for this project.
In the implementation of this project, MDI contracted the services of the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP) to carry out Social Mobilization of the Community to take ownership of the project and Barwulue Agro Development and Reconstruction Agency (BADRA) to carry-out the construction. All intended to also create jobs for the locals as part of its Social commitment.
On June 15, the newly constructed school building was officially turned over to the government of Liberia. Speaking at the program, the representative of MDI, Madam Sarah Mackenzie said “I am happy to say that in the past two and a half years we have been working in Grand Gedeh we have been able to make some contributions to the people who have welcomed us into their communities”. In Toe Town she3 continued: “where we had our first camp, we repaired and refurbished Toe Memorial Institute, and we are providing zinc for the roof of the new Toe Town Elementary and Nursery School”.
Between Zleh Town and Mambo Camp Madam Mackenzie said MDI worked with the community to brush the road and repair and rebuild the bridges.
In Gborho Chiefdom, she also said MDI has been proud to improve the road from Zai Town to Barteh Jam, which the residents have been able to appreciate.
“But our biggest project work has been here around the Gborho High School”, Madam Sarah Mackenzie stressed. The school according to her, “was a big project, too big for us, so we obtained co-funding from the Australian Government through their Direct Assistance Programme”. “Unfortunately the representative from the Australian High Commission in Accra could not be here today, but they are here in spirit and I think you all join me in sending our thanks for their very important support” Madam Mackenzie pointed out.
She furthered: “since starting on this project we have encountered some constraints, and it has taken us time to understand each other, and some people did not understand what we hoped to achieve, but we have spent a lot of time talking and working together and we have learned a lot about working with the people of Liberia, and we thank you for your support”.
“Indeed, it is not just investment in infrastructure that is important. We have collaborated with the NGO ECREP, experienced in social mobilization and local development issues. Over the past few months they have been organizing activities like the campfire on positive and negative influences, a workshop on local development, focus group discussions and finally, the great football tournament we have witnessed over the past two days, won by the team from Zai Town” Madam Sarah Mackenzie said!
She further said the objective of the activities is to promote unity, collaboration and motivation so the community can move forward and drive its own development. “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to ECREP for all the ideas, dedication and good humour they have brought to the project and I hope the children of Gborho chiefdom will now all go through school to 12th grade! I am proud to hand the keys over to Grand Gedeh County on behalf of MDI and the Government of Australia.”
The County Project Planner of Grand Gedeh, Washington Sah-Flah Yonly represented the Government of Liberia at the program and turned the key over to the County Education Officer, Bestman Charpy and the PTA.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program (ECREP), G. Abraham Powell reminded community members of the workshop held by ECREP on development where the community presented how they envision their communities in 10 years from now.
The CEO of ECREP further distributed certificates of appreciation to those community members who cooperated effectively during the project implementation. He also presented awards to the football teams that won the tournament played between communities as a way of uniting the communities towards one goal, which is development. A football was given to the second winner while a jersey was given to the first winner.
Mr. Razak Ballah, Country Manager for MDI Liberia, closed the inauguration ceremony by thanking all who worked together to make the project successful. “MDI is an exploration company, not a mining company”, he emphasized. “We are interested in looking for minerals, but also in so doing, in contributing to community development, this project will enable your children to have an education up to 12th Grade”, the MDI Liberia Country Manager added.
