The Prison Fellowship Liberia (PFL), with funding support from Prison Fellowship International (PFI), has launched an education support initiative targeting 525 children of incarcerated parents across nine of Liberia’s 15 political subdivisions for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Under the initiative, code-named “Promise Path,” PFL will pay tuition fees and provide essential school supplies, including copybooks and school bags, to children whose parents are currently behind bars or otherwise in conflict with the law.
The initiative is intended to ensure that children do not lose access to education because of the circumstances of their parents.
Speaking at the back-to-school program held at the Paynesville Community School in Paynesville, PFL Country Director Rev. Francis Kollie said the organization believes every child has an equal right to education, regardless of the legal circumstances of his or her parents.
“No child should be denied the opportunity for education because his or her parents are in conflict with the law and are behind bars,” Rev. Kollie said.
He emphasized that children of inmates should not be stigmatized or disadvantaged because of their parents’ incarceration, stressing that education remains a fundamental right that must be protected for every child.
Rev. Kollie commended Education Minister Jarso Jallah for efforts to make elementary education free and urged parents to take advantage of the government’s policy to keep their children in school.
However, he expressed concern over what he described as high tuition and other fees being charged by some private schools.
He appealed to the government to intervene and work toward reducing the financial burden on parents, particularly families struggling to keep their children in school.
According to Kollie, initiatives such as Promise Path are necessary to bridge gaps faced by vulnerable children, but broader government and community support is also needed to ensure that children remain in school.
Beyond education assistance, the Prison Fellowship Liberia says it intends to provide livelihood opportunities for families benefiting from the program.
Rev. Kollie disclosed plans to introduce parents of beneficiary children to gardening and animal husbandry as part of efforts to help families become more self-sufficient.
He said the organization will seek support from the Ministry of Agriculture for vegetable seeds and other agricultural inputs, while also providing livestock such as cattle and pigs and training beneficiaries in managing the initiatives.
“We will also be asking the Ministry of Agriculture for seeds of vegetables, and we will provide cattle and pigs, while at the same time training you on how to manage these initiatives for self-sufficiency,” Kollie said.
The livelihood component, he explained, is intended to help families generate income and reduce their dependence on external assistance.
The PFL Country Director also announced that the organization expects to open a halfway house in the coming months to support the rehabilitation of youths affected by drug abuse.
He said the facility will be designed to provide rehabilitation and support services to young people struggling with substance abuse, although further operational details were not provided.
The planned facility is expected to form part of PFL’s broader efforts to support vulnerable individuals and families and promote rehabilitation and reintegration.
Rev. Kollie also cautioned teachers and other individuals responsible for the education and welfare of the beneficiary children against mistreatment.
He said the organization would monitor the welfare of the students and report any teacher found abusing or mistreating beneficiaries to the Ministry of Education and the government.
He urged the children to take their education seriously and make good use of the assistance being provided to them.
As part of the program, PFL presented children with school supplies, including copybooks and school bags, while tuition assistance was announced for the selected beneficiaries.
The back-to-school program also featured the recognition of several students for their academic performances during the 2025–2026 academic year.
The students were presented with certificates in recognition of their achievements, providing an additional incentive for beneficiaries to remain committed to their education.
The program brought together children of inmates, parents, students, educators and other stakeholders at the Paynesville Community School.
Through the Promise Path initiative, Prison Fellowship Liberia says it seeks to ensure that parental incarceration does not become another barrier preventing children from accessing education and pursuing a better future.
