MONROVIA, Liberia – ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), through its Community Relations Department, celebrated Liberia’s 179th Independence Day by providing educational materials, gifts, and recreational activities to more than 6,500 children across 20 host and railway corridor communities in Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties.
The annual outreach, which targeted children under the age of 10, forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program aimed at strengthening relationships with host communities while promoting education, child welfare, and safety awareness.
Thousands of children received gift packages containing school supplies, snacks, and footwear to mark the national celebration and support their educational needs.
The initiative covered mining communities in Nimba County, including Gbapa, Makinto, and Liagbala, as well as railway corridor communities such as Wheyeepa and Nyokopa. Similar activities were held in communities along the railway in Bong and Grand Bassa counties.
In Grand Bassa County, more than 412 children from Big Fanti Town and Sugarcane Farm in Buchanan participated in the celebration. In addition to receiving gifts, children took part in interactive safety quizzes, with winners receiving special prizes for correctly answering questions on road safety and responsible community behavior.
The celebrations also reached Bassa Community, Juah Town, Korduah, Moore Town, and Joe Quarter, while additional activities were scheduled for Tinway Town, Dirt Hole, and Fair Ground. The events featured games, dancing competitions, and other recreational activities designed to provide an enjoyable Independence Day experience for children and their families.
Speaking during one of the celebrations, AML Community Relations Superintendent for Nimba County, Harrison Waydon, said the initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment to community development.
“ArcelorMittal Liberia implements numerous programs that directly benefit adults through employment, skills development, educational opportunities, healthcare support, and community projects. However, children represent the future of our communities. They deserve to experience joy, encouragement, and opportunities that inspire them to dream,” Waydon said.
He noted that the annual celebration complements the Community Relations Department’s year-round engagement with local leaders, youth groups, women’s organizations, schools, and community-based institutions to promote dialogue, resolve concerns, and identify development priorities.
Community Relations Superintendent for Bong and Grand Bassa Counties, Wroquah Samuels-Kamara, said the program also helps strengthen the company’s relationship with communities along the railway corridor.
“Building trust with our host communities requires consistent engagement. Celebrating national occasions with children not only strengthens relationships between AML and community members but also reinforces important values such as safety, unity, and mutual respect,” Samuels-Kamara said.
A major feature of this year’s celebration was the promotion of AML’s Golden Safety Rules. Through games and interactive discussions, children were taught practical road safety measures, including observing traffic rules, staying clear of large vehicles’ blind spots, wearing seat belts, maintaining visibility before driving, and ensuring vehicles are properly secured when parked.
Community leaders welcomed the initiative, describing it as another demonstration of AML’s sustained investment in community development.
Liagbala Town Chief Okara Gono praised the company for maintaining close engagement with residents and implementing programs that improve livelihoods. He highlighted AML’s Biodiversity Project, which supports vegetable farming, and the company’s donation of a transport tricycle that enables farmers to move produce more efficiently to markets in Yekepa.
Chief Gono also commended AML for including host communities in the country’s Independence Day celebrations, describing the initiative as a reflection of the company’s continued respect for its community partners. He reaffirmed the community’s commitment to working with the company through dialogue to advance shared development priorities.
AML said its Community Relations Department continues to strengthen partnerships with host communities through regular consultations, educational support, livelihood initiatives, infrastructure investments, and social outreach programs.
The company noted that the annual Independence Day celebration underscores its belief that community development extends beyond infrastructure and economic investment to creating opportunities that inspire young people, strengthen families, and promote lasting partnerships with host communities.-Press release
