Monrovia, Liberia – In an ambitious step toward transforming Liberia’s creative and educational landscape, Impact Academy LLC has announced the launch of Arts4Change, a six-week creative arts bootcamp aimed at youth empowerment through performance, design, and technology. The program is scheduled to run from June 28 to August 9, 2025, on the campus of Cyber Ed Christian School of Excellence in Congo Town.
With the theme “Promoting Social Consciousness Through the Arts,” the camp targets young people between the ages of 5 and 22, introducing them to hands-on training in the creative and performing arts. Participants will be mentored by both local and Diaspora-based creative professionals in disciplines ranging from music and acting to graphic design and cinematography.
The Arts4Change bootcamp also marks the first official public initiative of Impact Academy, a nonprofit organization registered in both the United States and Liberia, that plans to establish a full-fledged performing arts and technology academy in Monrovia. The initiative is part of a broader vision to blend traditional artistic expression with modern innovation and provide Liberian youth with the tools and confidence to tell their own stories—and change their communities in the process.
“This is more than just a summer program,” said founder and CEO Emeka Emmanuel Obiamiwe, a seasoned media producer and creative entrepreneur. “It is a pilot that demonstrates how the arts and technology can serve as powerful tools for education, self-reliance, and social transformation in Liberia.”
The bootcamp, which will culminate in a public showcase of student work, is designed to give young Liberians an opportunity to not only express themselves creatively but to understand how their talents can be applied for real-world impact. The event will also serve as a recruitment and talent discovery platform for the forthcoming Impact Academy.
Once fully launched, the Academy will offer a wide range of programs in visual and creative arts, film and performance, fashion design, sound and audiovisual production, and technology innovation—including virtual reality, game design, and software development. The academy will operate in schools, as after-school programs, and in underserved communities across the country.
Obiamiwe, who served as a media consultant during the presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, says the initiative comes at a critical time for Liberia’s education sector. Decades of civil conflict, compounded by the Ebola crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, have left the country with one of the lowest school completion rates in the world. According to the 2021/2022 Annual School Census, only 10 percent of boys and 11 percent of girls complete primary school.
“Liberia faces a crisis of access and opportunity,” he said. “By bringing creative arts and technology into education, we’re not only helping kids stay in school—we’re giving them a reason to dream and the tools to build something real.”
The future academy will cater to a wide range of learners, including high school graduates seeking creative careers, professionals looking to upgrade their skills, and underserved youth without access to formal education. Programs will emphasize collaboration and Diaspora partnerships to ensure a continuous exchange of ideas and resources.
The Impact Academy is also seeking to raise $82,500 in startup funding for its “Evolution of Creative Arts and Technology in Liberia” project, which will run from May 2025 to April 2026. Organizers are actively pursuing partnerships with education and development stakeholders to ensure sustainability and scale.
Obiamiwe brings over three decades of experience to the project, with a track record that spans government, international organizations, and private industry. As co-founder of The Manja Collection, a fashion and lifestyle brand, he also envisions Impact Academy as a launchpad for creative entrepreneurship.
For more information or to register for the Arts4Change Creative Bootcamp, interested participants and sponsors can visitwww.impactacademylib.org.
“Creative expression is a human right,” Obiamiwe said. “And in Liberia, we’re turning that right into opportunity.”
