Dimeh Town, Bomi County– In Dimeh Town, Bomi County, a community woven into Liberia’s cultural fabric, Kick For Christ Liberia has completed a six‑year journey with the dedication of the R. Joanna Weeks Reeves School and Community Center.
The facility, built on land freely given by local families, honors Reeves’ vision of education while anchoring new opportunities in a town long defined by its literary heritage.
Dimeh is not only the home of the late Bai T. Moore, a man of letters who shaped Liberia’s literary scene since 1947, but also his resting place and the setting of his famous novel Murder in the Cassava Patch.
The new school rises in this historic landscape, where Moore’s storytelling continues to echo, linking past and present through education and culture.
In his remarks, President and CEO of Kick For Christ, Leo Gibson, explained that the project was sustained by faith and community sacrifice.
“This is not for me. It is not for anyone else. It is for God, our children, our brothers and sisters, so they can have the opportunity to learn something meaningful,” he said.
Gibson noted that the initiative was supported by Liberians at home and abroad, with residents donating land, labor, and materials, stressing the opportunities for children in rural Liberia.
“So whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” he said. He added, “Not by accident, this is God’s doing.” Gibson stressed that the program was about service, not recognition: “We are here to serve you. This is for you.”
Founded in 2013, Kick For Christ has operated as a Christian charity serving youth for more than a decade, blending sports, faith, and education to empower communities.
Addressing the Board Chair, Korto Williams described Joanna Weeks Reeves as a compassionate woman whose commitment to education inspired the project.
She emphasized the transformative power of learning. “Education is the great equalizer. Once you receive an education, no one can take it away from you.”
Williams emphasized the grassroots nature of the project. “This is not for me, not for anybody who took to contribute. It is built for every boy, and every girl in this town can have the opportunity to read, learn how to read,” she said.
Williams praised women and youth of Dimeh Town who carried water, prepared meals, and supported construction, calling their involvement evidence of strong community ownership.
Varney Sando, an eminent son of Dimeh Town, recalled how he pledged the family’s land on his visit to the United States to make Reeves’ vision possible.
“She said there was nowhere to buy to build a library for the Liberian children’s education, nowhere to get land. So I gave the land for free. This is how this place was given. For the people, for all of us,” he said.
His act of generosity unlocked a grassroots effort that transformed a dream of a library into a full school and community center.
Also addressing, Deputy Education Minister Thomas Parker tied the dedication to national priorities. He urged residents to take responsibility for the facility’s upkeep.
“If the ceiling becomes damaged, we should not have to call America. If a classroom door breaks, we should not have to wait for someone overseas to repair it. This is our school. It belongs to our children,” he said.
Parker reaffirmed the government’s commitment to foundational learning reforms, citing the World Bank‑supported EXCEL Project, and assured the community that accreditation and regulatory requirements would be met.
Bomi County District 3 Representative Jallah framed Education as a right, not a privilege. “We can build structures, but if community leaders do not continue pushing, those structures alone cannot transform society,” he said.
Jallah disclosed that his office has supported more than 1,400 young people since 2024 and called for greater investment in technical and vocational education so students graduate with practical skills in agriculture, carpentry, tailoring, and trades that create employment.
Veteran photojournalist Sando Moore, son of Bai T. Moore, reflected on the sacrifice behind the project. He recalled how his elder brother Sando gave away family land so children could learn.
“This land, all the other land we got, wherever. Everything is vanity. My brother gave the land for the benefit of the people in this town. I can’t question what he does.”
For Moore, the school is both a tribute to his father’s legacy and a reminder of what ordinary people can achieve when they choose community over self. “This project is for the people of Dimeh, for the people of Bomi, for the people of Liberia,” he added.
The dedication also underscored Dimeh’s cultural significance. Beyond the school, residents envision heritage projects. The Bai T. Moore Museum, the Bai T. Moore Institute of Performing Arts and Handcrafts, and a Dimeh Open‑Air Theater that host cultural events.
These initiatives aim to preserve the town’s literary and artistic traditions while offering children modern education. As children explored the new classrooms, the mood was celebratory but cautious. Moore urged the government to ensure sustainability. “We don’t expect them to continue to finance this project forever. The government will have to come in.”
