The R. Joanna Weeks Reeves School and Community Center has been officially dedicated in Dimeh Town, Bomi County, with government officials, community leaders, and members of the Liberian diaspora describing the project as a lasting investment in rural education and a powerful example of community partnership.
The dedication ceremony, held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, brought together stakeholders who praised the initiative as a model of how local communities, charitable organizations, and Liberians abroad can collaborate to expand educational opportunities for children.
The institution was established through the efforts of the Rebecca Joanna Lewis Reeves Foundation and Kick for Christ in honor of the late Joanna Weeks Reeves. It operates under the Children LifeTime Educational Foundation (CLTEF), whose original vision of creating a community library evolved into a full school and community center after residents expressed the need for a broader educational facility.
Speaking during the ceremony, Joanna Weeks Reeves’ son, Jimah Rogers, said the project represents the fulfillment of his mother’s dream of improving access to education for children in Dimeh Town.
“This project is not just a building. It is the fulfillment of a dream and a lasting investment in the future of this community,” Rogers said.
He explained that his mother initially planned to establish a library but expanded the vision after residents requested a facility that would include classrooms and a community center.
“My mother deeply cared about the people of Dimeh Town. She believed every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a brighter future through education,” he said.
Rogers thanked community members, partners, donors, and volunteers whose contributions helped transform the idea into reality, stressing that the long-term sustainability of the school will depend on continued cooperation among parents, teachers, community leaders, and residents.
“The future of Dimeh Town lies in its children. By investing in their education today, we are helping to build a stronger and brighter community for tomorrow,” he added.
Representing Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Deputy Minister for Planning, Research and Development Thomas Parker described the dedication as a significant contribution to Liberia’s education sector.
Parker reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving foundational learning nationwide, noting that the Ministry of Education continues to implement reforms aimed at ensuring every Liberian child acquires essential literacy and numeracy skills.
He highlighted the World Bank-supported Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) Project, which he said is improving teacher training, strengthening classroom environments, and expanding access to quality learning materials.
“The dedication of this school is therefore a major milestone that the Minister and the entire senior management team greatly appreciate,” Parker said.
The Deputy Minister praised the Rogers family for preserving Joanna Weeks Reeves’ vision through a project that will benefit future generations.
He urged residents to take ownership of the facility by maintaining the infrastructure, supporting school administrators, monitoring teachers’ performance, and ensuring children attend classes regularly.
“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,” Parker told residents.
He also assured the community that the Ministry of Education would work with school authorities to ensure the institution meets accreditation and regulatory requirements before classes begin.
Bomi County District No. 3 Representative Sam P. Jallah commended the initiative, describing education as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.
Jallah said leadership must go beyond constructing buildings by ensuring students receive quality education capable of transforming their lives.
He disclosed that since assuming office in January 2024, his office has supported more than 1,400 young people through educational assistance programs, while pledging continued support for schools across the district.
The lawmaker also called for greater investment in technical and vocational education, arguing that students should graduate with practical skills in areas such as agriculture, carpentry, tailoring, and other trades that can create employment opportunities.
“We can build structures, but if community leaders do not continue pushing, those structures alone cannot transform society,” he said.
Leo Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kick for Christ, said the project was inspired by Joanna Weeks Reeves’ passion for education and completed after six years of planning, fundraising, and community engagement.
Gibson described the initiative as a faith-driven effort supported by Liberian and international partners, local residents, and donors.
He recognized community members who donated land, provided labor, supplied materials, and supported fundraising efforts, saying the project demonstrates what can be achieved when communities and the diaspora work together.
Gibson announced that organizers plan to officially open the school in September, with the facility expected to provide education for children while also offering early childhood care services to support working mothers.
“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.
Kick for Christ Board Chair Korto Williams described Joanna Weeks Reeves as a compassionate woman whose commitment to education and service to others inspired the project.
Williams said Reeves believed education gives every child the opportunity to improve their future regardless of their background.
“Education is the great equalizer. Once you receive an education, no one can take it away from you,” Williams said.
She praised women, youth, and volunteers from Dimeh Town who contributed to the project by providing labor, carrying water, preparing meals, and supporting construction activities, describing their involvement as evidence of strong community ownership.
Speakers at the ceremony emphasized that the R. Joanna Weeks Reeves School and Community Center represents more than a new educational facility.
They described it as a symbol of collaboration among rural communities, the Liberian diaspora, charitable organizations, and government institutions working together to improve access to education.
The dedication recognized the contributions of local chiefs, elders, youth leaders, government officials, education administrators, and members of the Rebecca Joanna Lewis Reeves Foundation and Kick for Christ, all of whom pledged continued support for the sustainability of the institution.
Located in Dimeh Town, Bomi County, the R. Joanna Weeks Reeves School and Community Center was developed through the Rebecca Joanna Lewis Reeves Foundation in partnership with Kick for Christ.
The project began as an initiative to establish a community library but expanded into a school and community center following consultations with residents.
The initiative highlights the growing role of diaspora-supported development projects in Liberia, where private philanthropy continues to complement government efforts to expand educational opportunities, especially in underserved rural communities.
Kick for Christ, a Christian charity organization founded by Liberian natives Leo Gibson and Worteh Sampson, received official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in the United States in November 2013. The organization has spent more than a decade supporting youth development initiatives.
With the opening of the R. Joanna Weeks Reeves School and Community Center, residents of Dimeh Town and surrounding communities are expected to benefit from expanded access to education and new opportunities for children.
