Tubman Boulevard, 540 Community, Congo Town, Monrovia – Liberia
FREE (Foundation for Research, Education & Empowerment) Liberia continues to drive transformative change through impactful initiatives in teacher education, youth empowerment, and global partnerships. This month, we celebrate major strides in education accreditation, women’s empowerment, research, and international collaborations.
FREE is set to expand its professional training programs under the School of Value and Success, now incorporating C-certificate qualifications for early childhood and primary education. Following accreditation procedures with the Ministry of Education, a high-level assessment team from the Division of Teacher Education, led by Director Saywala Jallah, inspected our proposed training site at Salvation in Christ School, Zayzay Community in Paynesville, Liberia. The team commended the facility’s strategic location and overall infrastructure. However, they recommended prompt maintenance and repairs to ensure that the site is fully prepared for operations. In collaboration with the Salvation in Christ School System, FREE is dedicated to delivering quality teacher education, with classes scheduled to commence in September 2025.
Over 30 young women and girls gathered for the ARISE & LEAD Girls’ Empowerment Seminar, an inspiring day filled with leadership skills development, financial literacy, self-confidence building, and personal development strategies. The seminar aligns with FREE Liberia’s ongoing research on self-esteem and resilience in the face of gender-based adversity. Each participant received our latest publication, Think Your Way to Success, equipping them with tools for mental transformation and success.
A special thanks to our visionary facilitators:
Victoria S. Gbelley
Mouna Lisa Blayee
Joeviria Pinky Bai
And to our dedicated organizing team led by Rejoice F. Korvah and Diamond D. M. Gbollie - your passion made this event unforgettable.
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In May 2025, FREE Liberia’s CEO, Dr. Charles Gbollie, embarked on a strategic engagement tour in the United States, forging partnerships and expanding international support for our mission.
✔ Rotary Club Presentation at Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts – Showcased FREE’s impact in teacher development, education policy, and youth empowerment.
✔ USAID Program Contributions – Highlighted FREE’s role in Youth Advance & Liberia Foundational Skills Activity, plus the success of the School of Value & Success (60 graduates to date).
✔ Community Service with Rotary Members – Collaborated on social impact projects at Father Bill’s & MainSpring.
✔ Academic Engagements – Strengthened scholarly networks, including meetings with BSU faculty, African scholars, and Dr. Peva Gbagornah of Harvard Medical School.
Groundbreaking Research: Addressing Education & GBV Challenges
FREE Liberia, in partnership with the Association for Life of Africa (AFLA), recently published a landmark study in an international academic journal:
Title: Building Self-Esteem and Resilience in the Face of Adversity: An Empirical Study on Educational Challenges and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Among Women & Girls in Liberia
Financial constraints (53.45%) and early marriage/pregnancy (31.03%) were top barriers to education.
60.34% reported "sex for grades" as the most prevalent abuse.
95% said GBV negatively affects self-esteem, and 80% stated it limits school participation.
98% recommended gender sensitivity training for educators to improve school safety.
Read the Full Study
FREE Liberia proudly attended and shared our research findings at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (March 10–21, 2025). This engagement reaffirms our global commitment to gender equality and educational advancement.
With a renewed vision, FREE Liberia remains steadfast in driving evidence-based solutions in education, gender equality, and youth empowerment. As we move forward, we invite all partners, stakeholders, and well-wishers to join us in creating a lasting impact for Liberia’s next generation.
For more information or to get involved, visit: www.free.org.lr
Contact us at: freeliberia7@gmail.com | info@free.org.lr
Call us at: 0770 446 369 / 0887 028 001
FREE – Improving lives through evidence-driven interventions.
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