REAL Foundation (Resources and Educational Aid to Liberia) is a nonprofit and charitable organization that provides educational resources and services to Liberia. Our primary purpose is to expand equal access to learning and information. The high illiteracy rate in Liberia and in most of Africa is an extreme problem that must be addressed if Africa is to be liberated. The root cause of this problem is the lack of the basic necessities required to teach children. We secure material and monetary donations from individuals, religious organizations, and corporations to help support our mission. According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 47% of out-of-school children worldwide. While there has been a slight improvement in the literacy rate, there still is an enormous hurdle to overcome. For instance, the average gross enrollment ratio of students was only at 14% in 2006. Compared to the U.S. literacy rate, which stands at 99%, literacy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is 63%. This gap can be narrowed if children are exposed to the necessary tools and resources they need in their earlier years. In Liberia, for example, pupil to textbook ratio in public primary schools is 27:1, and the ratio of pupil to textbook in secondary schools is 9:1. It is also estimated that only 24% of children enrolled in public primary schools have access to desks and chairs. Most classrooms do not have chalkboards, desks or chairs for teaches. As one can imagine, learning under such conditions is nearly impossible. The chronic shortages of textbooks, computers, and other resource materials, or lack thereof , greatly impede children’s abilities to learn and excel. Improving the material children are learning in school remains an overwhelming challenge for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNESCO. A child’s horizon is only as broad as his or her notebook. In most instances children do not have the luxury of owning their own books and may never be able to. These are troubling statistics that we can no longer ignore, so REAL Foundation is dedicated to providing some of these basic items to help make education possible for children in Liberia. Will you join us in this worthwhile cause?
