The latest edition of the Dougbe River News:
Reports from the school press club
Our students have formed a “press club,” and as you’ll see in this report from eighth-grader Eric Karmee, they’re having fun:
Good morning school. Good morning everybody. Good morning Liberia, I’m student Eric Karmee. … Now here comes the news. DOUGBE RIVER PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL OF LIBERIA – PRESS CLUB PRESENTING THIS NEWS LIVE FROM DOUGBE FM 96.5 MHZ …

Eric Karmee
First the headline: The impact of DRPSL in the lives of the Twarbo children. Story in detail.
At first the children of the Twarbo region struggled for education. Some were engaged into early marriages, some were wandering without any reasons, while others were involved into criminal activities.
All these acts were done by children in Twarbo because there was no school, and they knew nothing about the importance of education as a whole.
Fortunately for us, one of the sons of the soil Mr. Isaac Monah saw the need of building a school in Twarbo with the mindset of bringing education into this region, Twarbo. 2009-2012, the school was built and officially open to teach the children in order to take them from the dark into the light.
— Eric Karmee, 8th grade

Prince Showlo
Children in Twarbo were hunting and farming because there were no school.
… Mr. Isaac Tailey Monah brought a light to us the Twarbo children that today we can be able to read and write. … We are the lighters.
— Prince Showlo, 5th grade

Lee Zulu
The development of Dougbe River Presbyterian School of Liberia will begin with the focus of DRPSL students and parents. … People around us want to see a DRPSL student becoming a president or working in other ministry. … I want to become an ambassador or an actor.
— Lee Zulu, 7th grade
Talking with the principal
Earlier this year, our board chair Tedd Roos did a video interview on campus with principal Beatrice Sharty. This is a partial transcript:

Principal Beatrice Sharty
Tedd: When you first came to the school, what were your impressions?
Beatrice: I was so happy I started crying, because this is Grand Gedeh, where I’m from, from Gbarzon District, and coming all the way to this area, you see the forest, and then … I got to know it is a Liberian, a Grand Gedehan, who brought this school here.
Tedd: What are some of the biggest challenges that you face as principal of this school?
Beatrice: We are still trying to put things together. Like books. We can try but we cannot get (books for) all. This is why we are also asking the board to bring us more books. (Note: We buy books in Liberia. Shipping is hard.)
Tedd: When you look ahead four or five years, what do you see for the school?
Beatrice: I imagine dormitories, teachers’ lodging will be improved. And I see another school building around here. People are waiting.
Tedd: What is your hope for the students when they leave here?
Beatrice: When they leave here and go to another school, they will know that they are from Dougbe River. They will prove themselves. I believe that when they leave from here, they will do better than this. And I hope the time will come we have high school.
Tedd: Is there anything you would like to say specifically to the donors, the board, people who support the school back in America?
Beatrice: I want to say thank you ever so much to the board and donors of the USA. They are doing well for us here. I’m happy to extend my greeting to the donors, to all those that are giving their support, that God should bless them, bless their hands that they will do more, that they should always remember us. So that this school will be more than this, it will go forward.

Fred Massaquoi
Meet our new farm manager
After a year-long search, we have filled the position of Farm Manager by hiring Fred Massaquoi. Fred has a bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture from the University of Liberia. He is certified in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution by UNICEF/UNDP.
Fred has worked as a field agronomist with Aim Global Company and as a community development facilitator with the Africa 2000 Network of Liberia. At Africa 2000, Fred educated farmers on methods of planting and maintenance of crops in a greenhouse, and trained vegetable farmers to raise pigs. The farm is a key to achieving our goal of financial sustainability for the school. With Fred’s leadership, we expect a revenue stream from the farm in the coming year. Fred is also coaching students and staff on home gardening to produce vegetables.
Our 2018 gala is Sunday, Oct. 28
Our big autumn fundraising event will again be at the Banquet Center of St. Noel in Willoughby Hills. It will start at 5 p.m. October 28. Invitations will be sent in September.

James Tailey
Congratulations to Mr. Tailey
Mr. James Tailey, a beloved teacher since the opening of our school, has accepted a position with the Liberian government as a regional representative. We are proud of Mr. Tailey and look forward to working with him in the future, as he continues to serve the community.

The cafeteria
The cafeteria building is complete
Work is now complete on the new cafeteria, and we are in the process of purchasing a stove and other cooking equipment for the kitchen. The building will also serve as a meeting place for community groups and events.