Gabanja International breaks grounds for office, recreation center

By Lewis S. Teh

In a bid to buttress government’s efforts in assisting less-privileged children in Liberia, a local non-governmental organization Gabanja International Volunteer Program (GIVP) has broken grounds for the construction of an office and a recreation center on Capital Bye-pass in Monrovia.

Making remarks Thursday, February 24, 2022, during the official groundbreaking ceremony, Advisor Mr. Joseph Pius Leo thanked community resident, Mrs. Julia Washington, for donating a parcel of land to the organization and describes the gesture as a dream come true.

“We are so excited to have a parcel of land to build our office, today is a dream come true for us as an organization”, Mr. Leo says and also thanked God for touching the heart of Madam Washington to donate the parcel of land for the construction of an office for the group, saying “It takes people like her to do this.”

He lauds international partners for always standing with the organization and the staff that toil in imparting knowledge to less-fortunate youth of the community.

GIVP is a nonprofit and non-governmental organization that is involved in advocacy, school feeding, and providing opportunities to less fortunate children in several communities across Montserrado county. 

The donation was also wholeheartedly embraced by the group’s chief financier Mr. Matthew C. Weiss, who categorically notes that this has always been the dream and aspiration of GABANJA that with the erection of an office and a mini playground, kids in of the community would no longer face difficulties in studying and taking their lessons seriously. 

He says the donation of the parcel of land will strengthen the organization in its quest to cater to less-privileged children in the country.

“We think this donation will put us on the right trajectory as an organization, with this we can touch many lives”, Mr. Weiss adds.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Balo, congratulates Madam Julia Washington, for identifying with the group something that he notes will help in making the entity vibrant. 

“For us to continue catering to less-privileged children in Liberia has been our dream and today we are excited.”

Balo reveals that beginning March, the organization will officially commence the erection of its office that will also contain a recreation center, adding “I’m overwhelmed, this has been our desire since the foundation of this organization.”

“This has been our long-time dream and aspiration to have a building of our own; the only way we could continue to provide shelter is to have an office space and today God has made it possible.”

On February 12, 2022, Gabanja received a parcel of land situated between Carey Street and Capitol Bye-pass in Monrovia. 

The land was provided by community resident Mrs. Julia Washington for the entity to erect an office and a mini playground for rehearsals and other indoor programs for kids. Editing by Jonathan Browne