From one community school to a scalable education ecosystem

Building the Future of Learning in Rural Liberia

Central Leadership Academy expands access to quality education through community-rooted satellite campuses, teacher support systems, and hands-on learning tools for underserved children and youth.

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14+

Years Without a School Before CLA

0+

Community Members Impacted

0

Local Jobs Created

0

Overage Students Re-Enrolled

4+

Communities Requesting CLA Campuses

Our Origin

Born in a Community That Had No School for 14 Years

CLA began in Bokay Town, Grand Bassa County, Liberia, after years of educational neglect left children walking long distances to reach the nearest school. Families carried the burden of school costs, distance, and limited access.

What started as a local response has become a growing model for rural education transformation. CLA now uses its experience in Bokay Town to build a scalable approach that can serve other underserved communities across Liberia.

Read the Full Story

14+ YearsBokay Town without a local school

CLA FoundedCommunity-rooted school launches

GrowthSatellite campus model developed

InnovationTeacher support and STEAM introduced

Today4+ communities requesting campuses

The Problem

Rural Communities Are Still Being Left Out of Quality Education

The barriers to rural education in Liberia are well-documented. CLA exists to address them directly.

01

Access Gap

15–19% of primary-age children remain out of school

In rural Liberia, many children walk more than 3 km to reach the nearest school. Distance and cost make consistent attendance impossible for many families.

Source: UNICEF Liberia / World Bank

02

Teacher Capacity Gap

40% of teachers are unqualified or under-qualified

Many rural classrooms exceed 50 students per teacher, with educators receiving limited coaching, resources, or instructional support.

Source: Liberia Ministry of Education / UNESCO UIS

03

Relevance Gap

9 in 10 children cannot read a simple text by age 10

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, widespread learning poverty reflects an overreliance on memorization and a lack of practical, future-ready learning.

Source: World Bank & UNESCO Learning Poverty Report 2022

04

Infrastructure Gap

50.9% of Liberians live below the national poverty line

Rural communities receive limited education infrastructure investment, creating persistent access gaps in the communities that need it most.

Source: World Bank Liberia Poverty Assessment 2023

Our Approach

A Decentralized Education Model Built With Communities

CLA works with communities to create practical, scalable learning systems that bring quality education closer to children, strengthen teachers, and prepare learners for real-world challenges.

CLA Reach — Expand Access

Community-rooted satellite campuses
Affordable and inclusive enrollment
Overage learner re-enrollment pathways
Scholarships for vulnerable learners

CLA Capacity — Strengthen Teachers

Practical teacher training programs
Lesson planning and delivery support
SABI AI-powered teacher tools
Peer learning and coaching networks

CLA Lab — Practical Learning

STEAM in the Box kits
Project-based learning
Entrepreneurship programs
Leadership and civic education

See Our Full Approach

The CLA Ecosystem

One Ecosystem. Three Engines for Rural Education Transformation.

Click any pillar to explore what drives the model. Each engine addresses a distinct barrier in rural education while reinforcing the others.

CLA Reach

Expanding access through community-rooted satellite campuses across underserved rural Liberia.

Community-Driven Education Infrastructure

CLA Capacity

Strengthening teachers through training, support systems, and AI-powered classroom tools.

CLA Lab

Equipping learners through STEAM, entrepreneurship, leadership, and hands-on innovation.

CLA Reach: Expanding Access

Community-rooted satellite campuses bring quality education closer to underserved rural children through local leadership and shared systems.

Community-rooted satellite campuses

Local leadership and family engagement

Affordable access and inclusive enrollment

Scholarships for vulnerable learners

Pathway for overage learners

Community participation in governance

CLA Capacity: Strengthening Teachers

Educators receive practical training, classroom resources, and support from SABI — CLA's emerging AI-powered teacher tool for low-resource environments.

Teacher training programs

Lesson planning and delivery support

SABI AI-powered teacher assistant

Assessment and inclusion resources

Peer learning and coaching

Classroom management tools

CLA Lab: Hands-On Future-Ready Learning

Students move beyond memorization into building, creating, testing, and solving through STEAM kits, entrepreneurship, and project-based learning.

STEAM in the Box kits

Project-based learning

Entrepreneurship programs

Leadership development

Critical thinking skills

Student innovation showcases

Our Campuses

Community-Rooted Campuses. One Shared Education Vision.

CLA is growing from its flagship campus in Bokay Town into a network of community-rooted learning campuses that bring quality education closer to underserved rural children and youth.

Flagship Campus

Bokay Town Campus

CLA's first campus and proof point. Bokay Town had gone more than 14 years without a local school before CLA began.

Explore Campus

Expansion Pipeline

Future Satellite Campuses

CLA will add community-rooted satellite campuses as it expands into underserved communities requesting access to quality education.

View Expansion Vision

Community Interest

Request a CLA Campus

Communities, local leaders, and partners can express interest in bringing CLA's model to their area.

Request a Campus

Our Partners

Building With Partners Who Believe Rural Children Deserve Better

AL for EducationOne Young WorldAcumenCo-Creation HubMinistry of EducationMinistry of Youth & SportsLetters to StrangersRehab AfricaAgrisense TechnologiesThinkGreen AfrikaAltruistech Luminary Center AL for EducationOne Young WorldAcumenCo-Creation HubMinistry of EducationMinistry of Youth & SportsLetters to StrangersRehab AfricaAgrisense TechnologiesThinkGreen AfrikaAltruistech Luminary Center

Partner With CLA

Stories of Impact

Education That Meets Children Where They Are

For many children in underserved rural communities, education is shaped by distance, cost, and limited opportunity. CLA changes that by bringing learning closer to home and designing education around the realities of the communities it serves.

Help Us Build the Next Chapter of Rural Education in Liberia

CLA began with one community that refused to let its children be forgotten. With the right partners, quality learning, stronger teaching, and future-ready skills can reach more underserved communities across Liberia.

Donate Now Partner With Us

The CLA Model

A Practical Model for Rural Education Transformation

CLA combines access, teacher capacity, and hands-on learning into one community-driven system designed for underserved rural communities in Liberia.

Why the System Fails Rural Learners

The Evidence Behind the Problem

Distance and Financial Barriers

Many rural children in Liberia walk more than 3 km to reach the nearest school. Approximately 15–19% of primary-age children remain completely out of school, with transportation costs and distance cited as primary barriers by families.

Source: UNICEF Liberia / World Bank

Teacher Shortages and Under-Qualification

Approximately 40% of teachers in Liberia are unqualified or under-qualified, while many rural classrooms exceed 50 students per teacher — far beyond manageable teaching ratios for quality instruction.

Source: Liberia Ministry of Education / UNESCO UIS

Learning Poverty and Weak Practical Education

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 9 in 10 children cannot read and understand a simple text by age 10. This reflects widespread learning poverty and an overreliance on rote memorization instead of practical, skills-based learning.

Source: World Bank & UNESCO Learning Poverty Report 2022

Weak Rural Education Infrastructure

More than 50.9% of Liberians live below the national poverty line, while rural communities continue to receive disproportionately limited investment in education infrastructure — reinforcing long-standing inequalities.

Source: World Bank Liberia Poverty Assessment 2023

The CLA Model

Three Pillars. One Integrated System.

CLA Reach: Access

Satellite campuses in underserved communities
Affordable and inclusive enrollment
Overage learner re-enrollment pathways
Scholarships for vulnerable learners

CLA Capacity: Teachers

Practical teacher training programs
Classroom resource support
SABI AI-powered teacher tools (emerging)
Peer learning and coaching networks

CLA Lab: Practical Learning

STEAM in the Box kits
Project-based learning
Entrepreneurship programs
Leadership and civic education

How It Works

From Community Need to Lasting Learning Infrastructure

1

Identify Need

Communities with serious access barriers are identified through local engagement and field research.

2

Engage Leaders

Local leaders and families are brought into the planning process from the very beginning.

3

Establish Campus

A community-rooted learning site is set up with trained staff and CLA systems in place.

4

Support Teachers

Educators receive ongoing training, tools, and resources to deliver quality instruction.

5

Deliver Learning

Students access quality and practical learning, including STEAM, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

6

Track Impact

Enrollment, attendance, retention, and community outcomes are tracked and reported regularly.

7

Scale and Sustain

The model is refined and prepared for replication in additional communities.

Why It Can Scale

Built for Replication Across Rural Liberia

Community Participation

Local ownership reduces dependence on external resources and builds long-term resilience in each campus community.

Adaptable Tools

CLA's learning tools and teacher resources can be adapted for different community contexts and resource levels.

Shared Systems

Satellite campuses connect to shared training, quality standards, and support systems rather than operating in isolation.

Lower Infrastructure Cost

The model reduces the need for expensive centralized facilities by using existing community spaces and local support.

Teachers Across Sites

CLA Capacity supports educators across multiple campuses through shared training and tools that improve over time.

Proven at Bokay Town

The Bokay Town campus provides a tested proof point that shows what community-rooted education can deliver.

Ready to Explore the Model in Action?

Visit the Bokay Town Campus page to see how CLA's approach is delivering results in a real community.

Bokay Town Campus Partner With CLA

Growing the Network

Community-Rooted Campuses. One Shared Education Vision.

CLA is growing from its flagship campus in Bokay Town into a network of community-rooted learning campuses that bring quality education closer to underserved rural children and youth.

Why Campuses Matter

Local Access Points for Rural Education

Many rural communities in Liberia still face long distances to school, limited access to quality learning, overstretched teachers, and weak education infrastructure. CLA's campus model responds by working directly with communities to create local learning access points supported by shared systems, teacher support, and practical learning tools.

1

Community Need Identified

Serious access barriers are documented through engagement and field research.

2

Local Engagement

Leaders, families, and stakeholders are engaged in planning and ownership.

3

Campus Established

A community-rooted campus is set up with trained staff and CLA systems.

4

Ongoing Support

Teachers are trained, learning tools introduced, and impact tracked continuously.

Our Campuses

A Growing Education Network

Grand Bassa County — Flagship Campus

Bokay Town Campus

CLA's first campus and the proof point for its community-rooted education model. Bokay Town had gone more than 14 years without a local school before CLA began.

Explore Bokay Town Campus

Expansion Pipeline

Future Satellite Campuses

CLA will add new community-rooted satellite campuses as it expands into underserved communities requesting access to quality education across Liberia.

View Expansion Vision

Community Interest

Request a CLA Campus

Communities, local leaders, and partners can express interest in bringing CLA's model to their area and start a conversation about next steps.

Start a Conversation

Support the Growth of CLA's Campus Network

Every campus represents a community that refused to be left behind. Your support helps CLA expand this model to more underserved communities across Liberia.

Fund a Campus Partner With CLA

Flagship Campus | Grand Bassa County, Liberia

Bokay Town Campus: Where CLA's Model Began

After more than 14 years without a local school, Bokay Town became the first community to prove what community-rooted education infrastructure can make possible.

Community Story

A Community That Waited Too Long for a School

Bokay Town, located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia, had gone more than 14 years without a local school. Children faced long walks to reach the nearest learning institution, while families struggled with the cost, distance, and uncertainty of keeping their children in school.

CLA began in Bokay Town as a direct response to this gap. What started as a community school has now become the flagship proof point for a wider model designed to expand access, strengthen teachers, and prepare rural learners for the future.

Campus Snapshot

Quick Facts About Bokay Town Campus

📍

Location

Bokay Town, Grand Bassa County, Liberia

🏫

Campus Role

Flagship CLA campus and model proof point

🎓

Grades Served

Grade 1 to Grade 12

💡

Model Type

Community-rooted learning campus

📖

Focus Areas

Access, teacher support, STEAM, leadership, entrepreneurship

🌍

Community Context

Rural underserved community without a local school for 14+ years before CLA

1,950+

Learners Directly Reached

12,000+

Community Members Impacted

38

Local Jobs Created

102

Overage Students Re-Enrolled

4+

Nearby Communities Requesting CLA

Stories From the Community

Voices From Bokay Town

Before CLA, I had to walk very far to find a school. Now I can focus on learning and I even joined the leadership club.

A student at Bokay Town Campus who re-enrolled after years out of school. She is now in Grade 8 and participates in CLA's entrepreneurship program.

📖

Student Story

Bokay Town Campus, Grade 8

CLA empowered me to see that women in our community have a voice. I now lead programs that help other women support their children's education.

Mrs. Oretha Artis is a Women Empowerment Leader in Bokay Town who works closely with CLA to mobilize families and advocate for girls' education in the community.

Mrs. Oretha Artis

Women Empowerment Leader, Bokay Town

As the Elder Chief of Bokay Town, I have seen what this school means to our people. Our children no longer have to leave to get a good education.

Abel Morris is the Elder Chief of Bokay Town, a foundational community leader whose support and partnership has been central to CLA's presence and growth in Bokay Town.

Abel Morris

Elder Chief, Bokay Town

Campus Life

Life at Bokay Town Campus

Campus Needs

What Bokay Town Campus Needs Next

Scholarships for Vulnerable Learners

Support students from low-income households who face barriers to consistent enrollment and attendance.

Sponsor a Learner

Desks and Classroom Furniture

Many students still share desks in overcrowded classrooms. Additional furniture is urgently needed across grade levels.

Fund Classroom Materials

Teacher Support and Training

Ongoing professional development and coaching for educators to sustain and improve learning quality across the campus.

Support Teacher Development

STEAM in the Box Kits

Hands-on science and technology learning kits that bring practical education into classrooms across every grade.

Support This Need

Solar Power and Digital Tools

Reliable electricity and digital learning resources to support modern instruction and reduce dependency on generators.

Support This Need

Library and Learning Materials

Books, reference materials, and a functional library space that students and teachers can access year-round.

Fund Materials

Help Strengthen CLA's Flagship Campus

Bokay Town Campus is where CLA's model began. Supporting this campus strengthens the foundation for a rural education model that can reach more underserved communities across Liberia.

Support Bokay Town Campus Partner With CLA

Expansion Vision

Expanding CLA's Model to More Underserved Communities

CLA is preparing to grow through community-rooted satellite campuses that bring quality learning closer to rural children and youth across Liberia.

Demand for Expansion

Communities Are Already Requesting CLA Campuses

CLA has received interest from more than 4 communities, each with an estimated population of around 20,000 people. This demand demonstrates strong readiness for expansion and a clear unmet need for quality education infrastructure in rural Liberia.

Future campus pages will be added as CLA expands. Each satellite campus will operate as part of CLA's wider education network, connected by shared systems, teacher support, and quality standards.

Request a Campus

Expansion Roadmap

From Bokay Town to More Underserved Communities

Phase 1: Strengthen Bokay Town Campus

Deepen the model at the flagship campus, address infrastructure gaps, expand teacher support, and track impact outcomes for replication.

Phase 2: Pilot the Next Satellite Campus

Identify the highest-readiness community from the current interest pipeline and begin the campus establishment process.

Phase 3: Train Local Educators and Teams

Build local capacity at the new site through CLA Capacity training programs and ongoing coaching support.

Phase 4: Introduce CLA Capacity and CLA Lab Tools

Roll out teacher support tools, STEAM kits, and practical learning programs at the satellite campus.

Phase 5: Track Impact and Improve the Model

Monitor enrollment, attendance, retention, and learning outcomes. Apply lessons to improve each next campus.

Phase 6: Add More Campuses Based on Readiness

Continue expanding based on community demand, resource availability, and model readiness across underserved communities.

Partner With CLA to Expand Access

CLA's growth depends on partners who believe every rural child deserves access to quality education close to home.

Partner With CLA Donate Now

Evidence and Outcomes

Proof That Rural Education Can Be Rebuilt From the Community Up

CLA's impact began in Bokay Town and is now shaping a model that can reach more underserved communities across Liberia.

14+

Years Without a School Before CLA

0+

People Indirectly Impacted

0

Jobs Created

0

Overage Students Re-Enrolled

4+

Communities Requesting CLA

Impact Areas

Where CLA's Work Creates Change

Access to Education

Reducing distance, cost, and infrastructure barriers for rural children who previously had no local school.

Teacher Support

Equipping educators with tools, training, and ongoing coaching to improve classroom delivery and student outcomes.

Student Retention

Keeping children in school through community participation, scholarships, and learning environments built around their realities.

Community Development

Creating local employment, engaging community leaders, and building infrastructure that benefits the wider community.

Future-Ready Skills

Introducing STEAM, entrepreneurship, and leadership programs that prepare students for work and community leadership.

Local Employment

Creating 38 local jobs through campus operations, teaching positions, and community roles rooted in Bokay Town.

Evidence and Learning

How CLA Tracks Its Work

CLA tracks a set of indicators across its campus operations to monitor progress, identify gaps, and report transparently to partners and funders.

Enrollment and re-enrollment

Attendance tracking

Student retention rates

Learning participation

Scholarship support

Teacher development needs

Community demand signals

Student project outputs

Future Impact

Where We Are Going

CLA aims to expand its community-rooted satellite campus model to more underserved communities, strengthen teacher support systems, and introduce practical learning tools that prepare rural learners for the future.

Expand Satellite Campuses

Add community-rooted campuses to serve the 4+ communities already requesting CLA's model.

Grow Teacher Support

Scale CLA Capacity programs and introduce SABI teacher tools across all campuses.

Deepen Practical Learning

Expand STEAM in the Box, leadership programs, and student innovation showcases across the network.

Help Us Continue Building This Evidence

CLA's impact grows with every partner, donor, and community that chooses to invest in rural education infrastructure in Liberia.

Support Our Work Partner With CLA

Our Story

A Community-Led Response to Educational Exclusion

CLA was built on a simple belief: that every rural child deserves access to quality education, close to home, regardless of where they were born.

Our Origin

How CLA Came to Be

Bokay Town had gone more than 14 years without a local school. Children faced distance, cost, and limited access. Families were left to navigate an education system that had simply forgotten them. That reality became the reason CLA was founded.

CLA was established as a direct response to this gap. The founding team believed that communities should not have to wait for government systems to catch up. They built a school in Bokay Town and committed to proving that community-rooted education infrastructure could work, scale, and change outcomes for rural children.

That model is now the foundation for everything CLA does — and the reason we are expanding.

Mission

Our Mission

To expand access to quality, future-ready education for underserved rural children and youth through community-rooted learning infrastructure, teacher support, and practical skills development.

Vision

Our Vision

A Liberia where every rural child can access quality learning close to home and gain the skills to lead, build, and thrive.

Core Values

What We Stand For

I

Dignity

Every child deserves to learn in an environment that affirms their worth and protects their potential.

II

Community

We work with families, local leaders, teachers, and young people as partners in building lasting systems.

III

Leadership

We prepare young people to think critically, solve problems, serve others, and shape the future.

IV

Excellence

We hold high expectations because underserved rural communities deserve quality, not charity.

V

Inclusion

We serve children left behind, including underprivileged, refugee, and displaced learners.

VI

Innovation

We use practical tools, local insight, and emerging technology to make quality learning scalable.

Senior Management Team

The People Behind CLA

Reuben Reeves

Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer

Leads operational delivery, campus systems, and strategic execution across CLA's education infrastructure.

LinkedIn Profile

Foday David Kamara

Co-Founder, Head of Growth & Designs

Drives CLA's growth strategy, design systems, and external visibility across programs and partnerships.

LinkedIn Profile

Philicia Albertine Blamah

Director of Programs & Student Experience

Oversees program design, implementation, and student experience across CLA campuses and communities.

Alimamy Bangura

Innovation & Creative Lead

Leads creative development, innovation programs, and hands-on learning experiences across CLA campuses.

LinkedIn Profile

Advisory Board

Our Advisors

CLA is guided by an advisory board bringing expertise in education, technology, and social impact.

Azad Oomen

Advisory Board Member

LinkedIn Profile

Robyn Van den Heuvel

Advisory Board Member

LinkedIn Profile

Christiana Biankoe

Advisory Board Member

Believe in What CLA Is Building?

Join us as a partner, donor, advisor, or supporter and help CLA expand quality education infrastructure across rural Liberia.

Partner With CLA Donate Now

Partnerships

Partner With CLA to Expand Quality Learning Across Rural Liberia

We are building a scalable education model that brings schools closer to communities, supports teachers, and prepares young people with practical skills for the future.

Our Partners

Partners and Supporters

AL for EducationOne Young WorldAcumenCo-Creation HubDovetail Impact FoundationMinistry of EducationMinistry of Youth & SportsLetters to StrangersRehab AfricaAgrisense TechnologiesThinkGreen AfrikaAltruistech Luminary Center AL for EducationOne Young WorldAcumenCo-Creation HubDovetail Impact FoundationMinistry of EducationMinistry of Youth & SportsLetters to StrangersRehab AfricaAgrisense TechnologiesThinkGreen AfrikaAltruistech Luminary Center

Partnership Opportunities

Ways to Partner With CLA

Fund a Satellite Campus

Support the establishment of a new community-rooted campus in one of the communities requesting CLA's education model.

Support Teacher Development

Fund training programs, coaching, and resources that strengthen educators serving rural students across CLA campuses.

Sponsor STEAM in the Box

Bring hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics learning into classrooms through practical kits.

Support Scholarships

Provide educational access to the most vulnerable students who would otherwise be left out of school due to cost.

Provide Technology or Infrastructure

Support CLA with digital tools, equipment, solar power, or campus infrastructure that improves learning conditions.

Support SABI Teacher Tools

Invest in CLA's emerging AI-powered teacher support platform designed for low-resource rural classroom environments.

Partner on Research and Evaluation

Help CLA measure, document, and publish its model to strengthen the evidence base for community-rooted rural education.

Sponsor Student Innovation Projects

Support student-led projects, innovation showcases, and entrepreneurship programs through CLA Lab.

Start a Partnership Conversation

Note: Our tech team is currently working on form submission issues. If you experience any challenges, please email us directly at dave@centralleadershipacademy.org

Full Name

Organization

Email Address

Type of Partner

Area of Interest

Message

Campus Requests

Bring CLA's Community-Rooted Education Model to Your Community

CLA works with communities and partners to explore new campus opportunities where children and youth face serious barriers to quality education.

Review Criteria

How CLA Reviews Campus Requests

Community Need

CLA prioritizes communities where children face serious barriers to quality education, including long distances and limited local access.

Local Ownership

Strong community leadership and family engagement are essential for CLA's campus model to work effectively over time.

Available Space or Land

Communities with available or accessible space for a learning campus have a stronger foundation for campus establishment.

Partnership Readiness

CLA looks for communities ready to participate actively in the campus process, not just receive a school from outside.

Safety and Accessibility

Campus sites must be safe and reasonably accessible for children, families, and staff on a daily basis.

Mission Alignment

The campus opportunity must align with CLA's focus on underserved rural communities where access and quality gaps are greatest.

Submit Campus Interest

Note: Our tech team is currently working on form submission issues. If you experience any challenges, please email us directly at dave@centralleadershipacademy.org

Submitting interest does not guarantee a new campus. CLA reviews each request based on community need, local ownership, available partnerships, operational readiness, and resource availability.

Full Name

Organization or Community

Your Role

Email Address

Phone Number

Location of Community

Estimated Population

Available Local Support

Current Education Challenge

Message

Give Today

Help Bring Quality Learning Closer to Rural Children

Your support helps CLA expand access, support teachers, provide scholarships, and equip students with practical skills for the future.

Your Impact

What Your Gift Makes Possible

$30

Per Year

Supports one learner's annual access to education

$100

One-Time

Contributes to classroom materials and supplies

$500

One-Time

Supports teacher training and resources

$1,000

One-Time

Supports STEAM kits and hands-on learning

Giving Areas

Choose What You Want to Support

Sponsor a Learner

Give a child from a vulnerable household the opportunity to stay enrolled and supported through the school year.

Sponsor Now

Support a Teacher

Fund practical training, coaching, and classroom resources for a CLA educator in a low-resource environment.

Support Now

Sponsor STEAM Kits

Bring hands-on science and innovation learning into classrooms through CLA Lab's STEAM in the Box program.

Fund STEAM

Fund Scholarships

Remove financial barriers for the most vulnerable students and ensure they have a real chance to stay in school.

Give a Scholarship

Support a Satellite Campus

Invest in the establishment of a new community-rooted campus serving children in an underserved rural community.

Fund a Campus

General Operations

Support CLA's day-to-day work — from campus operations to community engagement and program delivery.

Give Now

Make a Custom Donation

Note: Our tech team is currently working on form submission issues. If you experience any challenges, please email us directly at dave@centralleadershipacademy.org

Every amount makes a difference. Choose your giving level and support area.

CLA is a registered nonprofit. Contact us for donation receipts and tax information.