John Namah

John K. Namah is a Learning & Development Supervisor (L&D Supervisor) in western and southern Liberia including Montserrado County, where the capital city of Monrovia lies.

He currently supervises ten schools and has to travel at least sixty to eighty kilometers to get to some of the schools under his supervision.

During the rainy season John has to use bikes; this is the only way to get to some of the places where Bridge operates. Despite these hurdles, he remains committed to work.

The schools John supervises include: Weakama, Weamoi, Julijah and Gayah Hill all located in Bomi County; Gbah Foboi in Grand Cape Mount County; Kendeja and J.W Pearson all located in Montserrado County. Then there is D. Barclayville and Sarah Simpson George all located in Grand Bassa County, and; Togar McIntosh located in Rivercess County.

When visiting schools John monitors learning, conducts short teacher observations, District Education Officials and County Education Officials engagement. He also investigates any issues that have been flagged, and engages with parents to get a better understanding of what their community needs.

John has been an Area Supervisor for two years now, he says: “I love my job! My work as an Area Supervisor helps me to interact with different people in different places and work with these people to understand the problems currently effecting them.” He believes his role helps him to transform people’s lives every day, to encourage teachers and principals to do the best they can and build Liberia’s future.

John explains that the main interruption to education can be when parents take their kids out of school to do adult work, particularly in mining and farming communities. However, he’s found that engaging with parents is helping this issue. He encourages parents to keep their children in school, and explains the benefits.

An enthusiastic John says, “I feel so happy and much more motivated whenever I visit a school and see children in their Bridge uniform all seated, smiling and tracking the teacher as they present their lesson—this is an excellent model. Credit to Bridge!”