-Calls for Urgent National Intervention
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia – The founder of a U.S.-based nonprofit organization has issued a stark warning that Liberia’s future is imperiled by a deepening education crisis, urging national leaders, humanitarian groups, and the government to prioritize immediate and sustained educational support for the nation’s most vulnerable children.
Bulleh Bablitch-Norkeh, founder of Girl Power Africa, delivered the urgent appeal during a humanitarian mission in Nimba County, framing the issue as a critical test of the nation’s commitment to its own development. She emphasized that the well-being of Liberia’s youth is inextricably linked to the country’s stability and prosperity.
“The next generation of Liberians, most especially our Liberian children, they’re our future,” Bablitch-Norkeh stated in an interview at her Sanniquellie residence. “We have to invest in them. If we don’t, our future is very bleak. And by investing in them, it’s not money wasted.”
Her comments follow a recent initiative by her organization, Girl Power Africa, which distributed essential school materials to hundreds of financially challenged students in government-run schools across Nimba, Margibi, and Montserrado Counties. The effort, part of the back-to-school campaign for the 2025/2026 academic year, successfully enabled 585 children to return to classrooms with necessary supplies, highlighting a widespread need that often forces students to stay home.
Bablitch-Norkeh’s commitment to Liberia is deeply personal. She was born in Liberia to a Liberian mother from Tappita, Nimba County, but was raised in the United States by her biological father, William Bablitch, a former Wisconsin state senator, Peace Corps volunteer, and later a state Supreme Court Justice. Her connection to Liberia was further solidified when she met her future husband, the late Dr. Frederick B. Norkeh, a Liberian who was studying in the United States.
In response to the devastation caused by Liberia’s 14-year civil war and the Ebola epidemic, she founded Girl Power Africa, an organization dedicated to empowering women and educating children affected by these crises. She firmly clarified that her humanitarian work is strictly non-political, noting that neither she nor her late husband were ever involved in political activities.
While applauding the efforts of charitable groups, Bablitch-Norkeh pointed to systemic failures that require government intervention. She expressed grave concern over the dilapidated state of school facilities and a critical shortage of teachers across the country.
She cited the situation at Boapea Public School as emblematic of the broader crisis, where a single teacher is forced to perform dual roles as both administrator and classroom instructor. “There are many schools out there that need attention,” she observed. “For all of what we are doing as Girl Power Africa, if students go to school and they only have one teacher for 300 students, it just will not work.”
She directly called upon the Ministry of Education to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of the nation’s schools and to urgently deploy sufficient teachers to ensure a functional learning environment. “The Ministry of Education needs to pay a little more attention to these students and these schools and provide more teachers,” she urged. “I beg our government, our Ministry of Education, to please just reassess the different schools and try to put in sufficient teachers to be able to run the school properly.”
Bablitch-Norkeh also directed her message at Liberia’s political and wealthy elites, challenging them to prioritize national interest over political differences and personal gain. She reminded leaders of their fundamental responsibility to the constituents they serve.
“When you’re in an elected position, you’re elected to do a job,” she stated. “But don’t forget where you came from; remember, you have people left behind.” She called for a collective spirit of assistance, asserting, “Let’s put politics aside; our people need help; help one person, and if one person helps one person, our country, Liberia will move forward.”
To amplify its impact, Girl Power Africa has extended an invitation for partnerships with other organizations, individuals, and government bodies. “We are open to partnership and invite everyone to join us in this noble cause,” Bablitch-Norkeh said. “Working together, we would be extremely honored and grateful for that opportunity. We believe that together, we can make a greater impact.”
In a parallel effort to foster sustainable development, Girl Power Africa simultaneously launched a women’s empowerment initiative in Nimba County’s Electoral District #2. The program provided 60 women from three towns with essential farming materials, including cutlasses and rubber boots, to boost their lowland agricultural productivity.
This initiative is designed to enhance food security, promote economic self-sufficiency, and contribute to the broader economic growth of the region. Beneficiaries expressed profound gratitude for the support, pledging to utilize the tools effectively to increase their crop yields and improve their families’ socio-economic well-being.
Through its dual focus on educating the next generation and empowering the women who sustain communities, Girl Power Africa underscores the multifaceted approach required to build a resilient Liberia. Bablitch-Norkeh’s alarm serves as a potent reminder that the nation’s future hinges on the choices and investments made in its people today.
