Ministry of Youth and Sports Pursues Landmark Partnership with Books For Africa to Transform Youth Centers into Learning and Digital Resource Hubs
Ministry of Youth and Sports Pursues Landmark Partnership with Books For Africa to Transform Youth Centers into Learning and Digital Resource Hubs
Minneapolis, Minnesota | July 28, 2026 — The Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken another significant step toward transforming youth centers across Liberia into modern learning and innovation hubs following high level discussions with Books For Africa, one of the world's largest organizations dedicated to expanding access to educational resources across the African continent.
The meeting, led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, forms part of the Ministry's broader strategy to reposition youth centers as spaces where young people can access knowledge, develop digital skills, conduct research and prepare themselves for opportunities in education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Under the proposed partnership, youth centers across Liberia's fifteen counties would gradually be equipped with hard copy books, electronic books, computers, tablets and other digital learning resources, significantly expanding educational opportunities for young people, particularly those living in underserved and rural communities.
Discussions focused on several areas of collaboration, including hard copy books, electronic libraries, desktop and laptop computers, tablets preloaded with educational content and digital storage devices containing thousands of electronic books. Books For Africa also expressed its willingness to engage additional partners to expand the range of digital educational resources available to Liberia.
The organization currently maintains a digital collection of approximately 3,000 electronic books that can be accessed through computers, tablets and other digital devices, providing an opportunity to deliver educational content even to communities where conventional library infrastructure may be limited.
The Ministry's vision recognizes that while traditional libraries remain important, technology presents new opportunities to bridge educational gaps across Liberia. Subject areas under consideration include leadership, entrepreneurship, education, law and democracy, technology, girls' empowerment, career development and other youth focused disciplines.
Minister Kruah said, "Our vision is to ensure that every youth center becomes more than a recreational facility. We want these centers to become places where young people can read, research, learn digital skills, discover opportunities and prepare themselves to compete in today's knowledge based economy. Access to information should never be determined by where a young person lives."
The discussions also addressed logistics for shipping physical books to Liberia. The Ministry would facilitate transportation costs for book containers, while additional coordination would ensure distribution to youth centers nationwide.
As the next phase, the Ministry will formally submit its expression of interest, complete the organization's application requirements and identify the categories and quantities of books required. Both institutions will also explore a Memorandum of Understanding to guide implementation.
The initiative complements the Ministry's ongoing efforts to establish functional, technology enabled youth centers nationwide and reflects the Government of Liberia's commitment to expanding equitable access to education, digital learning and youth empowerment.
Books For Africa has distributed more than 64 million books across all fifty five African countries and continues to expand access to digital learning resources.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports appreciates the leadership of Books For Africa for its warm reception and willingness to explore a partnership that can significantly strengthen educational opportunities for Liberia's young people.
