Building the Future: CAN Girls Academy
– Coming in 2026 -
“When You Educate a Girl, You Educate a Nation.”
Introduction
The Change Agent Network (CAN) proposes the establishment of the CAN Girls Academy, a trailblazing, state-of-the-art boarding school for girls in Tallah Town, Grand Cape Mount County, Western Liberia. This institution will be the first all-girls boarding school in Liberia, specifically designed to provide a robust academic curriculum, extensive vocational training, and character development in line with Christian Value to empower young women.
The Academy will follow the CAN School System model, combining traditional academic excellence with practical, hands-on learning through vocational education in areas such as arts, music, interior design, pastry-making, and handicrafts. By nurturing young women's creative and entrepreneurial potential, this academy aims to prepare students for the modern job market while fostering leadership and a commitment to community service.
Name: CAN Girls Academy
Location: Tallah Town, Grand Cape Mount County, Western Liberia
Estimated Budget: $1.625 million - $2.335 million
Timeline: 12 months (subject to funds availability)
Land Size: 10 acres (donated by the local community)
Model: CAN School System
Grade Level: K to 12
Empowering 500 Young Liberian Women for Leadership and Success
The CAN Girls Academy will accommodate 500 students and provide them with an education that combines academic rigor, vocational skills, and leadership development. Managed entirely by women, the academy will offer a unique model of empowerment, where girls will see leadership in action daily. The goal is to ensure that most employees across various roles are women, fostering an environment where role models and leadership are exemplified daily.
The Timeline to 2026
Our Journey to 2026: Building Liberia’s Future
2024: Land acquisition and architectural planning.
2025: Fundraising and groundbreaking of the academy.
2026: Completion and grand opening of CAN Girls Academy.
Why Tallah Town, Grand Cape Mount County?
Tallah Town in Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia, holds significant historical, geographical, and cultural importance, making it an ideal location for the CAN Girls Academy. Here are several key reasons for choosing this area:
Historical Significance: During World War II, Tallah Town was a strategic location for the United States military. A pier was built on Lake Piso (Liberia’s second-largest lake) to facilitate the supply of military operations, including seaplanes and over 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in the area. This historical connection to international cooperation and infrastructure development provides a strong narrative for international support and investment in educational initiatives
Geographical Location: Grand Cape Mount County is a coastal region in northwestern Liberia, bordering Sierra Leone and the Atlantic Ocean. The county is known for its rich natural resources, including the Lake Piso nature reserve. This unique environment creates an ideal setting for educational initiatives focused on sustainable development, vocational training, and environmental studies.
Need for Development: The region remains underdeveloped, with limited access to quality education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Many of the local residents in Tallah Town rely on fishing and firewood collection for survival. By establishing the CAN Girls Academy in this location, the project can bring much needed educational resources, vocational training, and economic opportunities to an underserved population, making a direct and meaningful impact.
Cultural and Community Roots: Grand Cape Mount is home to diverse ethnic groups, including the Vai people, with rich cultural traditions. The Academy will also be an opportunity to preserve and strengthen local culture while empowering young women to become leaders in their communities. The area's history of settlement and growth since the 19th century makes it a fitting backdrop for a school dedicated to shaping Liberia’s future.
These factors make Tallah Town a highly strategic and meaningful location for the CAN Girls Academy, which will focus on serving 500 students and empowering the next generation of women leaders in Liberia.
This map shows the strategic location of Tallah Town near key geographical landmarks such as Lake Piso and the border with Sierra Leone. This map also illustrates the proximity to Monrovia, Liberia's capital city, which supports the rationale for choosing this location for the CAN Girls Academy.
The Dream of CAN Girls Academy
The CAN Girls Academy is more than just a school. It’s a dream born from the urgent need to uplift and empower the young women of Liberia. Set to open in 2026, this Academy will be the first of its kind in Liberia, offering both academic and vocational education in a safe, nurturing environment. With your help, we can create a space where girls can learn, grow, and lead.
Vision:
To become a premier institution that educates, empowers, and inspires young girls to achieve excellence and lead meaningful change in their communities.
Mission:
To provide a comprehensive education that combines academic rigor, vocational skills training, and Christian values to develop well-rounded, self-reliant, and community-driven young women.
Core Values:
Excellence: A commitment to academic, creative, and personal excellence.
Empowerment: Providing the tools and resources for girls to lead independent and impactful lives.
Service: Instilling the value of serving others and giving back to the community.
Creativity: Fostering innovation, creativity, and self-expression.
Faith: Building a foundation of strong moral and spiritual values rooted in Christian principles.
The Academy's Future Programs
Future Academic Excellence (2026 and Beyond)
The CAN Girls Academy will follow the CAN School System model, which integrates academic learning, character development, vocational skills training, and Christian-based values. The model emphasizes:
Academic Excellence: Core subjects such as math, science, and language arts that prepare students for university-level education.
Character Development: Christian-centered teachings, leadership training, and service to others, creating students who live with integrity, empathy, and purpose.
Vocational Training: Hands-on education in various fields ensures students are equipped with the skills needed to be self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
Christian-based Values: To develop not only knowledgeable individuals but also morally and spiritually grounded citizens
Student Leadership and Well-Being
Inspired by Icons: Liberia’s Daughters of Change
CAN Girls Academy will nurture a generation of female leaders who will positively impact their communities and the nation.
The Path to Leadership – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee
Key Message:
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee were both shaped by education and leadership opportunities. By empowering Liberia’s girls through education, CAN Girls Academy will create more stories like theirs.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: From student to global leader, she broke barriers to become Africa’s first female president.
Leymah Gbowee: Through her leadership, she helped end Liberia’s brutal civil war, proving that educated women can lead peace and transformation.
These women are living proof that education and leadership go hand in hand, and that providing opportunities for girls can uplift an entire nation.
Vocational Training (2026 Vision)
School of Art, Music, and Interior Design
Pastry-Making and Baking
Handicrafts and Tailoring
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee & Yemeni
December 10, 2011: Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee
Health and Wellness
A health clinic providing routine check-ups, emergency care, and counseling.
Help Us Build the Dream
Your support can turn this dream into reality. By contributing to the CAN Girls Academy, you are empowering young women with the education and skills they need to transform their lives and their communities.
Join the Movement – Empower Liberia’s Girls Today
We invite you to partner with us in building Liberia’s future. Whether you’re an individual, a women’s organization, a business professional, or part of a church community, you can make a lasting impact. Together, we can provide education, vocational training, and leadership opportunities aligned with Christian values and principles for the next generation of Liberian women.
From R-L: Dr. Reitu Mabokela, Florence Adibu, Dr. Desiree McMillian, Eric Wowoh, Dr. Sammer Saleh Jones, Shayla Maatuka, Esg., Dr. Asia Fuller (Current President of the Chapter) and Patricia Lewis (Chair of Pink Panache), all display the US$5,000 check donated to CAN
Members of the Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter, Champaign Illinois.
Get Involved
Whether you’re a women’s organization, business professional, entrepreneur, or someone who believes in the power of education, you can help us build Liberia’s future. By joining our 2025 campaign, you’ll be a part of something transformative.
Why Partner with Us?
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: By educating and empowering girls, we give them the tools to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
Empowering Future Leaders: CAN Girls Academy will nurture a generation of female leaders who will positively impact their communities and the nation.
Vocational and Academic Excellence: We provide both academic knowledge and vocational training, ensuring that our students graduate with skills that make them employable or able to start their own businesses.
Conclusion
The CAN Girls Academy represents a bold vision for the future of education in Liberia’s history. This school will provide high-quality academic instruction and train young women in vocational skills that will enable them to build sustainable futures for themselves and their communities.
Join us in making history! Together, we can build the CAN Girls Academy and empower a new generation of Liberian women to lead, innovate, and thrive.
Contact us.
Want to learn more about how you can be a part of this project? Contact us today!
Tel: +1(214)-890-4062
Fax: +1(214)-890-9249
Email: info@canintl.org
"Changing Minds, Hearts, and Lives"