Words From Our Founder.
"persistence yields rewards"
Long ago in the town of Dingamo in North Central Liberia, modern education was non-existent.There were no schools and children were farm hands in production of food for subsistence. Boys served in adulthood as social security for aging parents. Girls married before adolescence and moved away from parents.
Change arrived in this town in the 1950’s when the door to modern education opened. To enroll our parents were required to present two suits (2 short trousers and 2 shirts). Girls were not given the opportunity to be educated. Those were difficult days as many parents could not afford enrollment. Some parents borrowed suits from other parents that had surplus clothing for their children and registered their children in school. I remember vividly being in the category of children whose parents borrowed suits. It is why I remain forever thankful to a childhood friend, Rufus Goekpeh, who surplus suits registered me in school.
Despite difficult and obscure beginning of modern education in this Liberian town many from there climbed the academic ladder. However, there were still some parents bent on disallowing their children to attend modern school. Many feared that modern education would drive their social security away and make them vulnerable upon aging. It was difficult to persuade and convince them that modern education was path to the future.
In 1973, long before Mrs. Hilary Clinton’s book, “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”, I pondered over an idea that it takes a child to raise a village. I lobbied few associates of Dingamo then living in our national capital Monrovia to join me to organize and launch a campaign in convincing parents of Dingamo to allow all children to attend school. We were quickly joined by some locals in Dingamo and others living in various parts of Liberia. Our loose association became known as Dingamo Modernization Council. Our drive proved fruitful in later years as girls joined the educational bandwagon and began entering school.
By the mid 1980s nearly every household in this Liberian town had a member in elementary, junior and senior high school or college. Those that obtained training or higher education and engaged in gainful employment remained supportive of aging parents. Due to the education of many children from Dingamo, some parents were able to travel to various parts of the world that were once beyond wildest imagination.
About eight years ago many citizens of Dingamo that are fortunate to reside in the United States expressed desire to organize for the sole purpose of extending helping hands to their town. I reintroduced the name DIMOCO, briefly discussed its past activities, and it was voted upon. Since its rebirth in the United States, members have sacrificed, raised money and annually supply school children in Dingamo with basic educational needs. Majority of the members generate income far below the poverty line of the United States. As they say in Liberia, “turtle wants to box but no hands”. They want to do more for their hometown. To seek helping hands, the organization transformed itself into a non-profit and now enjoys 501(c) (3) status as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.
It is my hope that the aims and objectives of this organization will draw generosity in furtherance of its goals and accomplishment of the gargantuan task at hand.
Sei Rubel Gehyeka
Founder/Board Member
