The Story Behind Educate West Point

Educate West Point (EWP) was founded to address the severe educational challenges faced by children in West Point, one of Liberia’s most underserved communities. The area was devastated by two civil wars and the 2014 Ebola epidemic, and even today, many children still struggle to access the education they deserve. EWP aims to transform their futures by providing the opportunity for quality education, helping them break the cycle of poverty.

Musa Sheriff, one of the founders of Educate West Point, grew up in West Point and understands the hardships the community faces. His own education was interrupted by the civil wars, and like many children in the area, he was forced to leave school to support his family. This personal experience drives his commitment to providing education to the children of West Point through EWP.

In 2014, during the Ebola epidemic, Musa served as an ambulance driver on the frontlines in West Point. There, he met Mitch Mercer, a Peace Corps volunteer, and together, they responded to the crisis. United by their desire to make a lasting impact, Musa and Mitch continued working together after the epidemic, focusing on Liberia’s most vulnerable communities. Along the way, they met Katie Letheren, another international aid worker in Liberia at the time. The trio recognized that education was the key to long-term change in West Point, leading them to found Educate West Point in 2017 with the mission to provide education to the children of the community.