Welcome To Hill-Ton School of the Future
School of the Future
With no access to any type of formal education, the children of this ever-smiling African town face eternal Socio-economic and educational injustices. Some will be afforded the opportunity to leave Liberia, in search of a brighter future; most will be left behind, where they will be forced to learn the struggles of daily survival and stripped of the opportunity to ever learn to read or write.
My name is Newton N. Gaye. I was born and raised in Liberia. Though I was fortunate enough to attend a nearby school, the few books that we had access to be solely for teacher use. As a student, sharing one book with the other children if there is one, I was eventually able to learn to read at a very low level. I always wished for a book of my own. I dreamed of visiting a library! There were no libraries in my town. Fortunately for me, my dream eventually came true; in 1992, as a tenth grade student, I was one of the few young men in my community able to go to America. I left my country in search of a better life as a refugee for myself and my family. I left behind many of my loved ones in the process.
Once in the United States, I entered the University City High School in Philadelphia. I was a tenth grade ESL student reading at a third grade level. I spent most of my time reading and studying in the public and school libraries. In the fall of 1995, I was accepted into a baccalaureate program at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 2000, I graduated from DPT Business School for Computer Services in Northeast Philadelphia. I married Edna Duo, a woman from Liberia. We had six children together. All of my children attended schools in the Philadelphia area. So far, one has graduated from Gannon University in Pennsylvania. I am thankful for the wonderful life my children get to have in this country because of the opportunities that are available here.
It is my goal to provide the children of Liberia with equal opportunities for education and the potential for a better life. Edna and I had worked hard to build a fifteen room school in Omega Paynesville, Liberia, where there are no local schools for the children to attend. With the help of my sister-in-law, Debbie Duo, an Accountant with a degree from University of Liberia, construction began and is already well under-way! The new learning community, HILL-TON SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE, named after our two youngest children, Hillary and Newton II, will host Kindergarten through High School level students. Our plans include an auditorium, library and computer lab; which, we will open to University students, as well as our own students, who wish to study within our facility. We have appointed a school Principal, University of Liberia student, Leamon Duo, who eagerly awaits her student body made up of over 500 children. Each room is 40’x40’, with 15’ high ceilings and large windows to allow for ample light and air ventilation to keep the children comfortable while learning. Edna and I purchased a 1.5 acre plot of land beside the site of the main school; where we hope to one day expand the campus, adding on a science lab.
My wife and I have invested everything we have into this project, and we won’t quit until we reach our goal of providing equal educational opportunities to the children of Liberia, but we need your help! We are seeking assistance from anyone passionate about children, education, reading, technology, and bettering the lives of deserving p
