Projects

Supporting Youth Livelihood & Governance

Written on 22 October 2012.

Supporting Youth Livelihood and Governance:

Project Title: Supporting Youth Livelihood & Governance in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Sponsored by:

The European Commission
Y-Care International, YMCA of the UK
Comic Relief, UK

Total Duration: 48 months (4 Years), From January 2009 to December 2012

Overall objectives:

In respect of Liberia and Sierra Leone: Reduction in poverty levels amongst vulnerable young people
Reduction in levels of social exclusion among vulnerable young people
Improved governance around the issue of employment creation and vocational training for young people·
Strengthened capacity of civil society to respond to the needs of vulnerable young people

Specific objective:

Improved socio-economic status of up to 4,000 disadvantaged young people in Sierra Leone (Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni) and Liberia (Monrovia, Ganta, Gbarnga, Zorzor, Kakata) through vocational training and participation in local decision making by the end of year 4.

Target groups:

4,500 Young unemployed people (aged 15-35), including particularly vulnerable groups such as people living with HIV/AIDS and young people with disabilities.
630 Members of community based organisations
504 Members of Non Governmental Organisations
540 Local authority representatives

Main Activities:

Provision of vocational training and post training support for 1,800 young people
Civic education, advocacy and peer education training for 2,700 young people
Technical and management training for community based structures and local Non Governmental Organisations
Facilitating meetings between local people and local authorities

Results of these activities:

There is increased knowledge among young people on their civic rights and responsibilities. This is important as many young people in these communities had little or no knowledge of civic issues. This new knowledge has made young people to be more active in governance issues and issues that affect them. Many of these young people are now reading publications that would further enlighten them as a way of avoiding exclusion and marginalization in the society
Young people who are serving as peer educators are conducting activities in schools and communities at these project sites so as to extend their knowledge to other colleagues through non-formal activities. At times, the peer educators do joint open-air activities for mass awareness at sport events and in crowded places
Civil Society Organizations in Zorzor in Northern Liberia are more committed to the development of young people and the inclusion of young people in their activities. The capacities of these organizations in providing leadership, developing proposals and writing budget have been enhanced so that they can help address the needs of young people more adequately
Young people are learning skills to increase their opportunities for employment and sustainable livelihood. This would help reduce the level of unemployment among young people and the overall poverty rate of the country. The training has gone over 2 months and some of these young people are already getting little incomes from what they have learned so far
The capacities of young people have been enhanced to engage local decision makers on matters that affect them. These young people have been formed into advocacy groups at the various project sites that will identify the issues affecting them in their communities and design strategies through which they will advocate on these issues. The focus is to have a greater responsiveness of local and national government on youth issues as well as increased employment and employment related training opportunities for young people
Community Steering Groups (CSGs) have been formed in communities. These CSGs are tasked each of the project with providing inputs and advice on project activities and also monitoring the progress of the project to ensure that it meets the overall goal. These CSGs are comprised of representatives of some communities, representatives of the civil society or youth organizations, representatives of local government, some beneficiaries, representatives of the YMCA board and the project staff. As a result of this, there is increased ownership and support of the community towards the project. A Project Steering Group to guide the implementation of the project at the national level (for both countries) will be established in 2010.

Coordinator: E. Timotheus Kamaboakai

Phone number: (231) 886550070

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Adolescent Reproductive Health

Written on 07 October 2012.

Adolescent Reproductive Health:

Project Title: Adolescent Reproductive Health Liberia YMCA Youth Drop in Center

The Youth Drop in Center (YDIC) was established by the Liberia YMCA in partnership with the Medical Emergency Relief international- MERLIN, an English international NGO in partnership with the YMCA of Liberia in October 2007. There were need for youth in and out of school to access HIV and AIDS and other reproductive health services including STIs, family planning, life skills training and voluntary counseling and testing. The project is being implemented in six communities in Monrovia: New Kru Town, Clara Town, Soniwein, West Point Community and Crown Hill Community. Merlin officially ended its collaboration with the YMCA in 2010. Population Services International (PSI) is now collaborating with the Liberia YMCA in providing services to young people in the Youth Drop in Center. At the center, voluntary HIV testing is carried out including counseling, treatment of STIs, condom distribution and family planning.

BENEFICIARIES

Over 3000 persons or beneficiaries have access yearly to the Youth Drop-in Center, while the outreach program attracts over 7,000 persons yearly. The project has developed human resources, where over twenty peer educators have been trained in behavior change process in regards to HIV/AIDS. These peer educators today lend support to their peers through counseling and condom distribution in all the communities of the project

Coordinator: Pauline Wleh

Phone number: (231) 777535016

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Peace Building & Democracy

Written on 07 October 2012.

Peace Building and Democracy:

Project Title: Liberia Peace Building and Democracy Program

Sponsored by: ICCO/ Kerk in Actie /Implemented by the YMCA of Liberia

General Objective:
One of the overriding General Objectives of the Liberia Peace-building and Democracy Program (LPBDP) for which the Youth in Peace-building and Governance subscribes to is to contribute towards an enabling environment that strengthens communities where marginalized groups fully participate in governance for peaceful co-existence.

Overall Project Objective:
The overall project objective of the Youth in Peace-building & Governance Cluster is to reach out to at least 200,000 youths, between the ages of 12-35 years of age, including in-out of school youths, in three counties (locations-Montserrado, Bong and Nimba) with programs that develop their income generating skills, improve their knowledge on governance, peace-building, human rights and help reduce threats of sexual & gender base violence.

Specific Objectives and Beneficiaries:

To support the political process by engaging in civic and voters education campaigns and other electoral-related fora targeting 200,000 qualified voters in six Counties.
To provide support to the Youth FM Radio Station so that it reaches at least 200,000 qualified electorates with basic elections-related, peace-building and non-violence messages during the election period.
To enforce the analytical capacity of qualified electorates, including law enforcement officers and motorcyclists so that the values of peace building and conflict mitigation are upheld during and after the electoral process

Achievement/Milestone

200.000 youth voters in Liberia understand their rights and responsibilities, their political system and how they and where to vote.
Media campaigns and radio messages have reached voters in 6 counties
Analytical capacity of qualified electorates including law enforcement officers and motorcyclists is enforced which has brought values of peace building and conflict mitigation during and after the electoral process in place.
Less tensions during the electoral process between the motorcyclists and the police Because 6 training sessions on potential conflict issues during the electoral process have been organised, with the effect that these potential conflicts cannot easily trigger new conflicts or can be used by political partners and powerful presidential candidates (reduce divide and rule tactics).

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