Kimmie Weeks and the Youth-to-Youth Fund

Youth Action International (YAI) is a global nonprofit organization working in Liberia to improve the opportunities for young women to find decent employment and start their own business. YAI was recently selected as a candidate to receive a grant under YEN’s first round of Competitive Grant Scheme for youth lead organizations in the Mano River Union. YAI has proposed the creation of a “Center for Women Empowerment” in Monrovia.   The Center for Women Empowerment will use basic education, alternative counseling, vocational training, and micro-credit loans to alleviate the negative impact the civil war has had on young women in Liberia.
YAI was started and is inspired by acclaimed youth activist Kimmie Weeks, a survivor of the Liberian Civil War. After having survived enormous personal tragedy, Kimmie has gone on to receive the 2007 Golden Brick Award and has been decorated the Knight Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption in Liberia, all before the age of 25. YEN had the chance to interview Kimmie and presents here his thoughts on the future for Liberian youth: 

YEN: So much has been said about the devastating effects of 5 years of civil war on Liberia’s youth, how can the perspectives for Liberia youth to find decent jobs be improved?

Kimmie: This is a major concern for anybody looking at long term peace, stability and development in Liberia.    The country currently has an extremely high unemployment rate.  Some data puts it at 70-80%.  A majority of those unemployed are young people.    I strongly believe that by helping to foster a spirit of local innovation, and entrepreneurship we can encourage self employment across the country.   In addition, we need a heavy focus on vocational training and education. The jobs might not be here now, but if they came tomorrow would Liberians be prepared?  Not unless we can develop a skilled workforce.

YEN: How is your organization, Youth Action International, contributing to the fight against youth unemployment?

Kimmie: Youth Action International’s entire mission is dedicated to education and economic empowerment for young people.   Our vision is to open training centers, business development skills centers, job resource centers etc across the country that help young woman gain decent employment.  I can think of no challenge more critical and timely. YAI has been granting training and small business grants to young Liberians to start and scale up their business for many years now. 

Kimmie and YAI’s work is featured as part of a CNN International series “Africa Voices”. The piece highlights YAI ongoing work with YEN and UNIDO’s Programme Decent and Productive work for youth in the Mano River Union. To view the programme, visit http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/10/18/kimmie.weeks/index.html