The Informer (Monrovia)
1 July 2009
A 15-member delegation from the U.S based Embracing Project accompanied by Child Rights activist Kimmie Weeks Monday paid a courtesy call on Vice President Joseph N. Boakai at his Capitol Building office.
According to the Founder of the project, Esther Brown, the delegation which arrived in the country a week ago, came to link children involved in violence in the United States with former child soldiers in Liberia in order to reform them.
Mrs. Brown who was accompanied by her husband Michael Brown, a former NBA star, said the Embracing Project is to "influence some of the U.S. youths who had found a personal motivation that could change their lives, to help other youths".
In remarks, Vice President Boakai said despite the disarming and demobilization of an estimated 103,000 soldiers, challenges still remain in detraumatizing and rehabilitating not only youths who participated in the war in Liberia, but also those who were not directly involved in the war.
Vice President Boakai further observed that although many of them have gone through various training programs, there was still need for training to tackle the high unemployment rate in the country and ensure stability in the post-war country.
He added that there is still need to deal in some issues in counseling, and said the government would appreciate any assistance in this direction.
Also in remarks, Mr. Weeks, Founder of Youth Action International(YAI) said his organization is currently involved in the training of an estimated 300 women at centers established in New Kru Town and other communities.
Mr. Weeks, who is currently based in the United States, said he is also engaged in the training of youths in cosmetology and other skills and extending them micro-loans to enable them establish their own businesses and become self-reliant.
Group of '77 Honors Several Personalities
Meanwhile the Group of '77 has honored the U.S based NGOs Samaritan Purse and Foundation for Women (FFW) as well as several personalities for their support the disabled community.
Personalities honored Friday were Governance Commission member Mrs. Hawa Goll-Kotchi, rights activist Kimmie Weeks, the Chairman of the Group of '77 Board, Mr. Peter Kamei and Chinese Ambassador to Liberia His Excellency Zhou Yuxiao.
Others are Mrs. Emily Peal, Country Director of the Foundation for Women, Agnes Effiong of the Liberia National Lotteries, Ms. Lillian Marroun, Inventory Control Manager, Firestone Plantation Company and the General Manager of Lone Star Communications, Mr. Khaled Mikawi. Madam Velma Mitchell, President of the Women of Substance and Star Radio Producer Jeff Tarnue were also flowered.
The institutions and individuals were honored at the 3rd Graduation and Closing Exercises of the Group of '77 Kindergarten and Elementary
School held at the Group's Newport Street Compound.
In remarks at the ceremony, Second Lady Kartumu Y. Boakai, who is also Executive Director of the Group of '77, thanked the institutions and individuals for their contributions which, she noted, have brought the needed changes at the institution.
She especially thanked the international NGO Samaritan Purse for constructing homes for and relocating 40 disabled families of the Group of '77.
She commended Mrs. Peal and the Foundation for Women for extending micro-loans to inmates of the Group of '77. This, Mrs. Boakai noted, has helped the disabled who used to eke out their living by begging at street corners, to own their own businesses and become self-reliant.
The Second Lady also thanked the Founder of the Foundation for Women, Madam Deborah Lindholm for extending to Liberia her micro-loan scheme which, she noted, has helped to transform the lives of many war affected Liberians.
The graduation exercises were followed by an exhibition, where clothes, envelopes, x-ray bags and other items made by the Tailoring Department of the Group of '77, were displayed.
The Group of '77 is one of the institutions under the office of the Vice President of Liberia.
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