The size of your dreams must always exceed your
current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams
do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

      — President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
        President Republic of Liberia & Chair of AAWPeace Conference


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FACTS on Youth Development Issues in Liberia

In Liberia and most African countries, if a family can afford to send only one child to school they usually select the boy child. One third of all rural households in sub-Saharan Africa are headed by women. African women’s workdays may be 50% longer than men’s.

Women lag far behind men in access to land, credit and decent jobs, even though a growing body of research shows that enhancing women’s economic options boosts national economies.
  • The youth make up 63% of the country's population and are amongst the most vulnerable group
  • The percentage of females enrolled is lowest for junior & Senior High level
  • The average age of a senior high student is 21
  • By the time they are above 21 years of age many young adult females in Liberia have interest on matters outside the school. (I.e. prostitution, sexual exploitation, sex for grades etc.)
  • College graduates in the job market gave employers hand written resumes which most times are written by someone else
  • There are virtually no afterschool programs for children, afterschool they are left alone (ages 5 on up)
  • “Most of the young people today in Liberia have not lived in a totally peaceful country in their entire life. They were either displaced, refugees, victims of violence or senseless sex acts, rape, sexually abused or combatant at some point in their lives deprived of their fundamental rights including education, health, livelihood as well as family as a result of the long standing conflict.”
    Kula Fofana –Youth Advocate /Co-Chair Visions 2030/ Executive Director Paramount Young Women Initiative