MONROVIA: In an effort to buttress government’s initiative for the rehabilitation of less fortunate people or disadvantaged youth in the country, the Diocesan Bishop of the West African Council of the 35th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), Dr. Leo M. Simpson, has disclosed plans by his church to build a rehabilitation center in Margibi County to rehabilitate drug users or ‘zogos’ in the country.
He said, the PAW Church has decided to undertake this initiative though expensive but, it is very important for the society.
He said the project is import because the rehabilitation of those young Liberians who are addicted to drugs should not be left with the Liberian Government alone.
Bishop Simpson pointed out that the prevalence of drugs among young people in Liberia is a serious threat to the fabric of the society.
He said there is a need to alleviate the problem of drugs addiction across the country.
Speaking in an interview with a team of Journalists at his office yesterday, Bishop Simpson, said since the Liberian civil war, there has been an increase in the consumption of illegal drugs in Liberia with users neglected by their families and friends.
“Drugs addiction has overtaken Liberia and if the government and citizens do not attach importance to reducing it, the future generation of the country will be damaged,” he stressed.
According to him, the disadvantaged youths, commonly referred to as ‘Zogos’ (males) and ‘Zogees’ (females) are the most disadvantaged youth in the country.
He said if the minds of members of this group, are not rehabilitated, they might pose serious security threats to Liberia.
He said Zogos and Zogees who are now addicted to dangerous drugs can be useful in society if they are rehabilitated.
The Liberian clergyman who is also the Principal of the Haywood Mission Institute located on the Old Road in Sinkor said as a manifestation of its commitment, the PAW has made available one of its schools call “Samuel Grimes Memorial Institute” in Kakata City, located along the Bong Mines Road, to be used for rehabilitation purposes.
He said the PAW will partner with the A.M. Kyne Collegiate Resource Center located on 12th street in Sinkor to rehabilitate the drug addicts.
He said the Rehabilitation center will be headed by one of Haywood Mission Institute Alumni, Mr. Adam Kyne who is also the Founder and Executive Director of the A. M. Kyne Collegiate Resource Center in Liberia and also the executive Director of the Youth Assured Ministry International, a Non-profit Christian and social justice organization.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kyne, speaking told journalists that he is delighted to help rehabilitate at risk youth free of charge.
He said he is a former Clinician at the National Counseling Group in Richmond, USA. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Disaster Crisis & Intervention from Walden University. He also earned a degree in Disaster Crisis & Intervention and also Studied Social Work at master level at from Virginia Commonwealth University.