By Elbie Sebleh
MONROVIA: Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), Liberia Commission, over the weekend, handed over technical vocational equipment start-up kits, value thousands of United States dollars to thirteen rehabilitated at-risk youths. They benefited from its pilot project.
The handover ceremony was held at the ECOWAS compound in Monrovia, and was graced by Bomi County Senator, Edwin M. Snow, beneficiaries, and implementing partners as well as Representatives from various government Ministries.
The thirteen at-risk youths were rehabilitated by the ECOWAS Commission Liberia Country Resident Representative. It was implemented by Liberian Rehab Center, Mother of Light Rehabilitation center among others.
During their time at the various institutions, the at-risk youths were also trained in different technical vocational skills, ranging from Interior Design and Soap Making, Cake Designs, Tailoring, Cosmetology, Building Construction among others to have them integrated into the society as productive citizens.
Providing overview of the project and officially donating the equipment, ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Resident Representative, Josephine Nkrumah said that the gestures are intended to economically empower the thirteen rehabilitated at-risk youths who have benefited from their projects.
According to her, the donation also seeks to provide start-up kits for at-risk youths to make them independent and productive citizens in order to significantly contribute to nation-building in their quest to add value to families and communities.
” Today, we have called you to the program marking the distribution of start-up kits for at-risk youths. Today, we have with us technical vocational equipment that are intended to boost the capacity of those rehabilitated. We want to appreciate them for their resilience and fortitude to get back to the society and make use of the skills they have all acquired,” she noted.
For his part, Bomi County Senator, Edwin M. Snow, extolled the ECOWAS Commission Liberia Country Resident Representative for the gestures and dedication in helping to transform ECOWAS youth.
” I want to thank you for this gesture. To admit, this is welcoming because when a single citizen of the region is rehabilitated, it means that our peace, security and progress is saved. Because, we can make all of the good laws but when we have lawlessness, all that is meaningless. To the beneficiaries, it is my hope you will use the equipment properly. I promised to make some contributions based on the progress you will make, ” he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ms. Janet Jackson, expressed appreciation and gratitude to ECOWAS for looking in their direction.
However, she assured ECOWAS and all of the participants that they will work with the start-up kits given to them to ensure that they are productive citizens that are ready to see Liberia transformed positively.
Meanwhile, Rev. Sam Numoo, Executive Director of Liberian Rehab Center and Ms. Aetinique Cuetis, Mother of Light Rehabilitation Center said that it was nice working with the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia in the implementation of the project.
According to them, it was not an easy experience as ECOWAS project manager conducted her oversight- responsibilities: Monitoring and evaluation strategy with caution and ensured that the project ended within its timeframe.
