Non-profit organization, Youth Action International (YAI), along with British music producer, songwriter, and vocalist, Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam (MIA), will be opening the Becky Primary School this August. Following YAI’s commitment to education, the new school seeks to create a favorable learning environment for its students intended on inspiring the children to learn.
MIA was introduced to YAI’s founder and Executive Officer, Kimmie Weeks, when they appeared together in the MTV television program entitled “4Real”. The program featured YAI’s programs in Liberia and specifically their efforts with the Becky Primary School. After seeing YAI’s impact on the students of the Becky Primary School, MIA teamed up with YAI to help fund the rebuilding and renovation of the school.
The Becky Primary School is located in Johnsonville Dolo Town, Margibi County and enrolls 625 students per year. The new school will include new classrooms, a library, computer labs, and a new playground. In addition to building renovations, YAI proposes to provide the teachers with salary and will give its students free tuition for a year. YAI will also be partnering with non-profit organization Litworld to provide training for the teachers.
August 22, 2008
Forbes, 8.14.08: Today marks the official launch of The Greener Diamond Foundation, whose mission is to raise awareness about the continued trade of conflict diamonds and to fund restoration efforts for communities in Africa that are continuing to suffer from the connection between the diamond trade and warfare. Youth Action International is one of three organizations to benefit from The Greener Diamon Foundation.
The Greener Diamond aims to inspire a new generation free of restraints proliferated by conflict diamonds and to educate consumers on the true cost of earth-mined diamonds; financially, environmentally and socially. MiaDonna & Co LLC is the sole sponsor of The Greener Diamond. The two entities work together to bring the beauty of love back to diamonds.
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August 22, 2008
Monrovia, Liberia- July 29, 2008- The American based organization Youth Action International in partnership with All for Africa is proposing to tackle the problems facing the women in Liberia using a multi-pronged approach through the creation of a Center for Women Empowerment in Monrovia, Liberia. 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 women in Liberia. The center promotes the vital role women can play in sustainable development. It is an integral part of a long-term local capacity-building program for young women. Continue reading
August 22, 2008
Monrovia, Liberia- July 29, 2008- International non-profit organization, Humanity Unites Brilliance (HUB), arrived today in Monrovia to work in partnership with non-profit organization Youth Action International (YAI). Together, they will provide food, water, education, and micro-credit loans to young people across Liberia.
HUB is an American-based organization with the mission “To help transition our world from survival to self-empowerment to sustained abundance”. They create sustainment projects around the world to help the poorest people break out of poverty. HUB works in partnership with some of the world’s finest non-profit organizations and connects all of these organizations to help create a cohesive package to both aid and empower the chosen communities in need.
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August 22, 2008
Monrovia, Liberia- July 14, 2008- Internationally acclaimed Liberian child rights activist Kimmie Weeks arrived in Monrovia today to head a major humanitarian mission. Over the next six months Weeks and his organization, Youth Action International (YAI), will launch new anti-poverty and youth empowerment projects across Liberia.
Along with the construction of a multi-purpose school and teacher training programs, the funds will also support the creation of a center for women’s empowerment, a youth resource center, and an early childhood education initiative. Weeks will also focus on creating special programs to assist former child soldiers.
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August 22, 2008
Kimmie Weeks and his youth run organization, Youth Action International partners with Humanity Unites Brilliance (HUB) in their joint effort to help communities in Africa move from survival to self sustainment through self empowerment.
HUB also announced its first humanitarian program which includes micro loans to the women of the worst slums in Nairobi Kenya to make school uniforms for the orphans whose parents have died of Aids. Weeks, was a child refugee of the war in Liberia and nearly died of hunger. Since then, he has been a tireless advocate to end poverty. When he was 16 years old, Weeks led the Children’s Disarmament Campaign to rescue 20,000 other child soldiers in Liberia. As a result, he was forced to flee to the United States where he founded Youth Action International, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuild communities through schools, playgrounds, and business opportunities for women and children in war-torn African countries.
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August 22, 2008
Please join the Congressional Human Rights Caucus for a briefing on human trafficking from conflict zones in Sub-Saharan Africa. The briefing will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, in room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The majority of trafficking victims in Africa are children who are trafficked either within their own countries or in the region for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Adult women are also trafficked for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude across African borders to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Conflicts and civil strife in Africa have created displaced populations and traumatized local communities who are vulnerable to exploitation. In conflict areas, where government control is often limited, armed groups frequently abduct women or children for sexual slavery, and often recruit children into their ranks.
The conscription of child soldiers is a unique and extreme form of trafficking that UNICEF estimates affects more than 300,000 children under 18 in more than 30 armed conflicts worldwide. In December 2007, the United Nations noted that evidence suggests that refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) camps are often prime recruiting grounds for child soldiers because of the concentration of vulnerable children.
May 9, 2008
Jinja, Uganda – On Wednesday April 30, 2008 Jinja District officials handed over goods donated by Youth Action International to the transit center in Jinja. Youth Action International (YAI) provided beds, mattresses, and blankets to cater for the basic needs of the children at the transit centre. This is the only transit centre in the district that caters for abandoned children who originate from different parts of Uganda including Karamoja, Soroti, Mbale, and Gulu. Speaking at the handover ceremony Ms. Agnes Amooti Namiyingo, YAI’s Country Representative noted that YAI chose to work with Jinja transit centre because it was giving hope to children who would otherwise not have anyone to care for them and possibly spend the rest of their lives on the streets. James, one of the children at the centre said that “he never thought he would sleep on a bed nor have a blanket to cover himself.”
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May 9, 2008
Monrovia, Liberia: Eve de la Mothe Karoubi has taken up temporary assignment as Youth Action International’s Regional Director in West Africa. Although based in Liberia, Eve will help to coordinate YAI’s activities in Sierra Leone as well as explore opening a new office in the Ivory Coast. While in West Africa, Eve will host workshops on conflict resolution, and help launch a series of new YAI programs for women and youth. Continue reading
April 19, 2008
