Thanks to Kids with Sole, Youth Action International staff in Liberia have been delivering thousands shoes to residents in Monrovia for the past two weeks. The donation has created enthusiasm in the community, and crowds of people gathered to receive a pair of tennis shoes. This news comes in advance of the Kids with Sole “Steps in the Right Direction” fundraiser to be held January 10th in Mamaroneck, New York. The fundraiser will be a walk-a-thon, with proceeds benefitting YAI.

One year ago, the Kids with Sole, a Rye Neck High School chapter of Youth Action International located in Mamaroneck, New York, asked Kimmie Weeks what they could contribute to children in post-war Liberia.  He answered with one simple word, “Sneakers! In response, Kaila Pedersen, now in the 12^th grade, formed Kids with Sole, an intergenerational project that worked with both young people and adults to collect sneakers for impoverished Liberian children. Kaila explains, “Sneakers are important sanitation barriers that stop the spread of disease, prevent injuries and provide structural support for growing children.” Following Kimmie’s philosophy that promotes youth leadership, Kids with Sole members began shoe collection campaigns throughout their community.  “We have had a great experience, but we still need more sneakers – because our ultimate goal is 10,000 pairs,” says Kaila, adding, “Every pair counts.”

This month, YAI will launch a revolutionary pilot program intended to enhance education and literacy for children in Monrovia from birth to 8 years-of-age. The program started when Mother Goose Time, a U.S.-based company that provides preschool curriculum in monthly themed kits aimed at nurturing children’s emotional, physical and intellectual growth, began donating thousands of educational kits to YAI as a first start in improving Liberia’s early education program. Now, Mother Goose Time is coupling the materials with a teacher training program.

“Initially, we expect to train and mobilize 200 teachers who will in turn, educate over 8,000 students,” said Leslie Falconer, CEO of Mother Goose Time. “Once the pilot is successful, our intent is to capacitate all of the teachers in Liberia and begin transferring what we have learned to other countries with children in need.” Although education was declared free and compulsory in the country in 2007, there is a short supply of trained teachers. The pilot project helps solve the pressing need quickly by setting up peer-to-peer training and support among Liberian teachers.

The Mother Goose Time program addresses the reality of post-war countries by increasing the education of young children and decreasing the likelihood that these children will be easily enlisted in future rebellion.

http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Program_wv.aspx?episode=37254

My name is Esther Rodriguez-Brown. My husband, Michael, and I are the founders of The Embracing Project, a non profit organization we created to educate inner city youth about the similarities between genocide and gang activity.  One purpose of this journey is to expose inner city youth to the experiences of children soldiers in different parts of the world and then to create a pen-pal relationship between both groups.

After writing hundreds of emails to many different organizations requesting help and receiving none, I was almost ready to give up – but I could not.  I knew some one was there waiting for my call.  Finally, somebody gave me Kimmie Weeks information and I immediately sent him an email explaining The Embracing Project and the link between children soldiers and young gang members.  I asked him to  help me create a pen-pal program  between inner city youth from the US and young soldiers from Liberia, Uganda, and Sierra Leone in order to awake society’s conscience and to help other youths also in dire need of a friendly embrace.

I sent the email on March 19, 2007, and nine days later on March 28 I received a response.  Kimme loved the idea, “That sounds like a great project, I would love to see more!”  That email was the beginning of the journey.  In August 2008, I finally met Kimmie face to face. I made the trip out to Liberia to see first-hand what he is doing for the world.  The experience was absolutely amazing!  I met wonderful people who have made the commitment to help children in that region of the world, where NECESSITY is written in capital letters.  I never could have imagined what I was about to experience.  Ever since I was a teenager I have dreamed of visiting Africa, and now, with almost forty years behind me, my dream was realized.  It is never too late to do what your heart wishes.

As we arrived at Monrovia airport, I saw United Nations planes and tanks parked all around and it hit me – we were landing in a post war country. My heart was beating like a drum and my emotions were in a freefall on a roller coaster.  I was excited!  I was nervous! I was happy! I was sad… I was curious… I was shocked.  The trip from the airport to the capital was an adventure in itself.

When you finally get into Monrovia, your entire mind, body, and soul awakens to a separate reality – the smells, the noise, the colors, the energy, everything is different. I loved it.

After staying a couple of days in Monrovia, Kimmie took us to Temas.  I have never in my life felt so welcome, even when I return to Spain, and my family is waiting for me at the airport.  All of the beautiful faces, the singing, and the smiling… I felt like we were in heaven, surrounded by Angels.  I met Mama Doris, a courageous woman who put her home and her family at the disposition of hundreds of children who have become orphans due to war.  Next, I met Jessie, a brave fourteen year old who, after living   in the streets with an injured arm and leg for eight months, is now going to school and having fun with his brothers and sisters.  Then I met a blind seventeen year old young man named George Kimmie.  Even with his eyes closed he can see the love and kindness in others.  A few other amazing people I met were Momo, Yatta, Varney, Jenebah, Seensee, Rebecca, Amos, Isaac, and over 50 others who will always be with me in my heart.  They showed me so much love, and taught me so much about the importance of strength and courage.  I will always be grateful for this experience.

Morris, a former child soldier, was kidnapped when he was only thirteen years old and forced to carry a gun and kill.  He is now helping other former children soldiers go through rehabilitation to become better individuals, both for themselves and for their communities.  The stories that the former children soldiers shared with us will always stay deep inside me – the suffering that they experienced is unimaginable.  No child in the world should ever go though what they were forced to.  I am deeply grateful that they are now a part of my life.  

I felt like I was at home in Liberia; people are so full of joy, so full of life, and so grateful to be alive that is an inspiration to anybody who has the opportunity to go there. 

I am committed to returning every year with a group of inner city youth from the US and a group of volunteers to help wherever we can.  I am committed to sending resources to Mama Doris and the children in Tema so they can keep attending school.  I am committed to helping Morris and his organization in any way I can so he can continue to help former children soldiers.  And I am committed to Kimmie Weeks cause for opening his world to my world.

To all of you, my Liberian family,

Esther Rodriguez-Brown

The Hour Hands Campaign is a global initiative to reclaim the horrific and brutal hours that the people of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda spent in the midst of civil war. These wars lasted generations – the entire lifetimes of a generation of young people. 

Through the Hour Hands Campaign, YAI is trying to raise $150,000 by December 24th. This date marks the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Liberian civil war. Let’s put HOUR HANDS together and reclaim the hours lost to the ravages of war. Donate the value of an hour of your time to reclaim an hour lost to civil war, or join our efforts by fundraising on behalf of YAI. For more info, click the Hour Hands Campaign link on the left.