Giving a brief story of his own challenges he encountered in life as a young man,
Kimmie Weeks told students that it they were never too young or old to impact the world. “I started my first organization when I was fourteen here in Liberia and I had to struggle for it to run. They used to call us NGO in a file because we did not have an office space to work and kept all of our papers in on faded file. But we kept on working and my vision continues to grow,” Weeks recalled.

Weeks challenged pupils to set a big long term vision that “makes even yourself afraid” and to work hard and diligently to achieving it. He noted: “Nothing worth having comes easy, you must also remember that to have great success means you have to work three or four times more than the person sitting next to you.”

According to Dr. Weeks, “in life’s journey, there is a lonely path we all encounter which needs to be travel upon alone.” He further explained that young people have to be ready face life with its’ challenges and live that fulfilled life they envision. He emphasized that the future is now, and young people all have effective roles to play in securing a bright future for themselves Liberia, and world at large.

Dr. Weeks parting quote from Mariaan Williamson: “our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure” has now become the slogan of Ricks Institute, established in 1887 and under a current administration of Mr. Olu Menjay.

In June 2010, a week before my graduation from the African Leadership Academy and my return to Liberia, I contacted Kimmie to volunteer to work for Youth Action International in the summer before heading off to College (I ended up staying a whole year). He accepted my offer. I arrived in Liberia on June 13. I started work on the 14. My first task was to help the graduation ceremony of the Center
for Women’s Empowerment; one YAI’s many projects. My second task was to help select a new batch of students to enroll at the Center. My third task was to organize an event for the women at the Center and influential women in Liberia.
This event ended up as a mentorship program and I was in charge of it. I organized meeting with these women senators and ministers and our students on a regular basis. I cannot remember the exact sequence in which my other tasks came but I can sit back today and point out the leadership lessons and
experiences that each of these tasks taught me and how they are panning out in my life.

Over the last one year, I met many people influential people because of Youth Action International. I met many ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. I met people who stories have humbled me and inspired me to work harder. I have become a more confident writer and speaker. I learned to see compliments as an opportunity to grow. I learned teamwork and diversity. I learned to use
negative feedback to improve. I learned to be optimistic even when the chances of success were so slim. I was introduced to the “real world” that people always talked about.
I did not have a specific job at YAI and it was because of this “free role”, as we would say in Soccer, I was able to learn the many things I know today. I wrote, edited, and delivered letters and documents. I created budgets, attended programs, made flight reservations, proxy for Kimmie, delivered stories to media institutions for publication, wrote proposal and did just about everything I was told to do. At times, I felt some of the stuff I did were burdensome but I learned to look beyond myself. I learned to work for others.
In March, I received college admission with full scholarship. Words will never describe how thankful I am to Youth Action International for assisting me in the process. The encouragement, guidance and letter of recommendation played a major part. A card from my admissions package read, “ Your dedication to Youth Action International and the youth of Liberia is awesome”.
I am truly thankful for everything.

This year, the charity with the most votes will receive a $1 million grant, the runner up will receive $500,000, the 3rd place charity will receive $250,000,
and the 4th and 5th place charities will each receive $125,000 grants.

There are only 25 organizations selected so we have a good chance to win, but it won’t be easy. That’s why we need a number of dedicated volunteers who can help us spread the word and get votes once the competition begins.

To sign up for this cause, visit: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e4wtv5hwgsxj5um8/start and fill up the online volunteer form.

Please take a few minutes to check out the rest of the web site.

Mr. Kimmie Weeks, Executive Director of Youth Action International called the ratification of the African Youth Charter a major victory for youths across Liberia. Speaking on the lawn of the Legislature, Kimmie Weeks said: “this is a historic day for the youths of Liberia. I am extremely happy that we have Senators who prioritize youth and today they have proven this commitment.” Kimmie Weeks praised Senators who actively supported the bill including: Senator Jewel Taylor, Senator Geraldine Doe, Senator Blamo Nelson, Senator Roland Karn, Senator Lahai Lasanna, Senator John Ballout, Senator Nathanial Innis, and Senator Joseph Nagbe.

Mr. Kwame Ross, President of LINSU and a key player in the lobbying of the passage of the bill attended the Senate session on Tuesday and Thursday. Mr. Ross called the passage of the African Youth Charter an important achievement for young people. For his part, FLY President Augustus Zayzay hailed the passage of the bill as astonishing and timely move. Mr. Zayzay said that FLY and its partners will now work actively to popularize the bill and ensure that young people across the country are aware of the contents.

At least 200 young people gathered at the Senate chamber on Thursday to show support for the passage of the bill. The students said they had gathered because they felt the bill was important to their development and wanted to ensure that they were a part of the process to get the charter passed. Student Cornelius Gray said: “I am happy that I was a part of this process. I will be able to tell my children that I fought for something that benefits them. I am a proud Liberian today.

The African Youth Chater was passed by the African Union in 2006 in Banjul, Gambia. The Liberian government signed the bill. Ratification of the African Youth Charter now makes it a law in Liberia. Youth groups say with the ratification of the African Youth Charter the status of young people will rapidly improve over the next several years.

Kimmie reads to children in Bassa

Youth Action International has formally launched its Liberia Early Childhood Initiative (LECI) in Grand Bassa County.  The program, will provide advance early childhood development (ECD) training to all pre-primary teachers and will also provide the latest age appropriate curriculum and materials for thousands of students in Grand Bassa County.    Youth Action International formally launched LECI at its sub office in Buchanan on September 29^th.

YAI’s Executive Director Mr. Kimmie Weeks said that Grand Bassa was the first of several counties his organization was targeting to extend its ECD program to.  He observed:  “Early childhood is the foundation for a child’s life and yet it is the area of our education that is most neglected.   There is no curriculum, no training, no materials, not support.   We are shooting ourselves in the foot by not focusing on building a strong education foundation or our children.”

While in Grand Bassa, Mr. Weeks and his team toured several pre-primary schools to reach to students and donate boxes of hundreds of children’s reading books.   Helena Carter, Head of YAI’s ECD program said she hoped that the teachers in Bassa would start to read to their children more as it was an essential part of their development.  “Teachers must constantly read to the children because the benefits are many.   If we fail to read to our children we are failing them, ourselves, and our country.

YAI has run its ECD program in Montserrado over the last two years.  The pilot phase of the program benefited more than 75 schools, 400 teachers and 8,000 students.   YAI works in Liberia to provide education, health care and economic empowerment for children and youth.

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.”