As The YES Project Combats Social Issues Affecting Liberian Youths
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia – In the wake of the upsurge of narcotic drugs use and abuse in Liberia, Brain Lights International, a local faith-based nonprofit organization, is poised to join efforts to combat this menace.
The group has officially launched its public awareness and training campaign under the YES Project, aimed at tackling pressing issues such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, prostitution, mental health challenges, corruption, and promoting soul-winning fellowship in Liberia, especially among students.
Upon taken office in January 2024, current President Joseph Nyuma Boakai described the problem of narcotic drug use, abuse and trafficking in Liberia as a National Health Emergency.
The YES Project envisions empowering youth empowerment and strengthening community collaboration by actively engaging schools, community leaders, and stakeholders.
The initiative seeks to educate and elevate young people, enabling them to become empowered and responsible members of society.
At the launch ceremony, Brain Lights International’s Executive Director, Kelvin Adonis Volar, announced that the project is set to target approximately 50 schools across Montserrado County.
“Our goal is to inspire, educate, and empower our young people through awareness campaigns, training sessions, and Christian fellowship, guiding them towards positive life choices,” he stated.
Mr. Volar emphasized that the three-year initiative will focus on young individuals aged 10 to 30, urging them to abandon activities that could jeopardize their future.
By the end of the project’s duration, the organization aims to positively impact 5,000 youths through its various programs and outreach efforts.
During his address, Volar called on families, churches, schools, the media, and the government to lend their support in educating the youth on harmful practices that threaten their wellbeing.
As the guest speaker, Apostle Dr. Daniel B. Wilson Jr. of Power House Ministries International urged young people to make constructive life choices and resist peer pressure that could lead to harmful habits.
He criticized the government’s current strategies in combating drug abuse, asserting that merely targeting end-users is insufficient.
“The focus should also be on importers and dealers, as well as addressing vulnerabilities and lapses at our border points that allow drug trafficking to proliferate,” Mr. Wilson argued.
He called for a holistic approach to tackle drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and mental health issues in Liberia.
“With a shared commitment to nurturing a generation of Godly leaders and effecting positive change, the YES Project represents a significant step towards safeguarding the future of Liberia’s youth,”. Mr. Wilson stated.