Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has hailed efforts of Youth Crime Watch of Liberia in empowering young Liberian women through building their capacities for productive ventures in the country. 

Minister Ngafuan spoke on Monday, April 21, 2014 when a delegation under the banner “Volunteer for International Development Aid (VIDA)” paid a courtesy call on him at his foreign ministry office in Monrovia.

The visiting delegation was headed by its Executive Director Mr. David Levine who was led to the Ministry by Mr. Zuo D. Taylor, Executive Director of the Youth Crime Watch of Liberia,    a collaborating partner of the Volunteer for International Development Aid (VIDA).

 VIDA is in Liberia partnering with its local counterpart, Youth Crime Watch of Liberia, to provide assistance to youth initiatives as well as to enhance rural community development projects across Liberia. The two organizations will jointly implement a project known as “Solarize Liberia” which is gear towards lighting clinic and school facilities in rural community’s institution. 

VIDA’s mission is to undertake construction and social development projects that enrich the quality of life in communities worldwide. VIDA IS A US –based non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 2010 by David Levine, a civil engineer to create and undertake projects in local communities. 

Its implementing partner, Youth Crime Watch of Liberia, is an accredited youth organization established  since 2004,following the civil conflict to help address the need of young people and to build their capacity to participate in the nation building process. It is   also dedicate to fighting illiteracy and promote reconciliation peace and development focusing also on crime prevention, youth empowerment and employment.

The team will provide solar energy supply specifically to clinics, schools and youth centers in rural Liberia. As part of its initiative, the organization will also supply solar refrigerators to rural clinics for the storage of Vaccines at various health facilities for the immunization of rural children.

Welcoming the delegation, Liberia’s Foreign Minister commended the YouthCrime Watch Liberia for the numerous undertakings gear towards youth and young women empowerments in Liberia. Minister Ngafuan assured VIDA of the ministry’s preparedness to support the organization’s initiatives in Liberia.

While commending Youth Crime Watch of Liberia through its Executive Director Zuo Taylor, Honorable Ngafuan stressed “Let me express thanks to you, Mr. Zuo for the productive initiatives; every time I see you here; you come with development partners; let me commend you for your efforts.”

For his part, the Executive Director of VIDA, Mr. David Levine thanked the Minister for the warm reception and for accepting their invitation. The Head of delegation also assured the Minister that it was here to provide support for rural community projects through the supply of solar energy and solar refrigerators to schools, clinics and youth centers.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of Youth Crime Watch of Liberia said the project will kick off in rural Bong, Lofa and Bomi counties beginning with Bong County. He added that his organization is in partnership with VIDA with the aim of empowering young women and rendering assistance to youth organizations to buttress government’s efforts in meeting with challenges faced by the rural population.   

“As young people we are there to build the capacity of young Liberian women and provide solar energy for rural dwellers”, he said. Mr. Zuo described the initiative as high profile projects. He said the VIDA is a volunteer group providing supports to several African countries including Ghana and Sierra Leone.