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YMCA Post-Conflict Reintegration Program, Liberia
Church World Service seeks funds for a post-conflict reintegration program serving displaced and returnee youth and young adults living in internally-displaced persons camps in Liberia.
Need: While the security situation in Liberia is gradually improving as disarmament takes place, the situation remains unstable due to the extent of damage to all phases of life. More than 40% of women and girls have suffered rape and/or sexual slavery. Young boys conscripted into the military know only how to live through violence and retribution. The very poorest economic conditions exist, as well as dire sanitation conditions and lack of safe water supplies. Need for education and skills training to support future livelihood is a critical concern. Schools, health facilities, and social infrastructures are non-existent.
Target Population: The project will provide post crisis services to 300,000 people, 80% of whom are children, youth, young women, and the elderly.
Partnership & Collaboration: Church World Service’s key partner for the project is the YMCA of Liberia. Founded in 1881, the YMCA of Liberia focuses on youth and community development. YMCA will also partner with the World Food Program (United Nations) to help distribute food rations.
Project Activities:
- Peace building activities
- Psycho-social counseling
- Nutritional feeding and basic literacy programs
- Construction of wells and pit latrines and environmental clean-up
- Family resettlement
- Provision of seeds and tools
Outcomes:
- 300,000 war-affected youth and young adults will receive peace building training through sports and recreational activities.
- Counseling will be provided for 150,000 traumatized survivors.
- 75 schools will receive school feeding assistance , as well as food
rations for 200,000 internally displaced and returnee camp inhabitants.
- 300 internally displaced families will be resettled. Seeds and tools will be provided to 2,500 farm families.
Funding Opportunities: *
- Youth group recreation package $410
- Shelter (per house) $5,000
- Rehabilitation of a school $14,300
Total Program Budget: $901,953
*These examples reflect the average costs of providing water-related tools and support to African communities. Gifts to the of the CWS Africa Initiative "Water for Life" fund are used to support this or similar water resource development projects in Africa.