Liberia. January 2009 - Present. Adaptation of business and financial literacy curricula for conflict-affected youth in Liberia to help them gain usable skills and knowledge, find income-generating opportunities, and gain financial stability.
Liberia's first bloody civil war, which ended in 1996, claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displaced one million others who located to refugee camps in neighboring countries. Conflict resumed in 2000, and aid workers estimate up to 20,000 child soldiers, some as young as seven or eight years old, were recruited by both government and rebel forces during Liberia's second civil war. Since the conflict ended in 2003, humanitarian and development agencies have recognized that building sustainable economic opportunities for young people - both former child soldiers and displaced non-combatant youth - is essential for the stability and development of the country.
EVI worked with ACDI/VOCA's Agriculture for Children's Empowerment (ACE) project, part of the USAID-funded Supporting of Transformation by Reducing Insecurity and Vulnerability with Economic Strengthening Program (STRIVE) in Liberia to adapt entrepreneurship and financial literacy curriculum for schools, integrate health and environmental messaging and run training of trainer courses for teachers. The objective was to generate greater interest in education, making educational outcomes more relevant to community needs, and generating an interest by youth in sustainable farming techniques, agricultural market development practices and associated rural income-earning opportunities.
onflict ended in 2003, humanitarian and development agencies have recognized that building sustainable economic opportunities for young people - both former child soldiers and displaced non-combatant youth - is essential for the stability and development of the country.