President George M. Weah has petted former At-Risk Youth, graduates of the Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center, to maintain their heads up and make Liberia proud following months of coaching, finishing their first transition into regular life.
Speaking Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at commencement ceremonies of the youth held in Boy’s Town, Margibi County, President Weah thanked the graduates and prolonged heartfelt finest needs to them on their transition to a brand new and productive life. “Go forth from this program with your heads held up high, and make Liberia proud of you.”
The Liberian chief recalled the way it all started with the now reworked younger folks, reflecting on one among his common visits to the Invisible Park when he encountered a throng of them hanging about in a deplorable state of residing situation.
“I made a visit to the Invincible Park one day and saw many of them hanging around the park. Many of them were not in the best of health. Many of them had problems with their teeth, their eyes, and other illnesses. I was so moved by their plight that I collected all of them that day and sent them here to be taken care of,” he mentioned.
“Today, during this Program, you have seen the very positive results of this initiative,” the Chief Executive mentioned quite proudly. “They were given appropriate medical care, including the necessary dental and eye treatments.”
He continued: “They were put through an effective detoxification program, from which they have all benefitted. They were made to attend various training programs that would give them some basic skill-sets. And here they are before you today, proud graduates of this First Transition Program, poised and ready to return to normal life with confidence, and with assurance that they are appreciated, and can now claim their rightful and respected place in our Civil Society.”
The President mentioned he was delighted to witnessed and take part within the ceremonies “marking the first transition of some of our at-risk youth from this Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center” which was not too long ago opened by his administration in Margibi County.
He additionally recalled the launch of the National Fund Drive for the Rehabilitation and Empowerment of the At-Risk Youth of Liberia, underneath the theme, “Reclaiming Our Youth For A Better Liberia” which was supposed to lift roughly US$13.9 together with improvement companions, together with the United Nations System, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the IMF, and the Diplomatic Corps, in addition to the distinguished members of the enterprise neighborhood.
He maintained as a Government, “we have made an initial contribution of US$1m to kick-start the Fund Drive, and we intend to provide an additional Two Million United States Dollars to be appropriated within this year’s budget to support this program.”
Dr. Weah mentioned the primary batch of the commencement of 35 former “at-risk youths”, their transition after cleansing is a manifestation of the seriousness that he attaches to this program and an illustration of his private dedication to rehabilitate these younger folks, and fast-track their return to society as productive residents.
“Funds are being raised under the Fund Drive, and other facilities are now being prepared to deal with the vast majority of these At-Risk youths, which some estimates suggest number more than 130,000,” President Weah mentioned.
He added: “These applications are designed to orientate, rehabilitate, and construct their capacities over the long run, by means of skills-based vocational coaching, in addition to economically empowering them by means of jobs and enterprise alternatives.
President Weah renewed his dedication to enhance the lives of the younger folks of Liberia, “all of them, not just the youths that are at risk. “As a youthful leader of this country,” the President mentioned it ought to come as no shock to anybody that he holds younger Liberians very expensive and very near his coronary heart. Today, we’re seeing step one in a journey of a thousand miles.”
He famous that the transition and transformation of the previous “at-risk youth” is a big first step as a result of it’s proof that “we can make a significant change in their lives and livelihoods if only we can combine political will with passion, and apply it with compassion.”
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