Empowering young women in Liberia through community-based, after-school learning huts
The Need For Action
Liberia, Africa’s oldest Republic, has faced significant economic and health issues in the post-civil war era. A broken national infrastructure has left major systems functioning at a dismal level resulting in a significant percentage of the population living in extreme poverty. The health and education systems have suffered and are ill-equipped to support the needs of the citizenry. Most rural and sub-urban areas lack health facilities and hospitals leaving citizens without basic health resources for preventive and ongoing care. The lack of potable water remains a major issue and poses dire health risks such as a strong prevalence of water-borne diseases. The lack of sewage services and clean drinking water results in a seasonal outbreak of cholera. A broken education system has left a generation of Liberia’s children at a disadvantage without the proper learning tools and resources to gain the knowledge needed to improve their lives.
Learning Huts For Adolescent Girls
In Liberia, young women experience extreme frequency of physical and sexual violence. According to the United Nations, 35% of Liberia's female population between ages 15-49 have been the victim of such violence within the last 12 months. By this measure, Liberia is the 7th most dangerous country in the world for women.
Every child deserves an opportunity to get an education. When you educate the girl child, you transform the lives of generations to come. Learning Huts for Adolescent Girls are built in local communities and provide a safe space for girls ages 10-19 years to learn and get homework assistance with the guidance of a female teacher and female social worker.
Social Movement For Change
Social Movement for Change (SM4C) is a house to house movement to champion community development and positive CHANGE. Founded in 2015, SM4C partners with Community members identified as change agents who are trained on the 4 powers methodology in order to educate their household and communities.
SM4C encourages communities to take responsibility for their own development by identifying projects and source partners with the view of partnering with them as opposed to aid or handouts. We partner with communities across Liberia on key development projects based on evidence and supported by signed partnership MOU agreements between SM4C and the communities.
Communities are encouraged to be change supporters and use their power to see a better Liberia through their actions but also through choosing transformational leadership
Communities identify major issues that they can resolve using their power to address them in partnership with SM4C.