Monrovia, Liberia – At a high-level side event during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America, a groundbreaking project that aims to enroll over 50,000 street children in Liberia’s schools over the next six years was praised.
The project which was first unveiled last month is being carried out by the Liberian government in collaboration with the global nonprofit organization Street Child. It represents a major advancement in providing a better future for the most vulnerable children in Liberia. President Joseph N. Boakai stressed the need of addressing the situation of street children in Liberia during his speech at the occasion.
“Children are not just statistics, they are young lives, often living in the shadows. Every child deserves safety, security, and access to education. Through this initiative, we aim to provide that opportunity to thousands of Liberia’s most vulnerable children. This is not just about addressing immediate needs, but about laying the foundation for long-term change,” President Boakai stated.
This ground-breaking endeavor is a component of a bigger initiative to offer these kids and their families comprehensive assistance in addition to schooling. In order to address the systemic issues that have long perpetuated the vulnerabilities of children living in homeless, exploitative, and malnourished situations, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, in partnership with Street Child, will provide livelihood support and grants to caregivers.
The CEO and founder of Street Child International, Tom Dannatt, praised President Boakai’s leadership and the Liberian government’s dedication.
“Street Child is pleased to place Liberia first, particularly as His Excellency gathers his cabinet to address this matter. Working in a climate where political will is so strong is really encouraging. A coordinated strategy integrating livelihood, social, and educational programs is needed to provide long-lasting solutions. This is the best environment in which to operate, with backing from every aspect of the government. We have a great staff, a tested concept, and support from the government, but to bring this project to the scale it deserves, we urgently need funding. We urge all stakeholders to support our endeavor and work with us to bring about long-lasting change for the children of Liberia.”
Senior cabinet officials, including Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, supported President Boakai’s call to action at the ceremony, stressing the need for everyone to work together to protect Liberia’s youth. “The future belongs to our children, and it is in jeopardy if we do not act decisively now. We are building the groundwork for a better future for every kid in Liberia by collaborating with Street kid and other partners,” the Minister said.
Important ministries such the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Education are also participating in this cooperative project, demonstrating the government of Liberia’s all-encompassing endeavor. “This partnership represents an important opportunity to align education efforts with broader social policies,” stated the Minister of Education, emphasizing the need of integrating educational efforts with larger social support systems. Together with partners like Street kid, we can collaborate across ministries to make sure that every kid in Liberia gets the chance to flourish.
In a similar vein, the Minister of Youth and Sports emphasized that in order to find enduring solutions, interministerial cooperation is crucial. Collaboration between all ministries is essential to tackling these issues head-on. Only with combined efforts will youngsters living on the streets be able to achieve lasting results, the minister emphasized.
This event, which took place during the UN General Assembly, brought attention to the worldwide dilemma of vulnerable children who lack access to education and basic amenities, as well as the children in Liberia who are connected to the streets. The goal of Liberia’s audacious move, which is backed by Street Child International, is to significantly improve the lives of tens of thousands of children. “Today, I call on all of you to join us in this mission to restore dignity, protection, and hope for every child, both in Liberia and across the world,” President Boakai said.
“We have the political will, the expertise, and the models that work but we need more resources to bring this project to its full potential, Tom Dannatt stated in conclusion, underscoring the need of increasing assistance. While our collaboration with the Liberian government is a strong beginning, in order to guarantee that every kid has the opportunity to flourish, we also need the help of donors, the business sector, and other international players.”
This program is an essential component of Liberia’s larger plan to end the cycle of poverty and marginalization by giving street children and their caretakers access to economic opportunities, social assistance, and education.
As the event came to an end, the common message was quite clear: a future in which every kid in Liberia has access to education and opportunity is not only imaginable, but attainable with cooperation, drive, and enough resources.
Founded in 2008, Street Child is among the fastest-growing international children’s organizations in the world. Street Child strives to make sure kids are secure, attending school, and learning especially in low-resource settings and emergency scenarios. Empowering grassroots activities, the foundation works with a growing network of local groups. Since its founding in 2008 in Sierra Leone, Street Child has expanded to work in more than 25 nations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. Numerous representatives of the Liberian government were present at the occasion.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
