BACKGROUND
The Caritas Cape Palmas MARGINALIZED YOUTH PROGRAM is a multi-sector program which provides a proper environment and the facilities for young people to develop their creativity, artistic talents and gradually heal the psychosocial wounds created by 14 years of war. These programs mainly focus young people in the Southeast of Liberia because most of the young people graduating from hig
h schools in this region do not even have the opportunity of touching a computer. There are no libraries in their schools, thereby making it difficult for them to conduct research (for school and self enrichment). There are no internet facilities (public, private and government) in any school that high school students/youths can explore
The program also provides basic skill training opportunities for Street children (15-20 years) in an attempt to contribute to the national effort of formation of useful and productive citizens for tomorrow. And making the children feel a part of the community and helping rekindle in them hope for the future – making them believe in themselves knowing that some one cares for them and is willing to assist them realise their hiding talents and potentials. Street children in our context are children who are roaming the streets and being used by older people for labour purposes, etc. Some of them are either living with grandparents, relatives or other people who do not have the means to send them to school, care for them or provide adequate feeding. As a result, they take to the streets using their own weak ways to make ends meet – Children living in difficult situations. Food is a very important pull factor and a necessary boost to the training because it is very difficult if not impossible to try to impact knowledge to a child whose stomach is empty. Basic education support in the form of uniforms, copy books, pens and pencils are provided too for the children. The program has the following basic components:
COMPUTER EXPOSURE & INTERNET LITERACY
1. Provide computer access/exposure to 150 high students
2. Ensure 150 high students become computer literate with basic skills
3. Provide internet usage opportunity to marginalized school kids
In this sector we provide internet services/access for mainly students of all educational level (Elementary/Primary; Junior High, Senior High/Secondary; College/University) including teachers and any other persons who have interest/need for internet services. Our aim is to cater to 150 persons per month but because our facilities provide the only best available opportunity for internet browsing in the region, we have been flexible enough to cater to more than four times the target each month. LIBRARY FACILITIES:
1. Setup a small library (reading room)
2. Create access to books for youths/students to be able to learn how to read
3. Help youths/students to do research
4. Build reading comprehension skills for youths/students
In this sector we provide library services/access for mainly students of all educational level (Elementary/Primary; Junior High, Senior High/Secondary; College/University) including teachers and any other persons who have interest/need to read for fun or research. Our facilities provide the best available opportunity for reading or research in the region. Since the opening of the library/reading room over 600 persons visit the library monthly to read or do research. YOUTH TRAINING:
1. Conduct regular basic knowledge and awareness workshops on HIV/AIDS, Civic Educations, Human Rights, Good Governance, Child rights, etc.
2. To provide psychosocial counselling (Peace building & reconciliation) etc
In this sector we conduct basic knowledge and awareness workshops on HIV/AIDS, do civic education and hold sessions on Human Rights, Good Governance , Child Rights and Responsibilities, etc. Our Program provides Psychosocial counselling on Peace building and Reconciliation issues. We do conflict transformation and hygiene promotion. Besides our own programs, we provide workshop facilities such as hall and equipment (Projector set, Television set, Electric power, and a Public Address System). YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
1. Provide leadership trainings through communication development skills (Public speaking, writing, debates, etc.)
2. Develop/encourage youth individual skills based on interest of future career (agriculture, handicraft, arts, etc)
In this sector we provide leadership training and encourage individual skills development for students of primary and secondary levels (Elementary/Primary; Junior High, Senior High/Secondary ;) To achieve these goals we organize debates, symposiums, quizzing competitions, and other related programs. Our program provides the best available opportunity for young people to discover themselves and their hidden abilities/capabilities since the start of the program many students and other individuals including school dropouts have started to think or rethink their future. BASIC SKILL TRAINING:
Provide basic skill training by learning and doing the following
MOTORBIKE REPAIR
PASTRY
TAILORING
ELECTRICITY
In this sector we provide basic skill training for street children between the ages of 15 to 25 years. We run two training cycles per year each cycle being six months. This area caters only to street children selected by our program in collaboration with community members and other leaders. Our animators spend ten (10) hours every week teaching the kids how to use their hands and brains to produce various skill works in basic Electricity skills, Motorbike repair skills, Pastry skills and Tailoring. A total of 448 children are in the Skill Training with Each Skill Training area catering to 112 children. RECREATION ACTIVITIES:
1. Introduce various competitions (sports, writing, games: chess, scrabble, etc, races, etc)
2. Provide music to heal traumatic wounds
In this sector we provide the best available opportunity for young people to discover their talents through various recreational activities and programs. We encourage individual skills development in singing, dancing, and football and other games, etc.; to achieve these goals, we organize dance competitions, football, track and field, volleyball, chess, scrabble and other games amongst schools and communities. We use these programs and activities not only for the fun of it but also to help de-traumatize young people who have just emerged from years of war. OUT REACH:
In this sector we monitor/follow-up on the activities of the Street Children on a daily basis both at the centre and at school. Our outreach department assist the children with their school work/assignment and follow up their activities in the community and at home. In a nut shell, they serve as alternative parents to these children. It gives them the feelings that people care for them and the confidence that they can count on these people in case of any problems or difficulties they may be faced with. They are free to talk to our staff anytime on anything they want to talk about. KITCHEN:
Our kitchen provides the children with different kinds of meals everyday. The children in each session are provided with two meals everyday. Note: The food is provide only for the Street children in the Skill Training Department.
