Scholarships

Youth in Liberia find enrolling and staying enrolled in schools very difficult. Most of them are self-sponsored in schools and/or are sponsored by young relatives who do not have decent jobs. This, in so many ways threatens the future of these young people.

Introduction

Young people, in all regions of the world, experience some degree of difficulty or uncertainty as they make the transition into adulthood. However, the situation that youth in Africa face is one of the most difficult in many respects. Average life expectancy in the region is among the lowest in the world. Weak infrastructure and poor economic development have traditionally impeded youth development in the region; enrolling and/or staying enrolled in school, finding decent and productive work, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle all present very real challenges to a large proportion of youth in the region (World Youth Report, 2007). Many young people find it difficult to obtain education mainly because of financial constraints. This has given rise to increase in out of school and drop-outs. Without an adequate education, youth face a difficult transition to adulthood and independence as they are likely to experience unemployment, poverty and social exclusion. The exclusion of young people from the education system, and consequently from other opportunities later if life, is likely to persist unless policies are adopted and implemented to ameliorate the situation.

As a response to this potentially explosive situation, Youth Crime Watch of Liberia has instituted a Scholarship Program. This Scholarship Program is intended to enable disadvantaged youth and children to attend/enroll in school with the supports necessary to achieve academic success and transition to independence. The scholarship intend to benefit out of school youth/children and also designed for students who have demonstrated ability in school and interest in advanced education but who might not have the resources and necessary support to go to and remain in the best possible school or college.

The Scholarship Program

While the minority of young people in Liberia successfully negotiate study and careers, majority of them are confronted with barriers that prevent them from achieving their best. Youth Crime Watch of Liberia Scholarship Program offers financial, material, moral and other personal support to young people throughout Liberia who show determination and potential – but who lack the support networks and resources that will allow them to reach their goals.

The Scholarship Program provides young people with means to pursue education, training or development so that they may realize their potential for a positive future. Nominees for this program are not restricted to a specific field of study or training path. The wide-ranging goals they pursue will encourage other young people to follow their own ambition. These aspirations may range from being able to finish high school education or complete a university. Scholarship funds can also be used for support costs such as equipment, uniforms, textbooks, stationery and some living expenses, to ensure that the young people have every possible opportunity to reach their goals and accelerate their potential in meeting up with their global counterparts.

Funds for our scholarship program come from donors all over the world. If you would like to know more about our scholarship program or provide your support or donations, please mail to: scholarship@ycwliberia.org.