The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program Alumni Corps of Liberia recently ended a six month project for at-risk youth in the Rebort Sports Region in Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. The campaign, which included training workshops and a community radio talk show, was held for fifty at-risk youth selected from various communities in the region. 

The campaign was funded through the 2013 YES Alumni Grant Competition, sponsored by American Councils. The training workshop focused on destructive risk management,  leadership and advocacy, positive behavior change, and psycho-social counseling. During the opening ceremony at the Senji Youth Center, the head of the alumni project, Mohammed B. Kiawu, highlighted the importance of the project. He asserted that the Alumni Corps is a group of beneficiaries from U.S. Department of State sponsored program called the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. Mr. Kiawu said participants of the project were selected from various communities in the region through the help of the community's Youth Leadership. 

The Head Chief of the region, Chief Safiaperry, also remarked on the campaign's importance, as it aimed to address major problems in the region. He also stated that young people in the region often are not productive like other youth, due to the destructive decisions made by getting involved in negative social conduct. The Chief encouraged participants to take advantage of the campaign. He concluded by extending his appreciation to YES and iEARN for the opportunity.

The first training was held on January 30 - February 1, 2014 for twenty-five participants; the second training took place on February 13 - 15, 2014 with an additional twenty-five participants; and the final training was held at the Momo Taweh Youth Center from March 10 - 15, 2014 for all fifty participants in attendance.

The community radio talk show component of the campaign was conducted on eight different occasions. The talk show featured Mr. Alieu V. Sheriff, a former substance abuser who is now a student at the Cape Mount Polytechnic; Ms. Mariama Balda, a former prostitute turn business woman; and Mr. Solomon F. Vaney, a former child soldier, substance abuser and criminal, who is now a high school student and involved with a small trade company. Each of the speakers shared his or her story on the path to transformation, the challenges they faced, and how they overcame those challenges. Their stories stimulated a lot of interest among the students, as well as a lot of questions. It was an eye-opener for the participants, especially for participants who feared stigmatization or the felt a lack of self confidence to adapt to a new life. Many of the radio listeners commented that they appreciated the campaign efforts.

The talk show and workshop follow-up demonstrated a positive behavioral curve amongst the participants. At the two months follow-up at least ten of the participants showed some positive transformation. Examples include the following: Massa, a teenage mother with three children, was encouraged to seek enrollment in an adult literacy class; Foday moved back to his parents' house and promised to be a good son; and four substance abusers sought out counseling on how to forgo their addiction. At the end of the campaign, participants lauded the YES program and stressed the need to scale the project to other regions.

Facilitators of the training were recruited from YMCA and FLY. They included Mr. Lawrence Fahnbulleh and Mr. Flamah Howard, respectively. Alumni, including the following Alumni volunteers, used the occasion to share their exchange experiences: Jessey Coleman, Massolian Fahnbulleh and Mohammed B. Kiawu.