The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the National Steering Committee and in collaborating with the One UN System and other development partners, has developed a joint concept document to tackle the growing number of “at-risk youth” in the country. The committee is charged with leading the efforts to mitigate the socio-economic and security challenge posed by the group, otherwise referred to as “zogoes”, and is chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports, D. Zeogar Wilson, and co-chaired by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah, Jr.
The government, through the Steering Committee and development partners, will collaborate at every level to embark on a major fund-raising campaign to raise US$13,872,500 (thirteen million eight hundred seventy-two thousand five hundred US dollars).
On June 30, 2022, both parties will kick off the campaign, bringing together major state actors. Funds raised will be used to address the plight of the over 100,000 at-risk youth by renovating the Youth Agriculture Training Center in Bensonville and transforming it into a rehabilitation center for the at-risk-youth, as well as other immediate intervention.