The Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), under the Youth Employment Skills (YES) Project has provided short-term employment opportunity including life skills training for 4000 young people across Nimba County.LACE Executive Director Atty. Ramses T. Kumbuyah challenged participants of the project to take their short term jobs and training seriously and make good use of their earnings.
Atty. Kumbuyah said the YES Community Works project is funded by the World Bank and owned by Government of Liberia with the objective to expand access of poor and young Liberians to temporary employment programs and to improve employability.
Speaking at the kickoff ceremony recently in Dou Town, Nimba County the LACE boss stressed that the YES project buttresses government's job creation effort.
He averred that the Agency looks forward to working with the Ministries of Youth & Sports (MYS) and Public Works (MPW) on the upcoming Liberia Youth Employment Program.
“If things go as planned, LACE will be creating jobs annually for the next five years in collaboration with the MYS part of the government's 20,000 annual job creation scheme”, Atty. Kumbuyah revealed.
Kicking off the YES project Deputy Minister for Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth & Sports Sam E. Hare, Jr. told the gathering that government was concerned about finding and creating job opportunities for young people including those in rural communities.
Minister Hare said government is taking concreted steps to combat unemployment amongst young people by making available US$15 million to deal with unemployment for a longer period.
Government will provide funds for young people to start small businesses including professional trainings opportunities, Minister Hare stressed.
He challenged the young people of Nimba County to take YES project seriously and contribute to the growth and development of the county; start small businesses and see how you can empower others of the good of Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors of LACE, Mr. Daniel Towalid urged participants not to abuse the opportunity but to work hard to develop the Nimba and Liberia.
The ceremony was attended by participants, local leaders, NGOs, members of the Board of Directors of LACE and among others.
The YES Project is funded by the World Bank and owned by the Government of the Liberia. It provides temporary job opportunities for young people for 40 working days including life skills training.
Each sub-project of 500 persons employs five skilled workers as supervisors and for performing skilled labor and paid US$5.00 per day; and while the daily wage rate for unskilled workers is fixed at US$3.00 per day.
