About Us
Initiative for Women and Youth Empowerment Inc./IWYE (formerly Girls for Literacy Inc.) is a 100% Liberian-owned, reputable, and registered Non-Government and Non-Profit Making Organization. The vision was born on December 12, 2015, to champion advocacy and awareness for young girls, women, and youth, and to engage in activities that promote social and economic empowerment through education, technical and vocational training programs, and women’s rights at all levels of society. Since its establishment, IWYE has conducted several empowerment programs impacting the lives of young girls, women, and youth across Liberia, and has partnered with several international and local organizations implementing projects ranging from advocacy to technical trainings, education, information dissemination, and awareness, amongst others.
These initiatives and several other programs undertaken by IWYE have helped strengthen our society for the better, thus creating an enabling environment where young girls, women, and youth can become productive citizens in their respective communities. However, it is important to note that due to the 14 years of civil unrest, approximately Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) women, babies, girls, boys, and men’s lives were destroyed, eliminating the fabric of our society. Post-war Liberia is overwhelmed with school-going girls and young women, including youth who are victims of teenage pregnancy, drug addiction, illicit sex trade, street vending, etc. This is because of the increase in the poverty rate and limited attention from the national government.
As a result of this, many young girls became victims of the system and were neglected by the Government over the years. These girls, especially those living in rural areas across Liberia, are left with no hope due to the government’s inability to identify possible ways and means through the national budget to provide a solution that will prevent women, girls, and boys from engaging in acts that destroy their future.
Case study: Many young girls in Liberia, especially in rural communities, lack proper education on their sexual and reproductive health rights, thus leading to many teenage or unwanted pregnancies. This is why IYWE’s advocacy goes beyond borders; hence, it stimulates our passion and quest to reach the marginalized in society, thereby engaging the national government and stakeholders through responsible dialogues for the betterment of our communities.
However, at IWYE, we are committed to implementing programs that create awareness and minimize the illiteracy rate in Liberia. This call is due to a UNICEF report that established that between 2008 and 2012, 37% of young girls between the ages of 15-25 are illiterate, with 69% being left with no form of education. Thus, with our young and vibrant leadership that is comprised of hard-working volunteers, we believe everyone, regardless of their status, religious background, or condition, deserves a better life and future, and must enjoy equal opportunity.
Furthermore, it is in response to the several challenges affecting lives that IWYE was created to work with all desirous of change and restoration of hope and lives, thereby impacting society, especially women and youth, including teens living in rural and semi-urban communities across Liberia.
VISION
A society where women and girls, including youth, are valued, respected, and treated with dignity through the provision of programs that inspire, motivate, train, and empower them with the relevant skills for a productive and impactful future through means of responsible dialogue and advocacy that strengthens equal participation and collectiveness.
GOAL
Our goal is through our advocacy for change, we can be able to build a state-of-the-art IWYE Empowerment Center (IEC) where young girls, women, and youth are empowered with different skills, thus, and establish in each county one suboffice that consistently engages local government authorities through responsible dialogues and programs that create change and impact lives.
Core Value
- Integrity
- Service
- Accountability
- Responsibility
- Punctuality
- Peace Building
- Discipline
Our Mission
- To become a beacon of hope, creating and building livelihoods where women, girls, and youth’s future will not be defined based on their status or race but on the foundation of their potential through responsible dialogue and advocacy programs that bring positive change.
- To establish in every school within Liberia, IWYE Girls Hub-Group that promotes sexual reproductive health and rights for school-going girls and youths.
- Championing the call for women’s and girls’ rights in every way possible and bringing balance to society.
- Help girls and young women in disadvantaged communities become productive in their communities by seeing themselves become what they desire to be in a positive way.
- To help women and girls, including youth in disadvantaged communities, with mentorship through IWYE’s literacy programs.
- To stimulate a change in societal and customary reforms that suppress women and girls, thereby strengthening equality and fairness at all levels.
Our Programs
DEDICATION
To the LORD GOD Almighty be all the glory and honor! Initiative for Women and Youth Empowerment Inc. (IWYE) is solely dedicated firstly to the only one God who has given us the gift of life, inspiration and the ability to make this vision a reality. To the founding members and volunteers, the leadership and partners we have worked with over the years, including our change-makers (beneficiaries), we dedicate this vision to you. For without you all, we wouldn’t have reached thus far!