Monrovia – A local non-governmental organization engaged with promoting the welfare of underprivileged persons in slump quarters of the country on July 26 in commemoration of Liberia 170th Independence Day celebration distribute several assorted food items to underprivileged youths in Monrovia and its environs.
The Mayon Foundation through its Chief Executive Officer Darlington Mayon speaking to reporters during the distribution exercise said the initiative was aimed at making the less privileged youth feel a part of the country’s Independence Day festivities.
Several food and non-food items were donated to a group of vulnerable youths in the Vlabah community on Buchannan Street in central Monrovia.
Mayon stressed importance of identifying during these national events with those he considered as less fortunate citizens who have been forgotten by the larger society, adding that by showing some levels of concern to them will give them a sense of ownership to their country.
According to him the exercise which he termed as a peaceful reunion and awareness initiative is the pathway to foster and set the foundation for a program he name and style as the streets children across the 17 political districts in Montserrado County.
Mayon noted that as the Mayon Foundation CEO he is initiating the streets children reformation program.
He also added that the project is intended in its first phase to recruit and enroll in a more standardize rehabilitation center 100 vulnerable unprivileged Liberians youth for the period of six months.
He stressed the need to address the proliferation of vulnerable youth who are youth who are addicted to usage of harmful substance, roaming the street with no sense of hope for a better future, adding the faster the situation is tackle the better for the younger generation.
Mayon: “this effort is an initiative to provide some level of standard on rehabilitation for streets kids and youth living in cemeteries and ghettos”
According to him, the proliferation of vulnerable youth addicted to drugs abuse, alcohol and teenage pregnancy is contributing factors of the country’s 14 years civil unrest, while pointing out that rapid action need to be taken transform the lives of the younger generation who have been victimized by the situation.
He disclosed that the rehabilitation process of recruited vulnerable youths headed by the Mayon Foundation will also seek to instill technical vocational training knowledge that will enable them become productive citizens when they shall have completed the circle.
He is, meanwhile, calling on the general to treat vulnerable youths roaming the streets wondering about idly in the streets with caution and respect.
He said many vulnerable youths wondering about idly in street do not intent to live such life but high rate of abandonment has contributed to their current condition.
He pointed out that all they need is to the sense of love and affection couple with standardized rehabilitation process that will initiative a better change in their lives.