ONE Liberia to Host NYC Fundraiser for Youth in Liberia, West Africa

NEW YORK – ONE Liberia will host a fundraiser in New York on Thursday, Feb 2nd, 2012 from 6pm to 11pm at Toro Lounge to raise awareness and funds for its programs. ONE Liberia is a community-based, youth-led organization that is focused on promoting peace and unity among post-war Liberians and developing the leadership and capacity of Liberian youth.

Founded in 2008, the organization combines formal education, youth capacity building, and community engagement to inspire and equip young people with the awareness and skills they need to take control of their lives. This includes providing college scholarships, internships and job development resources, as well as counseling services for Liberian youth. ONE Liberia model of sustainable, long-term development focuses its efforts on the empowerment of socially conscious youth who will emerge as leaders and agents of positive change in Liberia.  In 2010, the president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signed the ONE Liberia Unity Pledge and provided an inspirational video for the ONE Liberia National Unification Day Campaign.

The war left Liberia’s youth totally disadvantaged: they were the ex-combatants, unskilled with no labor, orphaned, abandoned, high school dropouts that became petty traders to provide for their family. Left unskilled and unprepared for future responsibilities, Liberia’s youth constitutes approximately 65% of the total population according to UNDP. The primary focus of ONE Liberia empowerment programs is to train and build the capacity of youths in the areas of education, primary healthcare services and rural agriculture techniques with special emphasis on enabling them to work along with rural communities and within some national institutions.

The ONE Liberia New York fundraiser has the goal of raising $15,000 to continue in the efforts to strengthen Liberia's youth. Since the average cost for a student at the University of Liberia for a full semester is $75.00, the achieved fundraising goal could potentially send 200 Liberian students to college. 

The event will be a fun evening of networking, mingling and dancing, as well as a raffle among NYC's brightest professionals and thought leaders. Other event perks include a one-hour Grey Goose open bar from 6:30PM to 7:30PM and music from the versatile DJ Moma.
RSVP by donating the $30.00 suggested donation a http://www.giveforward.com/oneliberia 100% of proceeds will benefit ONE Liberia.