Background

• 14 years of civil conflict left 250,000 people killed and 800,000 seeking refuge in neighboring countries. As a result it suffers from massive national debt, severe unemployment and extreme levels of poverty.
• Life expectancy rapidly declining to as low as 45.
• The vast majority of Liberians affected by the war are youths, a large number of whom now feel alienated, frustrated and vulnerable.
• Due to factors including the spread of HIV and AIDS, and so Liberia’s youths now make up the dominant group in society. They are the group most affected by change and also have the potential to be the most powerful agents of change. As such, they could either sustain peace or generate further instability in the country.

What We Do

In 2005 Liberia hosted its first democratic presidential and general election since the 14-year period of conflict. This democratic election put Liberia at a unique crossroads in its history and at an exceptional moment in its political and social development, and offered Right To Play a unique opportunity in which implement its programs where children and youth would not ordinarily have access to structured and educational sport and play activities.

So Far

We have trained 166 primary school teachers who, equipped with bags of sport and play materials are conducting regular sport and play for children in 80 schools. 15,444 children have played regularly with equipment provided by Right To Play Liberia, who have also held 6 large scale mobilisation events reaching thousands of children in targeted communities.