In the wake to remind government of their promised to poverty reduction thus by freeing humanity from the dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty the Youth for Community Academic and Development Services (YOCADS) distributed MDGs materials to seven schools in the Country. High profiled journalists from some of Liberia ’s leading media institutions covered the distribution exercise. The schools lauded YOCADS for the exercise and said that these materials will provide them with information to add their voices against poverty and provide them more insight on the MDGs.

The exercise was climaxed at the STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY event that took place on October 15, 2006 beginning 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Prior to the day, press releases, radio talk shows, promo and an abridged version of the Stand Up Action was carried on both the print and electronic media. The event took place few yards away from one of Monrovia’s fast growing slums and opposite the residence of the current President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, at the I.E. soccer practice ground in Airfield, Fish Market. Participants included members from YOCADS’ MDGs school clubs, other high schools, youth groups, religious groups, drivers union and many civil society organizations. Commercial drivers sounded their vehicle horns for two minutes on Monrovia streets at 10:00 a.m. marking the official commencement of the program. High profiled guests included Ambassador Jordan Ryan, Deputy Special Representative for Recovery of the Secretary General of the United Nations (Kofi Annan), United nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Development Program (UNDP-Liberia), Policy Advisor Mr. Cleophas Torrorri and UNDP-Liberia National MDGs Analyst Mr. George Gould. Liberian traditional cultural dancers, musicians, slum dwellers nearby residence and members of the media were all in attendance

THE Youth for Community and Development services (YOCADS) had intensified her advocacy and awareness campaign on the United Nations millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in schools and local communities. Since this year, YOCADS had undertaken series of activities about the awareness of the MDGs which is not widely known to the Liberian society. Some of which were: a Youth round-Table Discussion, Presentation of a paper, and deepening the discourse about the MDGs at the level of the community and institutions. Giving the keynote address at the awareness program was Mr. Anthony K. Selmah who proxy on behalf of Mr. Steven A. Ursino, Country Director, UNDP who could not be there because of engagements. Mr. Selmah recognized YOCADS as the first local youth organization that took a proactive initiative to engage young people on the MDGs, advancing a sensitization campaign in schools and communities.

Making remarks at the program held at SSDMI was the Assistant Minter for Youth services, Min. Robert Tamba lauded the efforts of YOCADS and stressed that the just ended National Youth Policy Conference was that he called “MDGs focus” adding that the MDGs overshadowed the entire conference. Commenting was Mr. Alphonso K. Weah, Executive Director of YOCADS, who admo nished his fellow youth counterparts to join the campaign and not only rely on the politicians to achieve these goals, he also emphasized that only with their voices that the MDGS can be achieved. Meanwhile Mr. Weah said with YOCADS will continue raise the awareness as we enter 2006 and beyond.

In this light, YOCADS wishes to appeal to the Government of Liberia, UNDP, UNICEF, OXFAM, Action aid-Liberia, and the International organizations as well as Donors to support its advoc acy campaign on the MDGs