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