There is nothing better than seeing an idea become a reality! After tireless hours of planning and fundraising by our teams in Liberia and the U.S., we launched the Backpacks for Peace Service Learning Project on Monday, February 23, 2015. We have embarked on a three-month training program that will teach 20 youth in Liberia from ages 12 to 20 how to:
Below are pictures of the first week of this training program. The main focus was to teach our students how to properly operate the sewing machines, because precision in pedaling minimizes the breakage of needles and thread. The second objective was to teach the initial stage of production, which is preparing the plastic.
Backpacks for Peace Sponsors:
Our youth will be involved in the forum for about three hours during the morning session, due to a six-hour difference between Liberia and Minnesota. Take a look at what happened last year during this program to connect youth on both sides of the Atlantic in a virtual environment. This year we are taking a more active role and will participate by:
youthrive is the producer of the Nobel Peace Prize Youth Forum and a Minnesota Partner organization for Uniting Distant Stars.
Finally, another important announcement: We are now registered as a non-profit in Liberia and anticipate that our programs will be accredited through the Ministry of Education by the end of March 2015. This was a necessary step to show our dedication to providing innovative youth-focused educational programing in Liberia.
We extend our heartfelt Thanks to all our sponsors and donors, who have graciously contributed to these projects!
Video of the students practicing their pedaling during the first week of the program.
Below are pictures of the first week of this training program. The main focus was to teach our students how to properly operate the sewing machines, because precision in pedaling minimizes the breakage of needles and thread. The second objective was to teach the initial stage of production, which is preparing the plastic.
Photos
of the first day of the youth practicing to pedal the sewing
machine. We offer two training sessions, one morning and one in the afternoon.
These
three photos show the steps 1, 2 and 3 of the backpack production. The photo on the left shows
the students washing the plastic to ensure it is clean. The middle photo shows the
students packing the plastic in groups to dry it . The photo on the right shows the students hanging the sewn strips of plastic on the line to finish the drying, before they are joined together to create the "fabric" for making the backpacks.
Backpacks for Peace Sponsors:
- Sundance Family Foundation, based in Minnesota, gave a $3,000 grant.
- African Dream Academy supplies the recycled plastic and Liberia Partner.
- Uniting Distant Stars donors contributed $1,260 for this project.
Our youth will be involved in the forum for about three hours during the morning session, due to a six-hour difference between Liberia and Minnesota. Take a look at what happened last year during this program to connect youth on both sides of the Atlantic in a virtual environment. This year we are taking a more active role and will participate by:
- Listening to a speech by Leiv Sydnes of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2013 Nobel Laurette)
- Asking one question of Leiv Sydnes.
- Joining the World Cafe discussion that focuses on three questions about peace building in their communities and schools that can be turned into actionable initiatives.
The photo on right is from the 2014 NPPYF with our co-hosts iLab Liberia. Photo on left is from the January 2015 meet & greet Google Hangout with the young cabinet members of youthrive.
youthrive is the producer of the Nobel Peace Prize Youth Forum and a Minnesota Partner organization for Uniting Distant Stars.
Finally, another important announcement: We are now registered as a non-profit in Liberia and anticipate that our programs will be accredited through the Ministry of Education by the end of March 2015. This was a necessary step to show our dedication to providing innovative youth-focused educational programing in Liberia.
We extend our heartfelt Thanks to all our sponsors and donors, who have graciously contributed to these projects!
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