More than 100 market vendors and other young beneficiaries in Grand Gedeh County are set to benefit from the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ Small-Scale Grants Program, following its launch in Zwedru on Tuesday.
The launch brought together beneficiaries of the grants program, the Cadet Program, the National Youth Pathways Program and other initiatives being implemented by the Ministry.
For market vendors in Zwedru, the small grants are expected to provide much-needed capital to improve their businesses, increase sales and strengthen their sources of income.
Speaking at the ceremony, Youth and Sports Minister Corniel Wonkerleh Kruah urged young Liberians to stop waiting for opportunities to come to them and instead take advantage of programs already available through the government.
Kruah said young people have a responsibility to make good use of the assistance they receive and turn it into something that can improve their lives.
She encouraged beneficiaries to remain alert to new programs and opportunities from the Ministry, adding that more initiatives are expected to be rolled out for young people.
The Minister also stressed that government assistance alone cannot change the circumstances of young people unless beneficiaries are prepared to work with the support they receive.
County Youth Office Welcomes Initiative
Grand Gedeh County Youth and Sports Coordinator George Dogbeh welcomed the decision to bring the program to Zwedru, saying young people in the county deserve the same opportunities available to their counterparts in other parts of Liberia.
Dogbeh praised Minister Kruah for what he described as her efforts to make youth programs more accessible outside Monrovia.
He said many young people in Grand Gedeh are willing to work but often lack the financial support and information needed to take their ideas forward.
Dogbeh pledged to continue advocating for opportunities under the Unity Party-led government and to help ensure that young people in the county are informed about programs for which they may qualify.
He also praised Kruah’s leadership during her first 200 days as Minister, citing what he described as her focus on youth development and empowerment.
A Chance for Small Businesses
The grants come at a time when many small traders depend on daily sales to support their families and keep their businesses operating.
Beneficiaries are now expected to use the assistance to strengthen their businesses and improve their income rather than allow the funds to be diverted to unrelated expenses.
For the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Zwedru launch is part of a wider effort to bring youth programs closer to communities outside the capital.
For the young people who received support, however, the real test begins after the launch- how effectively they use the opportunity to grow their businesses, increase their income and build a more secure future for themselves and their families.
