Jarius Andrew Greaves, a prominent Liberian social entrepreneur, has once again demonstrated his exceptional commitment to youth empowerment by securing the 2nd Runner-up position in the prestigious 2024 Lonestar MTN MoMo Heroes of Change, Liberia.
Selected from a competitive pool of over 5,000 nominees spanning all 15 counties, Greaves’ achievement underscores his unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of young people across Liberia through his organization, YONER Liberia.
Greaves’ journey to this esteemed recognition is marked by a series of impressive milestones. In 2023, he earned 5th place in the “Hero of Change, Liberia” competition, emerging from over 7,000 nominations.
His work was further recognized with a certificate from the USAID Liberia Development Award in the Youth of the Year category, solidifying his status as a leading youth change-maker in the country.
Reflecting on his latest achievement, Greaves expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, stating, “This accolade not only shines a light on my work but also amplifies the transformative efforts of YONER Liberia in empowering young people across our nation.”
He emphasized that the overwhelming support from Liberians has strengthened his team’s resolve to continue driving impactful change for Liberia’s youth.
This recent accomplishment has also played a crucial role in enhancing Greaves’ application for the prestigious UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship, which he was awarded. Starting in September 2024, Greaves will pursue a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Sussex.
This academic opportunity will equip him with advanced knowledge in entrepreneurship, social business modeling, and leadership—skills that are essential for further elevating his work at YONER Liberia.
YONER Liberia, under Greaves’ visionary leadership, has directly impacted over 100,000 individuals across seven counties in Liberia over the past 16 years. The organization has focused on empowering high school and university students, emerging entrepreneurs, and disadvantaged young women through various educational and entrepreneurial programs.
In the last six years alone, YONER Liberia has successfully raised and managed approximately US$500,000 in grants, benefiting more than 32,000 people.
The organization has provided training in entrepreneurship, social business model development, and career advancement to 1,000 high school students from 60 schools in Margibi and Montserrado counties. Remarkably, 75 of these students have gone on to secure admissions to universities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States, in fields critical to Liberia’s development.
YONER Liberia has also played a pivotal role in facilitating educational opportunities for underprivileged young Liberians. Since 2018, the organization has partnered with SHE-CAN to identify and support 28 young women who have secured full scholarships to Ivy League universities in the U.S.
These scholarships, valued at over US$450,000 each, have profoundly transformed the lives of these students. Additionally, YONER Liberia has trained over 300 unemployed university graduates and senior students in digital and financial literacy, on-the-job training, and job placement services, with more than 20% of them pursuing careers in agribusiness, African fashion, and design.
Beyond these initiatives, YONER Liberia has provided entrepreneurial and technological training to over 5,000 university students and emerging entrepreneurs through its monthly tech-entrepreneurial education meetups. These sessions cover essential skills such as pitching, social business modeling, and soft skills development, fostering both personal and professional growth among participants.
Currently, YONER Liberia is upgrading its office in Paynesville to establish the city’s first-ever entrepreneurial education hub. This self-sustaining community space will feature a co-working area, a technology lab, and a training room, serving as a vital resource for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Looking to the future, Greaves envisions raising €1.5 million to create a state-of-the-art entrepreneurial and technology hub that will seamlessly integrate into Liberia’s youth ecosystem. By 2040, this hub aims to equip 250,000 young people with entrepreneurial and technological skills, catalyze the creation of 100 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and generate 10,000 quality jobs, addressing critical issues such as youth unemployment and educational disparities in Liberia.
The Chevening Scholarship will also connect Greaves to a global network of professionals, unlocking opportunities for partnerships and funding to scale YONER Liberia’s impact. In his new role as SHE-CAN Liberia Program Coordinator, Greaves will continue to lead efforts to provide life-changing educational opportunities for young Liberian women, further solidifying his influence within the youth community in Liberia.
Greaves’ recognition as the 2nd Runner-up in the 2024 Lonestar MTN MoMo Heroes of Change, Liberia, is a well-deserved acknowledgment of his dedication to driving social change. As he embarks on this new chapter, Greaves remains committed to reimagining education and employability in Liberia, ensuring that thousands of young people gain the skills and opportunities necessary for a brighter future.
