By Moses M. Tokpah|Margibi Contributor
In its quest to get disadvantaged youths commonly known as “Zogos” off the streets in Liberia, the Lawrence G. Cooper Foundation owned and operated by a US-based Liberian, Lawrence G. Cooper has disclosed plan for the construction of a dwelling place for more than 150 of them.
Mr. Cooper in an interview with Liberia Public Radio recently said the Foundation has purchased a piece of Land for the construction of a six bed room apartment for the disadvantaged youths in Dwazohn, Lower Margibi County something he said construction works will be commence next month (July).
He stated that some of the disadvantaged youths got traumatized due to the civil war; some lost their parents while some find themselves in the street because of pressure and are vulnerable in the streets.
Lawrence G. Cooper further stated that the Foundation is running a daily feeding program for the group in the area but do not have place to stay, as such he has decided to construct a temporary dwelling place for them even though their number is large.
According to him, the group will be at the temporary home while the Foundation is working on constructing a complex on the Roberts field high way to have them permanently accommodated and rehabilitated.
Cooper narrated that at the complex; the group will have the opportunity to acquire skills after which they will be empowered and reintegrated into the society and by that they will be able to contribute to Liberia.
He added that there will be several programs for the youths at the complex including plumbing and building trade among others disclosing that he is trying to establish a career team in Liberia.
He told our reporter that currently there are close to one hundred and fifty of the (150) youths that have been recruited in Lower Margibi but the temporary site can accommodate close to two hundred of them.
Mr. Cooper said he has a team on the ground that goes around and talk to the group about the program and most of them get encouraged to be a part of the program.
Meanwhile, the Lawrence G. Cooper Foundation CEO is urging Liberian politicians to begin paying attention to the disadvantaged youths because they will need them during the time of elections and should not wait for elections before coming to their aid.
He called on the Government of Liberia to allocate funding in the national budget for the disadvantaged youths because the more they get vulnerable in the communities the more crimes they will commit.
“Because they have to go hustle, some have relatives, some have children, some have family you know some have wives they have to feel at the end of the day and if they can’t get it they have to get it from somewhere” he said.
He asserted that the only way crimes can be minimize in the communities is by taking those guys from the streets and placing them to a particular place where they can learn trade and return to the communities productive and become useful in the society.
In another development, the Lawrence G. Foundation CEO said the Foundation has been involved in the fight against COVID-19 in Liberia especially in Lower Margibi.
He stated that the Foundation started with awareness as regards to the preventive measures followed by the distribution of food and non-food items in 200 communities in Lower Margibi.
Mr. Cooper maintained that his institution has distributed about 300 hand washing buckets in District #1 and parts of District #2 respectively.
He recounted that the Foundation has also distributed more than 300 bags of rice and other food items.
