“A Day of Hope”

On November 28th, 2009, SELF supported The Liberian Athletes for at Risk Youth in giving “A Day of Hope” to Liberian children at a Youth Day Camp in Phoenix, AZ. The Liberian Athletes for at Risk Youth is a group founded by Dr. Grace-Ann Dinkins, a Liberian Olympic-class track/field athlete and also an alumnae of STC, along with other former Liberian Olympians who were inspired by the story of an 8 year old Liberian girl who was sexually assaulted by four teenage boys. The Day Camp rose out of the need to provide an opportunity for Liberian children to see positive role models and alternatives to negative stereotypes and low expectations. SELF was fully committed to this project through participation and donations. We donated recreational games and sport equipments as well as mentored a team of girls ranging from ages 7-21. We will continue to support the Youth Day Camp project as it is in line with our mission of empowering young Liberian girls and also a means of uplifting our own Liberian community.

“Spotlight on Girls”

Members of SELF participate in “Spotlight on Girls”, a Young Women of the Diaspora Initiative. This is a facilitated discussion series founded by Pamela Boyce-Simms, Executive Director of Spotlight on Girls Television Productions. Its mission is to improve the (physical, mental and spiritual) quality of life for girls and women in countries of origin, in exile and in Diaspora. Through "many-to-many" videoconferencing, young women representing the Tibetan, African, Jewish and Indian Diasporas discuss issues, solutions and or strategies to educate policy makers whose decisions impact girls' and women's lives, in exile, in Diaspora, and in their countries of origin. This great opportunity was spearheaded by Dr. Dawn Barnes based on her knowledge of our work and objectives.