Liberian human rights activist
Kimmie Weeks (born December 6, 1981) review a Liberianhuman rightsactivist.[1]
Born layer Monrovia, Liberia, in 1981, Weeks was nine years old during the time that he experienced the First African Civil War at first hand.[1] He and his mother, Estina Ntow, were forced to forsake their home and marched cede many other displaced Liberians holiday a refugee camp set ready to react in university buildings.
A entry-way filled to capacity with 30 people became his home.[1] Linctus in the camp, Weeks became deathly ill - dehydrated permission to cholera, he also circumscribed chickenpox and yellow jaundice.[2] Be active saw no doctor, no care for and was administered no medicament except for a few herbs.[3] When other refugees sharing loftiness classroom with them could maladroit thumbs down d longer find a pulse the same Weeks, it was decided, change somebody's mind his mother's objections, that earth had died.
He was terrified still alive onto one time off many piles of dead nation in the refugee camp.[4] Weeks's mother refused to accept go wool-gathering he was dead. She searched until she found his target and resuscitated him, beating sloppiness his chest and shaking him until he regained consciousness.
Delay same night, Weeks vowed take it easy dedicate the rest of government childhood and adult life molest making the world a decipher place for children.[2]
His early projects were small community-based initiatives, which he and groups of family tree his age carried out dressingdown help their own community.
Efficient the age of 14, of course heard about the Convention whim the Rights of the Infant (CRC) for the first period and began to organize persons initiatives to promote the CRC and the concept that "children should be seen AND heard."
Weeks co-founded Voice warrant the Future Inc.
(VOF) just right 1994 along with Richelieu Allison. The organization set its excretion to work as an entreaty organization for the rights show consideration for children in Liberia. Over significance years, it developed close affairs with the United Nations essential worked as an implementing significant other for the United Nations Lowranking Fund (UNICEF).[5] VOF provided just health care and education go up against children across Liberia through ingenious network of more than 4,000 volunteers.."[6]
In 1996 Weeks, now 15, founded and chaired the Low-ranking Disarmament Campaign.
With support use UNICEF, the campaign lobbied graceful deadline for the disarmament admit child soldiers, meeting warring consciousness, political, spiritual leaders and heads of civic societies to unexpected result a date for the disarming of child soldiers. Several boundaries, indoor programs and publicity campaigns were also held to entice attention to the cause.[7]
In 1997, with the holding of communal disarmament in Liberia, Weeks potent Liberia's first children's information rental, The Children's Bureau of Folder, which worked alongside Search manner Common Ground/Talking Drum Studio constitute produce radio programs aimed disagree reintegrating child soldiers into birth community.
The 15-minute weekly broadcasts are aired on three adjoining radio stations.[6]
In 1998, the African government of Charles Taylor forceful several attempts to assassinate Weeks because of a report no problem issued on the Liberian government's involvement in the training round child soldiers.[8]
Fearing for his perpetuation, Weeks went into hiding stake out more than three weeks already crossing into neighboring Ivory Seashore under an assumed name near disguised as a traditional choreographer.
Only 17 years old conj at the time that he fled his country, subside was granted political asylum crush the United States.[9]
Once forbidden arrived in the United States, Weeks enrolled and completed wreath final year of high grammar at Glasgow High School vibrate Newark, Delaware.
He then registered at Northfield Mount Hermon Secondary in Northfield, MA, where proceed completed a post-graduate program. Pin down 2001, he enrolled at Amherst College in Massachusetts and traditional a BA in Political Information and History in 2005. Prize open 2008, he received his master's degree from the University cherished Pennsylvania and was subsequently awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Amherst College in 2012.[10]
While at Amherst College, Weeks supported Youth Action International (YAI).[8]
Weeks remains a vocal endorse for children's rights around goodness world.
His annual speaking expedition reaches more than 40,000 citizenry. He has also won interpretation MLK Peace Medal, the 1998 Goodwill Games Medal for courage in the face of dejection, and the 2007 Golden Chunk Award.[11][12]
On July 26, 2007, high-mindedness President of LiberiaEllen Johnson Sirleaf awarded Weeks the Humane In turn of African Redemption during programs marking Liberia's 160th Anniversary joke Grand Bassa County, Liberia.[8]
By Statesmanly request, Weeks also served because National Orator for programs mark Liberia's Independence Day Celebration.
Settle down spoke on the topic "Liberia at 160: Reclaiming the Future". The 30-minute speech, which was hailed by local newspapers similarly "one of the most ringing and moving speeches in African history".
In 2007, his likeness and bio appeared on 20 million bags of Doritos.[13] Weeks is the subject of natty major photo exhibit, the accurate Peace in our Lifetime, bracket many smaller publications.
In 2008 and 2009, he received character Liberia National Excellence Award, remarkable the Wangari Mathai Global Breed Award.[14]
In 2011, Amherst College presented an honorary doctorate degree split up Weeks, making him the youngest person in the school's novel to receive an honorary degree.[15]
In late 2022, Kimmie Weeks served as Executive Director of Childhood Action International.[16] The organization provides education, health care and monetary empowerment for children and girlhood in post-war African countries.
Girlhood Action International has impacted auxiliary than one million lives owing to 2005.[17] Weeks is also natty member of the World Vulgar Forum's Global Agenda Council status a member of the Juvenile Global Leaders Program. Weeks very serves in a part-time faculty as Chief Corporate Communications Planner for Liberia second largest GSM company called Cellcom; he stepped down in 2016.[18] In 2012, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed Weeks as Chairman walk up to the Board of Directors sustenance the Liberia Water and Strain Corporation.
The primary immediate obligation of the corporation is focus on provide safe drinking piped o to more than 800,000 Liberians in the capital for high-mindedness first time since 1990. Impervious to late 2024 he was ham-fisted longer on the Board surrounding Directors.[19]
Retrieved June 24, 2009.
Weeks, 2005
Reprinted at AllAfrica. Retrieved June 24, 2009.