OUR HERITAGE
Liberia’s History on Aid
Liberia's 14-year civil crisis devastated not only our physical infrastructure but also the social fabric and mindset of an entire generation. Murthy et al.'s paper Mental Health Consequences of War confirms that war disrupts the social and economic foundations of nations, and we witness these effects firsthand in the psychological, economic, and institutional barriers facing Liberian youth today. A consequence of the war is the dependency mindset fostered in the Liberian youth—a belief system shaped by years of reliance on foreign aid and humanitarian relief. During and after the crisis, foreign interventions provided essential relief. Still, they also unintentionally cultivated a culture where many young people see themselves as victims rather than architects of their future.
The dependency mindset continues to persist due to two key factors. Firstly, short-term development approaches focus on immediate needs (food, shelter, health, etc.) without equipping youth with the long-term skills, networks, and mindset necessary for independence. Secondly, economic and institutional barriers that don't provide sufficient job opportunities and economic hardships reinforce the belief that success is unattainable without external aid. Project Change directly combats these issues by pioneering a long-term changemaking model that gradually shifts youth from a mindset of dependency to one of empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Heritage of Our Organization
Our existence as an organization has a deeply rooted purpose derived from a vision given to our founder, Mr. Prince L. Jarbo when he was a teenager. At 12, he was fortunate to move to the U.S. and appreciated the improved way of life. However, he soon gave in to peer pressure due to family issues, so his mother sent him back to Liberia in 2011, hoping for him to realign his priorities since Liberia is a third-world country.
His return home prompted mockery from almost everyone who considered America the epitome of opportunity. He felt naïve and depressed, but he remained hopeful despite all the negativities. With no financial support from his parents, he was forced to work while attending high school. He engaged in several entrepreneurial initiatives, like teaching computer courses at high schools and internet cafes. Being obligated to work at 15 gave him a different perspective on life. It taught him to overcome adversity by maximizing limited resources, even if it meant monetizing the little computer knowledge he had to sustain himself. These experiences are the cornerstones that made him the resilient Changemaker he is today.
While in Liberia, he observed a prevailing dependent mindset among the youth, who often fixated on complaining about government corruption. He was frustrated with this approach because, as he was taking action, he felt the youth could take the initiative and not blame others. One evening in 2014, while playing basketball with his peers, he heard the youth complaining about how bad the economy was and became irritated. One of the youths made a comment saying, "I would rather be in jail in America than free in Liberia." At that moment, a turning point came in the form of a vision from God that made it clear his return to Liberia was to learn and appreciate his country's heritage and help bring hope to his fellow youth. This epiphany provided clarity and purpose to Mr. Jarbo. As a result, his frustration transformed into a commitment to contribute positively to his country's development. He quickly realized that he had discovered his life's purpose!
A few months after receiving his vision, he had an emotional reunion with his mom after not talking for over three years. She then decided to give him a second chance to return to America. Upon returning to the States, he graduated high school. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2017 to pursue a debt-free education to financially prepare for a prompt return to Liberia to begin fulfilling his purpose. Two years later, he saved over $10K and returned to Liberia in 2019 to initiate Project Change. At the time, Project Change was a paradigm-shifting workshop that aimed to empower the youth, focusing on entrepreneurship and patriotism.
A student at one of the schools we invited to the 2019 workshop Photo of the initial team Mr. Jarbo recruited to turn the initiative into a nonprofit
However, the overwhelming feedback prompted this initiative's transformation into a nonprofit. Half a decade later, Project Change is a fully established nonprofit for the youth led by the youth, focusing on empowerment by providing the necessary tools for youth development. Since 2019, Project Change has facilitated 6 programs that groomed over 200 entrepreneurs and youth leaders who directly spread our message of empowerment with more than 4,700 beneficiaries. Furthermore, we have provided over 573,000 Liberian Dollars in microgrants to help transform the social problems they are stagnated by into businesses that fuel their local economies. As a result, these young professionals utilize their innovative skills to aid in the reconstruction of our nation.
Mission
The mission of this organization is to educate young men and women on the importance of self-sustainability and, most importantly, the necessary measures that need to be taken for our nation, Liberia, to become a land that sustains its people.
Vision
The vision is to see the youth come to realize that a sustainable future for our nation (Liberia) ONLY depends on what each individual has to offer, not what other foreign nations have to offer, and therefore, be willing to collectively help rebuild a productive Liberia.
Our Specific Purpose/Mission
1. To educate the youth on the importance of self-sustainability.
2. To provide mentors that will help steer the minds of the youth in the direction of productivity.
3. To provide facilities and training that will groom the youth to become self-sustaining individuals.
4. To provide opportunities for the youth to engage in educational, competitive and recreational activities that will help build their careers and social lives.
Our
Core Values
1. Country before self
2. Uphold a culture of respect & integrity
3. Practice what we preach
4. Failure is not an option
5. Partiality is never accepted
The Changemakers' Creed
I am a Changemaker
I am a public servant
I aim to put the needs of my country before my own
I am Changemaker
I strive to uphold a culture of respect & integrity
I will diligently practice what I preach
I am a Changemaker
I will never let failure dictate how I serve
Nor will I give room to partiality
I AM A CHANGEMAKER!
Our Logo
The hands (the trunk of the tree) represent us, Project Change, empowering the youth (represented by the stars) of Liberia to become productive and self-sustaining individuals for the betterment of our country, Liberia.️