Jarius Andrew Greaves, a distinguished Liberian social entrepreneur, has once again demonstrated his unwavering commitment to youth empowerment by securing the 2nd Runner-up position in the 2024 Lonestar MTN MoMo Heroes of Change, Liberia. This accolade places him among the most influential change-makers in the country, selected from a pool of over 5,000 nominees representing all 15 counties.
Greaves’ achievement underscores his relentless dedication to transforming the lives of young Liberians through his organization, YONER Liberia. His journey to this recognition has been marked by significant milestones, including a 5th place finish in the 2023 “Hero of Change, Liberia” competition, where he emerged from over 7,000 nominations. His efforts were further validated by a certificate from the USAID Liberia Development Award in the Youth of the Year category, solidifying his reputation as a leading advocate for youth empowerment in Liberia.
Reflecting on his latest success, Greaves expressed deep gratitude, stating, “This award not only highlights my work but also brings greater attention to the transformative initiatives of YONER Liberia in uplifting young people across our nation.” He emphasized that the overwhelming support from fellow Liberians has strengthened his team’s resolve to continue driving impactful change for the country’s youth.
This recent recognition has also played a pivotal role in bolstering Greaves’ application for the prestigious UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship, which he successfully secured. Starting in September 2024, Greaves will pursue a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Sussex. This academic pursuit will equip him with advanced expertise in entrepreneurship, social business modeling, and leadership—skills essential for furthering the impact of YONER Liberia.
Under Greaves’ visionary leadership, YONER Liberia has directly impacted over 100,000 individuals across seven counties in Liberia over the past 16 years. The organization has been instrumental in empowering high school and university students, emerging entrepreneurs, and disadvantaged young women through a variety of 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.
Among its many achievements, YONER Liberia 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 been a key partner in facilitating educational opportunities for underprivileged young Liberians. Since 2018, the organization has collaborated 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 had a profound impact on 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 in the process of 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 ahead, 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.