EVIDENCE-BASED, COST-EFFECTIVE MODEL

​Urban crime is one of the most costly and divisive issues facing cities around the world and most urban violence is committed by a small number of young men. Our world is currently home to nearly 1.8 billion young people ages 10–24, more than any other time in human history.

Liberia, which saw two civil wars, has a widespread increase in the rate of hardcore street youth in the city of Monrovia, with an increased crime and violence rate that is affecting communities. Poor, vulnerable, and unemployed street youth are among the greatest public safety concerns and Liberia's most pressing priorities. 

• 60% of Liberians are under the age of 25
• 1 in 5 children suffers violence in post-conflict communities
• More than 50% of youth are poor and economically disadvantaged
• Disillusioned young men resort to crime, violence, and substance abuse
• A recent church revival led to a stampede that killed 29 people.

 
From Liberia to Chicago, research has shown that it is possible to identify them, change their mindset and behavior, and integrate them into a law-abiding society.

How We Do It

​I. We provide a CBT-based hardcore youth rehabilitation program paired with an unconditional cash grant.

1. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
2. Cash Transfer

 II. We collaborate with strong research organization and 3 university partners to lead the way in evidence-based, cost-effective model with the potential to scale

1. We identify and recruit the highest-risk youth in urban cities
2. Develop a high impact program that creates quality evidence to address crime and violence
3. We help practitioners, policy, and decision-makers turn the evidence into better programs and policies.

 III. We influence public policy and high impact program design with the change our intervention creates in society. 

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If we recruit hardcore street youth into the STYL program, provide CBT and counseling, socially reintegrate them, and provide cash transfers, youth will attend and participate in CBT, stop anti-social behaviors, practice reintegrating into communities, open bank accounts, and start new businesses, we create safe communities for everyone.

THE STYL INTERVENTION

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Scope

We will adopt the STYL model anywhere there is youth crime and violence across Sub-Saharan Africa, as long as the government and enough payers are willing to fund it.

We hope to scale the STYL model to impact the lives of an additional 10,000 hardcore young men in Liberia in 5 years.

Expand the model to 100,000 youths in at least 10 countries (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda)​ across Sub-Saharan Africa in 10 years to reach our impact.

Recruit strategic leadership to support multi-country organizational management, partner relationship management, and fundraising and grant management as the organization scale.