YOUTH GLOW INC.
About us
Rooted in Nimba since 2019.
Youth Glow Inc. is a Liberian, youth- and women-led NGO helping communities protect, restore and earn from their land, water and forests.
Our mission
Rural women and young people learn, earn and thrive while protecting and restoring their land, water and forests.
Our model is simple: when people earn from healthy land, they protect it. Savings groups, beekeeping and agroforestry give families income from standing forest, and community agreements keep it standing.
We work with women and youth smallholder farmers and petty traders, giving them green, digital, business and peacebuilding skills. We started in Ganta in 2019, work in Nimba and Bong counties today, and aim to expand nationwide.
Our impact
Verified results from five projects in Nimba and Bong, 2023 to 2026.
What we do
One programme. Four projects.
Each project leads on one PPSS step (Peace, Protect, Skill, Save) and carries parts of the others, so peace, conservation, skills and savings move together in every community.
Peace Building and Governance
Dialogue, mediation of land and concession disputes, and a real voice for women and youth in local decisions.
Explore PeaceCommunity Land, Water and Forest Conservation
Helps communities secure forests through community forest management agreements, and protect farmland, rivers, wetlands and wildlife through conservation agreements.
Explore ProtectDigital and Green Skills for Local Climate Action
Climate-smart farming, beekeeping and honey, agroforestry, solar and digital skills that lead to jobs and group businesses.
Explore SkillDigitize Microfinance for Rural Development
Moves savings groups onto digital records and mobile money, and scales our model of groups training new groups.
Explore SaveTechnology powers every project: mobile data collection, satellite forest monitoring, digital savings records and mobile money, and digital skills for jobs.
How we work
Women first
80% of the people we train are women, and many of our savings groups are led entirely by women.
Groups train groups
Savings groups we train start new groups in their own communities. That is how our reach grew to 2,460 people at low cost.
Consent first
Every conservation commitment, including Zortarpa’s forest pledge, follows free, prior and informed consent with the whole community.
Income from standing forest
Bees, cocoa, coffee and oil palm on land already farmed give families an alternative to illegal gold mining.
Inclusive by design
We adapt training for people who cannot read or write and work with groups of people with disabilities.
Delivery under pressure
We completed every planned FAO activity even when funds arrived up to five months late.
Our organisation
- Founded
- 2019, in Ganta, Nimba County
- Offices
- Head office: LPRC Community, Ganta City, Nimba County. Field office: Sanniquellie
- Where we work
- Nimba County (621,841 people, 2022 census) and Bong County today, with the aim of expanding nationwide. We start with other forest counties facing the same pressures of poverty, forest loss and land conflict, including Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, River Cess, Lofa, Grand Gedeh and Sinoe
- Who we serve
- Women and youth smallholder farmers and petty traders, including people with disabilities
- Legal status
- Registered and accredited Liberian NGO, with business registration, NGO accreditation and tax clearance. Business registration no. 053008259
- Governance
- An independent board of four
- Team
- Nine staff, led by Executive Director Kpoanluwon A. Zourpeawon; 66% of senior managers are women
- Grants delivered
- Five projects from 2023 to 2026 worth US$80,196, with UNDP/GEF SGP, FAO and the UN Peacebuilding Fund, ActionAid Liberia and independent contributors
Our home in Ganta
Walk through our head office design.
A three-minute design walkthrough of our head office in LPRC Community, Ganta: from the welcoming porch and ramp to the rooms where our team works.
Design concept. Help us bring it to life.
Ways to partnerOur contribution
Local action. Global Goals.
Our work contributes to six Sustainable Development Goals and to Liberia’s own national priorities. Every number is a verified result.
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Dialogue and mediation of land disputes; women and youth in local decisions.
Liberia: AAID Rule of Law and Governance pillars
Life on Land
Community forests secured through forest management and conservation agreements.
Liberia: AAID Environmental Sustainability; Community Rights Law 2009
Climate Action
Sustainable agriculture, agroforestry and forest carbon.
Liberia: AAID Environmental Sustainability; NDC 3.0
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Green, business and digital skills, and a Liberian honey value chain.
Liberia: AAID Economic Transformation and Human Capital pillars
No Poverty
Savings groups moving to digital records and mobile money.
Liberia: AAID Economic Transformation pillar
Gender Equality
Women lead our savings groups, committees and team.
Liberia: AAID Human Capital pillar; Land Rights Act 2018
Aligned with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) 2025–2029, Liberia’s NDC 3.0, the Land Rights Act 2018 and the Community Rights Law 2009.
Our partners
Funding partners
UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme · FAO · UN Peacebuilding Fund · ActionAid Liberia · independent contributors
Civil society partners
Integrity Watch Liberia · GERAD-Liberia · the Sopea farmer group · community savings groups and forest committees in Nimba and Bong
Let’s grow this together.
Fund a step, deliver PPSS with us, or bring the model to your communities.