Kimmie Weeks

Kimmie Weeks
Born	December 6, 1981 Monrovia, Liberia
Occupation	Human Rights Activist, Inspirational Speaker
Nationality	Liberian
Notable award(s)	Brick Awards, Humane Order of African Redemption, National Excellence Award
www.kimmieweeks.com

Kimmie Weeks is an internationally acclaimed human rights activist. He was born on December 6, 1981 in Monrovia, Liberia.

Early years

In 1991, Kimmie Weeks experienced the First Liberian Civil War first hand. He and his mother, Estina Ntow, were forced to leave their home and marched with many other displaced Liberians to a refugee camp set up in university buildings. A classroom filled to capacity with 30 people became Kimmie’s home. He was only 9 years old at the time. While in the camp, Kimmie became deathly ill - dehydrated due to cholera, he also contracted chicken pox and yellow jaundice. He saw no doctor, no nurse and was administered no medicine except for a few herbs. When other refugees sharing the classroom with Kimmie and his mother could no longer find a pulse in Kimmie, it was decided, over his mother’s objections, that he had died. He was thrown still alive onto one of many piles of dead bodies in the refugee camp. Kimmie’s mother refused to accept that he was dead. She searched until she found his body and resuscitate him, beating on his chest and shaking him until he regained consciousness. That same night, Kimmie vowed to dedicate the rest of his childhood and adult life to making the world a better place for children.

In 1998, the Liberian government of Charles Taylor made several attempts to assassinate Weeks because of a report he issued on the Liberian government’s involvement in the training of child soldiers.

Fearing for his safety, Kimmie went into hiding for more than three weeks before crossing over into neighboring Ivory Coast under an assumed name and disguised as a traditional dancer. Only seventeen years old when he fled his country, Kimmie was granted political asylum in the United States.

Initial projects

Kimmie Weeks visits internally displaced people camps in Sierra Leone.

Kimmie Weeks co-founded Voice of the Future Inc. (VOF) in 1994 along with Richlieu Allison. The organization set its mission to work as an advocacy organization for the rights of children in Liberia. Over the years, it developed close connections with the United Nations and worked as an implementing partner for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). VOF provided informal health care and education to children across Liberia through a network of more than 4,000 volunteers..”

In 1996 Kimmie, now 15, founded and chaired the Children’s Disarmament Campaign. With support from UNICEF, the campaign lobbied a deadline for the disarmament of child soldiers, meeting warring faction, political, spiritual leaders and heads of civic societies to set a date for the disarmament of child soldiers. Several marches, indoor programs and publicity campaigns were also held to attract attention to the cause.

In 1997, with the holding of general disarmament in Liberia, Kimmie established Liberia’s first children’s information service, The Children’s Bureau of Information, which worked alongside Search for Common Ground/Talking Drum Studio to produce radio programs aimed at reintegrating child soldiers into the community. The 15-minute weekly broadcasts are aired on 3 local radio stations.

Life in the United States

Once he arrived in the United States, Kimmie Weeks enrolled and completed his final year of high school at Glasgow High School in Newark, Delaware. He then enrolled at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, MA where he completed a post graduate program. In 2001, Weeks enrolled at Amherst College in Massachusetts and received a BA in Political Science and History in 2005.

While at Amherst College, Weeks founded Youth Action International. The organization aims to raise awareness and provide an outlet for young people in the United States to engage in humanitarian work abroad. Kimmie currently serves as the organization's Executive Director while also working on his Masters at the University of Pennsylvania.

Recognition and awards

Kimmie on the red carpet at the 2007 Brick Awards, the same night he won the coveted Golden Brick Award.

Kimmie Weeks remains a vocal advocate for children's rights around the world. His annual speaking tour reaches more than 40,000 people. He has also been selected for many awards including the MLK Peace Medal, the 1998 Goodwill Games Medal for heroism in the face of adversity, and the 2007 Golden Brick Award.

On July 26, 2007, the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, bestowed Liberia's highest honor on Weeks for "sacrificial and dedicated services to the people of Liberia." The President formally decorated Kimmie Weeks as Knight Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption during programs marking Liberia's 160th Anniversary in Grand Bassa County, Liberia. Kimmie Weeks becomes one of the youngest recipients of Liberia's highest honor.

In a special proclamation marking the conferral of the distinction, President Sirleaf wrote:

"Now therefore, in recognition of the outstanding success you have so laudably achieved so far in your career, and for the pride you bring to all Liberians, I, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, by virtue of the power vested in me as Grand Master of the Order of Distinction of the Republic of Liberia do hereby admit you, Kimmie L. Weeks into the HUMANE ORDER OF AFRICAN REDEMPTION with the grade of KNIGHT GRAND COMMANDER."

By Presidential request, Kimmie Weeks also served as National Orator for programs marking Liberia's Independence Day Celebration. He spoke on the topic: Liberia at 160: Reclaiming the Future. The thirty minute speech which was hailed by local newspapers as "one of the most powerful and moving speeches in Liberian history" can be listened to online at: Executive Mansion audio

In 2007, Kimmie's photo and bio appeared on 20 million bags of Doritos. He is the subject of a major photo exhibit, the book Peace in our Lifetime, and many smaller publications.

In 2008 and 2009, Kimmie Weeks received the Liberia National Excellence Award, and the Wangari Mathai Global Citizenship Award.

In 2011, Amherst College confered an honorary doctorate degree on Kimmie Weeks. He became the youngest person in the school's history to receive an honorary degree.

Current

Kimmie Weeks currently serves as Executive Director of Youth Action International. The organization provides education, health care and economic empowerment for children and youth in post war African countries. Youth Action International has impacted more than 150,000 lives since 2005. Kimmie Weeks is also a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council and a member of the Young Global Leaders Program.

See also

• Susan Skog Author of Peace in our Lifetime
• Janet Wilson Author of One Peace

External links

• Kimmie Weeks official website
• Youth Action International website
• Youth Action International Youtube channel
• 4Real TV Series
• My Hero Project
• Kimmie Weeks calls US Attention to Food Crisis
• Man With a Mission: Visitor to share African dreams, nightmares
• British and American Team arrived in Sierra Leone to assess creation of Women Centre
• Too Young to Fight
• Kimmie Weeks discusses aid