From Despair to Purpose:
Kelvin’s Story of Redemption
through UNICEF Liberia’s Support
Kelvin, in front of his home © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
Kelvin Reeves, 25, grew up in a modest community in New Kru Town, Liberia. Life took a difficult turn after the loss of his father during his high school years, which soon left him feeling overwhelmed by responsibility and grief. With a pregnant girlfriend and a family struggling financially, Kelvin recalls feeling trapped. “I was still a student with no means to support my girlfriend or my mother,” he reflects. The pressure weighed heavily, pulling him into harmful choices, from alcohol to marijuana, all in an attempt to cope.
"They taught us the importance of being role models, of contributing positively to our communities."
Kelvin, on the street of the former location of New Kru Town Adolescents Resource Center © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
This dark period seemed endless. But just as hope was fading, a friend introduced him to “Let Us Learn”, a program designed to assist youth like him, supported by UNICEF. “The program felt like a new beginning,” Kelvin explains. He joined the sessions, beginning with counselling, and moved on to life skills workshops that opened his eyes to new possibilities. He began to understand the destructive effects of substance abuse and the potential of his own future. "They taught us the importance of being role models, of contributing positively to our communities."
Eben Kelvin Reeves ©Vincent Tremeau/Unicef Liberia
A street in Monrovia, Liberia © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
“After a severe reaction to alcohol mixed with marijuana, I was unconscious for days,”
he recalls. “That experience scared me and motivated me to quit.” The transformation was gradual. The more Kelvin learned, the more he lost interest in alcohol, distancing himself from the friends who encouraged his previous lifestyle. But it wasn’t without struggle; he faced relapse, yet continued attending Let Us Learn Program’s classes and mentoring.
Kelvin shows his work helmet to his flatmate's son, outside of his home © Unicef/Vincent Tremeau/Studio Humanity
Eventually, Kelvin’s journey took a promising turn as he became a peer educator within the Let Us Learn Program in Liberia, sharing his story with young people facing similar struggles. Kelvin was a passionate advocate, going into communities to discuss the dangers of substance abuse. The program also offered vocational skills training, where Kelvin learned hospitality skills, equipping him with a foundation for employment. He quickly became known as a reliable young man with potential, and even secured a contractor role with Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, which eventually became a full-time position. “I took everything I learned, from customer service to discipline, and applied it,” he explains with pride.
Kutar C. Morgan © Vincent Tremeau/Unicef Liberia
“My dream of an education felt impossible,” he reflects, “but UNICEF and Let Us Learn Program gave me purpose.”
Education had always been Kelvin’s goal, though circumstances held him back. But thanks to connections made through the program, he found support to attend United Methodist University, where he studies political science. Kelvin speaks of this journey with gratitude. “My dream of an education felt impossible,” he reflects, “but UNICEF and Let Us Learn Program gave me purpose.”
Now a senior student and a government employee, Kelvin envisions a future where he continues to uplift others. With his past struggles behind him, he remains committed to the Let Us Learn Program, even volunteering as a mentor for newcomers. Reflecting on his journey, Kelvin is proud of his accomplishments and looks forward to helping other young Liberians achieve theirs, crediting UNICEF’s ongoing support as the key to his transformed life.
“I owe this second chance to UNICEF,” he says, a proud father to his seven-year-old daughter. “They gave me a sense of belonging and made me believe in a future that once seemed out of reach.”