Paramount Young Women Initiative (PAYOWI) is a woman-led, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of adolescent girls and young women. PAYOWI was founded in 2005 on the campus of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) as Paramount Women Association. The Association was founded for women of the AME University as a way to help them cope with the many challenges they faced while attending the university. The association evolved into PAYOWI to extend its reach to the young women of Liberia. We aim to uplift adolescent girls and young women by providing financial aid and scholarships, advocating for their rights, training them in leadership and sexual and reproductive health rights, and promoting community awareness and engagement for a more inclusive society. We work to create a safe environment where adolescent girls and young women can live freely without discrimination and violence, to develop their capacities, so they can make decisions to benefit themselves and their community. Our thematic areas include education, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), women’s political participation and leadership, local and national advocacy for women’s rights, and local feminist humanitarian response.
VISION
Our vision is to create a future where all young women and girls in Liberia live free from violence and discrimination, and are given equal economic, social and cultural rights including the right to quality education, health, and decent work.
MISSION
PAYOWI’s mission is to ensure young women and girls are given equal opportunities to quality education and provided with a safe environment free from all forms of abuse so they lead healthy lives and develop into transformative leaders in their homes, communities and beyond.
GOALS
Our goals are:
To help create a safe environment where adolescent girls and young women can live freely without been hindered and be capable of making decisions that will be beneficial to them and their community.
To provide scholarships for deserving and less fortunate female students in high schools, universities, vocational and technical schools, host intellectual fora, workshops, educational programs and peer group meetings as sources of empowerment. The motive is to also be able to engage young women to take up leadership initiatives in their schools, communities and the nation.
Develop positive relationships amongst young women by promoting an environment of growth, exchange of ideas and friendliness, partners with young women across the country in promoting academic excellence, cultivate a spirit of tolerance, self-esteem respect and love for country and nationalism and productiveness.
CORE VALUES
1. Empowerment: We are committed to promoting gender equality and empowering young women and girls, and to removing any barriers that prevent their full participation in public and political life.
2. Inclusiveness: We believe in full and inclusive participation, where every person is actively involved in decisions that affect them, regardless of gender or other identity. We therefore consider participatory approaches both internally and externally as integral to our organization.
3. Integrity: We abide by strong ethical and moral principles at all times, no matter who’s watching. We act with honesty and honor, performing to the best of our ability.
4. Solidarity: We consider partnership as key to achieving our objectives. We are committed to developing, maintaining and nurturing relationships, based on the feminist principle of solidarity, actively building alliances with institutions and individuals who share our vision and mission.
5. Accountability: We expect our staff, volunteers and organization to honor our commitments to our partners, to the people we serve, and to each other. We take ownership of our work and promptly correct mistakes to the greatest extent possible.
6. Volunteerism: We believe in giving back to the community and serving humanity as the first call of PAYOWI.