Charles' story

Charles lives in Ganta, northern Liberia. The 28-year-old is a former refugee, having escaped to Guinea twice during the course of Liberia's long running civil war.

Two years ago, the YMCA provided him with business training and a small loan, which he used to set up a barber shop.

Before he found the YMCA in Ganta, Charles was struggling to make ends meet with a weekly salary of L$700 to L$1,000 a week - around £6.62 to £9.46. "I used the cash to purchase some things that helped me push my business," he says. "I also got some money to help me to repair my booth."

The loan and the training he received have had an enormous impact on his earnings and quality of life. "I think things have improved massively," he says. "My family can rely on me now. Not only my family, but also friends come to me and I help them from this particular barber shop." Charles has paid off his loan, and he's now earning more than L$2,000 a week (around £20) from his barber shop. "Customers are really flowing," he says.

Not only is Charles running a thriving business, but his increased income means that he's able to save money and plan for the future. "I'm saving, because I said I wanted to go back to school," he says. "But I am also paying into a savings group to help others."

Charles was part of Ganta YMCA's Youth Empowerment Programme. "In Ganta, the YMCA is regarded as the help for all in the community," he says. "Any youth group that has any programme comes to the YMCA, sometimes to consult us - we are the youth model for the community." Looking back at his experience of the programme, Charles says, "It was really helpful for some of us. And now we have more youth coming in - I think that the project will be able to help more young people. We will be able to help other people like us, and we can go on with our lives."

These days, Charles also works at Ganta YMCA as the Youth Director. "I'm also on the peer education programme, helping people with decision making and to make a larger salary. Most things I know and learnt, like advocacy, I learnt at the YMCA. My role has now developed and changed completely."