By: Anthony Gray
Contact: 0777308943
Email: bishoptonygray@gmail.com
The Rising Youth Mentorship Initiative (RYMI) has announced a transformative new chapter in its journey with the appointment of Shamella E. Matthews as its Executive Director. The appointment signals renewed energy, strategic ambition, and a bold vision as the organization rolls out its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan.
A respected public health professional, Matthews brings extensive experience in youth engagement, gender-responsive development, and community-centered programming. Her work has consistently championed women’s empowerment, advanced sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and strengthened safe, inclusive pathways for adolescent girls and young women across Liberia.
RYMI’s journey—rooted in its beginnings as a girl-led initiative in Zoeglor, Paynesville, responding to rising teenage pregnancy—has blossomed into a national movement. Today, the organization stands as a powerful adolescent girls and young women-led institution working at the crossroads of SRHR, girls’ education, leadership development, economic opportunity, and advocacy for structural change.
Matthews’ appointment marks a defining moment in this evolution.
With the launch of its new strategic plan, RYMI is poised to:
Elevate girls’ leadership and civic participation
Expand intersectional feminist programs
Strengthen community accountability
Create safer, more inclusive spaces for girls and young women
Amplify youth-led advocacy at local and national levels
“This leadership transition is a testament to RYMI’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that adolescent girls and young women are not only heard but placed at the center of decision-making,” the organization shared in its announcement.
Expressing gratitude for her appointment, Matthews emphasized the heart of her mission.
“I am honored to join RYMI at such an important moment,” she said. “This strategy is built on a simple but profound truth — that girls and young women are not just participants in development; they are leaders, innovators, and change-makers. I look forward to working with communities and partners to expand this vision and deepen RYMI’s impact.”
As Liberia continues to confront long-standing structural barriers—from limited access to education and SRHR services to economic inequality—RYMI remains steadfast in championing girl-centered, justice-driven solutions that create lasting opportunities.
Under Matthews’ leadership, the organization is preparing to expand its partnerships, strengthen community networks, and scale transformative programs that empower Liberia’s next generation of female leaders.
RYMI’s future is bright and with a new Executive Director at the helm, its mission is more energized than ever.
