A group of four students sitting at school desks, smiling at the camera, with the first student in a black and yellow jacket in the foreground.

Our Approach

We support programs designed to prepare young people for ethical, empathetic, and entrepreneurial leadership in their communities and beyond

Why Liberia and Morocco?

Our programs focus on underserved communities in Liberia and Morocco. While different in terms of culture, size, and income, youth in both countries experience structural barriers that limit opportunities. At LEAD, we believe that an investment in youth leadership positively impacts individuals, communities, and entire societies. 

  • Young students sitting at desks in a classroom while a teacher reads from a book.

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    Growing Youth Populations

    In Morocco, 43% of the population, or 16.5 million people, are below the age of 25. In Liberia, it is estimated that 63%, or 3.6 million people, are below the age of 25. 

    Source: United Nations Population Fund; United Nations Peacekeeping

  • A classroom filled with students seated at yellow desks, paying attention to the teacher at the front and raising their hands. The teacher is standing near a digital whiteboard with writing, with two smaller whiteboards on either side. The classroom has windows on the back wall and a wall-mounted sign on the right.

    Low Secondary Enrollment Rates

    While Morocco has achieved higher secondary enrollment rates (89.8%) compared to Liberia (37.81%), attendance in rural areas in Morocco can be as low as 39%. Education quality remains a significant challenge in Liberia, where 29% of secondary instructors are unqualified, impacting completion rates across both genders.

    Source: World Bank; UNICEF

  • A large group of children seated in rows of chairs in a brightly lit indoor space with a panel of people at the front, decorated with black, yellow, and white balloons and tablecloths.

    Low University Enrollment Rates

    In Morocco, about 47% of college-age youth are enrolled in university and access is even more limited for rural and low-income students. In Liberia, enrollment is around 11%, with barriers like cost, academic preparedness, and limited infrastructure preventing broader access.

    Source: UNESCO

  • A group of young boys sitting in a classroom, wearing yellow and black uniforms, listening attentively.

    Barriers to Youth Employment

    Despite growing youth populations, both Morocco and Liberia struggle with youth unemployment. In Morocco, around 37% of youth aged 15–24 are unemployed, with a large share of university graduates unable to find work in their fields. In Liberia, over 80% of young people are either unemployed or working in vulnerable, informal jobs.

    Source: Reuters; World Bank

  • A young girl wearing a teal hijab and traditional dress holding a microphone and a pink paper, standing in front of a balloon arch and a yellow flag with blue and white text.

    Gender Gaps

    While girls in Morocco actually demonstrate higher enrollment and completion rates than boys in higher secondary levels, women’s workforce participation remains drastically low, around 20%, positioning Morocco near the very bottom globally in terms of female labor force inclusion. In Liberia, girls, especially in rural areas, face steep disadvantages in school attendance with only 35% enrolled in primary school and 13% in secondary school, versus 53% and 34% for urban girls. These educational disadvantages carry into adulthood, where women’s participation in the labor force remains low—only 19% of working-age women are employed or actively seeking work, compared to 29% of men.

    Source: Morocco World News; UN Women Transparency Portal 

  • A group of young girls playing soccer on a green field, wearing pink and black uniforms and yellow vests, actively competing for the soccer ball.

    Lack of Access to Education and Sports

    When children are out of school, they typically have significantly reduced access to organized sports, facilities, and equipment. Liberia has one of the world’s highest levels of out-of-school children, with an estimated 15-20% of 6-14 year-olds not in class. Only 54% of children complete primary education. In rural areas of Morocco, certain groups face higher risks of exclusion from education including children with disabilities, poor children, children from rural areas and girls. 

    Source: UNESCO; UNICEF

LEAD is committed to supporting students on their pathway to leadership in Morocco, Liberia, and beyond.

  • People standing in line outside the entrance of Stade Municipal Elmansouria under a clear sky.

    Fueling Communities

    We fund and support LEAD Hubs that provide promising young people with high-quality education, sports training, and leadership development.

  • A woman with glasses smiling and a man holding a certificate while standing in front of a presentation screen about leadership and sports.

    Cultivating Partnerships

    We partner with like-minded organizations worldwide to deliver and scale proven programs.

  • A smiling young man in graduation cap and gown, with a yellow sash and honor cord, celebrating graduation with classmates.

    Building a Global Network

    We connect LEAD Hub graduates with life-changing education and cross-cultural learning opportunities globally.

  • People standing in line outside Stade Municipal El Mansouria stadium.

    Expanding Our Model

    We adapt our model for new regions while continuing to support existing LEAD Hubs to grow their community impact.

What We Do

LEAD Hubs

Leadership
Starts Here

LEAD Hubs are locally led, community-based leadership academies that combine academics, sport, and leadership development to serve high-potential, underserved youth grades 4–12. They also act as centers of local innovation, leveraging these pillars to tackle urgent challenges facing youth. Currently, LEAD Edu supports two hubs: LEAD Monrovia Football Academy in Liberia and LEAD Morocco.

LEAD Edu Logomark

LEAD Learning

Leadership
For All

LEAD Learning forges strategic research partnerships to identify, adapt, and scale the most effective leadership development tools for educational and sports settings. We’re transforming how teachers, coaches, and community organizations integrate leadership development into their work to reach thousands of young people beyond LEAD Hubs. 

LEAD Global Network

Growing a Leadership Community

We are committed to creating lasting impact in the lives of our students. We connect LEAD Hub graduates to transformational educational and career opportunities through scholarships, mentorship, and internships post-graduation, ensuring alumni continue to lead long after they leave our programs.