Janet Kaneah (23, Monrovia, Liberia) founded Youth Action Liberia to provide rural communities in Liberia with access to clean water and better sanitation facilities. At just 23, Janet is not only the founder of an organization, but also is an Executor of Action for Plan 003 at World Merit. Through these avenues, Janet has been able to improve the quality of life for individuals in Liberia.

Janet believes that Sustainable Development Goal #6, Clean Water and Sanitation, impacts and solves many of the other sustainable goals through its successes. In rural Liberia, limited access to water impacts gender equality and health. Many individuals die from preventable diseases due to a lack of access to clean water. Girls and women are particularly impacted because they cannot go to school when they are menstruating due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities. Additionally, women and girls walk long distances to collect clean water for their families and are subject to harm and violence when they walk these long distances alone. Janet’s goal through Youth Action Liberia is to limit these hardships for people in rural regions.

Youth Action Liberia is founded in the belief that young people are the change-makers. In collaboration with a team of young people, local partners, community members, and community leaders, Youth Action Liberia is building clean sanitation facilities and water facilities. Janet hosted a world Merit event where she reached over 100 people. With awareness of the issue, the community is making a greater effort to address the issue of clean water and sanitation.