As in most rural communities in Ghana, Taviefe’s youth have a limited range of life choices available to them when they do not succeed in school. Many youth leave their homes and move to the cities in hope of finding work. What they often find is an even more difficult situation on urban streets where they no longer have a family and community looking out for them. Those who do remain in the villages typically farm their family land for subsistence purposes.

In 1999 the Youth Development Center Board was mobilized to encourage the youth to be informed and productive members of the community. It was initiated by the Chiefs and Elders of all three Taviefe communities in conjunction with the Peace Corps volunteer assigned to work there. The Board maintains a diverse membership across gender, age, and community lines so that they can best address the myriad issues within different population segments. In their first year, the Board coordinated the following:

• Youth Center Construction -- Planned and completed the first phase of construction for a Youth Development Center to house income-generation, educational, and recreational activities.

• Youth Textiles Club -- This cooperative was organized to produce and sell tie-dye cloth, silk-screened t-shirts, and other attire. The youth and students together manage this endeavor as an income-generating business.

• Volta Cup -- Boys and girls soccer teams were organized so that they could travel to different communities and compete against other teams in the area. The regional football tournament known as the "Volta Cup" has become an annual event for the past three years which rotates to different communities.

• Peer Educators Program -- This team of youth in conjunction with Planned Parenthood which gives informative talks to students in the community on reproductive health and youth leadership issues including HIV/AIDS awareness and conflict resolution.

The board has focused primarily on the completion of the Youth Center's structure since construction began. The project’s ultimate goal is to provide the youth a place to congregate and provide opportunities for physical, mental, and emotional development. Upon completion, the programs the Center will initially focus on includes:

1) Peer Education – focusing on attaining a better quality of life through a clearer understanding of reproductive health, the Center will provide programs in conjunction with Planned Parenthood that focus on pressing issues like AIDS, teenage pregnancy prevention, and substance abuse.

2) Income-Generation Classes – provide classes that teach small-scale business skills that are necessary to generate and manage extra income.

3) Sports/Games Clubs – Provide opportunities to develop their self-esteem and confidence through sports and recreational programs.

4) Formal Education Classes – Supplemental youth and adult literacy classes to further develop literacy skills.