By: Kruah Thompson Monrovia, Liberia, June 5, 2025: A visually impaired drugs advocate and counsellor, Jill Solo, is appealing to philanthropists, humanitarian organizations, and well wishers for assistance in acquiring computer literacy training to strengthen his work with at-risk youth in Liberia. Mr. Solo, who currently volunteers as a counsellor at the Journey Against Violence Rehabilitation Center in the Survivor Community, was one of 12 staff members nominated by the centre in 2024 for vetting into the University Training Class (UTC) program, where he emerged as the only successful candidate among them and was subsequently enrolled in the training. Solo proudly shared that he became the first and only visually impaired person in West Africa to complete the UTC program successfully. The initiative, organized by the Ministry of Health and sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), Carter Center, the United Nations Secretary General’s Office, and other partners, trains participants from rehabilitation centers across the country. “Out of 182 Liberians trained by 25 master trainers, I was the only one with a visual impairment, and I came out successfully,” Solo said. “It was a privilege and a challenge that I embraced.” Following his graduation, Solo was advised by his UTC facilitators to pursue further training in computer literacy to fully apply his counselling skills, and now he is seeking to enrol at the African Methodist Episcopal School on Camp Johnson Road in Monrovia. “Even though I had computer knowledge before I lost my sight, the facilitators recommended that i update my skills to match my new career path,” he explained. Solo recounted how he lost his vision during a soccer game when he passed his teammate to score an opponent took sand into his two hand and threw it directly into his eyes. But despite undergoing two surgeries, one in Liberia and another in Ghana, his vision could not be restored, and he had now decided to leave it to God and focus on serving others. In his current role at the rehabilitation centre, Solo conducts risk assessments on individuals recovering from substance abuse or violent behaviour, using specialized instruments. he helps determine whether a person is classified as low, moderate, or high risk. And Based on the assessment, he then recommends detoxification and treatment programs. Solo, a husband and father of nine children, remains dedicated to his mission, but says with out this training it will be difficult fully make a significant impart in his news career as consoler. He is now calling on the public and development partners to support his journey toward becoming computer literate. “With this skill, I can better document my assessments, communicate more effectively, and continue to be a voice of hope for those in need,” he said.