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First Time Voters And Political Parties Youth Wings Meet In Post-Election Dialogue

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A one-day political dialogue for first time voters and youth wings of political parties was convened in Monrovia has been held by the Young Women’s Action for Rights, Peace and Development (YWARPD).

The meeting, which was held on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, brought together four first time voters (2 males and two females) from each the 17 political districts of Montserrado County and executive of youth wings from political parties, is part of a wilder project tilted Young Democrats Project:  Mobilizing First Time Voters to Support Democracy Values, participate in the 2023 Election in Liberia and Espouse, Free and Nonviolence Elections in Liberia”, which is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy.

The forum, which has as its theme “Engaging Young People in Politics: the Role of First Time Voters in Political Governance” provided the platform for exchanges between political parties and first-time voters. The participants discussed how political parties in Liberia engage with and represent the interests of young people, particularly those not yet old enough to vote and first-time voters.  The opening session was addressed by Dr. Kimmie Weeks, Executive Director of Youth Action International. During the forum, political  parties’ young

wings were given the opportunity to discuss their existing structures and how these structures provide spaces to ensure the holistic participation of first time voters in political structures. At the end of the forum the participants adopted a number of strategies to mainstream the participation of first time voters in the structures of youth wings of political parties.  They called for youth wings to provide an enabling environment which will embrace first time voters and allow them to develop their political skills.

Meanwhile, as part of the project, YWARPD has already established Democracy Clubs in schools across  Montserrado county.  According to the Executive Director of YWARPD, Richelle Allison, these clubs are designed as a platform to ensure that young people are involved in democratic processes from an early age.

YWARPD was founded in July 2022 to serve as an advocacy mechanism and platform for young women participation in issues affecting their participation, development and survival. The organization grew out of the felt need to amplify the voice of young women.  The organization was founded by young women from a number of universities across Liberia and seeks to serve as the main platform for young women engagements in a number of activities affecting their development.

wings were given the opportunity to discuss their existing structures and how these structures provide spaces to ensure the holistic participation of first time voters in political structures. At the end of the forum the participants adopted a number of strategies to mainstream the participation of first time voters in the structures of youth wings of political parties.  They called for youth wings to provide an enabling environment which will embrace first time voters and allow them to develop their political skills.

 

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