Issued on Tuesday, June 16, 2026
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Today, as Liberia joins the rest of Africa in commemorating the Day of the African Child (DAC), we pause not merely to celebrate our children, but to confront our conscience as a nation.
The Day of the African Child reminds us of the courage and sacrifice of the young people of Soweto who, in 1976, stood up for their right to quality education and human dignity. Their struggle calls upon us, fifty years later, to ask a difficult question:
What kind of Liberia are we building for our children?
Across our nation, too many children continue to face poverty, neglect, violence, abuse, exploitation, child labor, harmful practices, inadequate healthcare, and barriers to quality education. Too many dreams are being stifled before they have a chance to flourish.
A country that neglects its children mortgages its future.
Children are not merely beneficiaries of development; they are the foundation of national development. They are tomorrow’s teachers, doctors, engineers, farmers, entrepreneurs, social workers, lawmakers, and leaders. Every child denied opportunity today becomes a national loss tomorrow.
As President of the National Association of Social Workers of Liberia (NASOWL), I issue this urgent call to action:
To the Government of Liberia:
Place children at the center of national planning and budgetary priorities. Strengthen child protection systems, improve access to quality education and healthcare, and enforce laws that safeguard children from abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and neglect.
To Parents and Caregivers:
Let us nurture our children with love, guidance, discipline, and protection. The first classroom is the home, and the first teachers are parents.
To Communities and Traditional Leaders:
Reject all forms of violence and harmful practices against children. Create safe environments where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.
To Schools and Educational Institutions:
Provide learning environments that inspire excellence, protect dignity, and unlock the full potential of every child.
To Development Partners, Civil Society, and the Private Sector:
Increase investments in programs that promote child welfare, education, health, and protection. The future of Liberia depends on the investments we make in children today.
To the Children of Liberia:
Your voices matter. Your dreams matter. Your lives matter. Never stop believing in your potential. Liberia belongs to you as much as it belongs to any generation before you.
Fellow Liberians,
Patriotism is not measured only by how loudly we praise our country. It is measured by how faithfully we protect its most vulnerable citizens. And there are no citizens more deserving of our protection than our children.
Let this Day of the African Child be more than a ceremony. Let it be a national awakening.
Let us move beyond speeches to action.
Beyond promises to accountability.
Beyond sympathy to commitment.
The true measure of Liberia’s progress will not be found in our buildings, roads, or institutions alone. It will be found in the well-being, safety, education, and opportunities afforded to every Liberian child.
Together, let us build a Liberia where every child is protected, every child is educated, every child is valued, and every child is given the opportunity to succeed.
Because when we protect our children, we protect Liberia’s future.
The future of Liberia is not waiting somewhere ahead of us; it is already sitting in our classrooms, playing in our communities, and dreaming in our homes.
So, do something … something positive for our children, our future.
Happy Day of the African Child
Dr. J. Kerkula Foeday
President
National Association of Social Workers of Liberia (NASOWL)
Improving Social Service Delivery Through Professional Practice