PHOTO: One is on UN Women and partners, while the other is a graduation story
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
SUAKOKO, Liberia–Three (3) collaborating United Nations agencies have ended two-day youth promotion initiative inception workshop in Cuttington, Bong County.
The meeting was held under the theme: “Youth participation in peacebuilding, advocacy, human rights monitoring, and civic education.”
The two-year program, which begins this 2024, is a joint project by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) called the Youth promotion Initiative- Accelerating Digital opportunities for youth civic participation as a lever for building and Sustaining peace in Liberia” funded by the Peacebuilding Fund.
Valued at two million dollars, this project is expected to be implemented in two counties- Montserrado and Lofa beginning this 2024.
It focuses on increasing opportunities for youth participation in decision making processes, and peacebuilding processes through the digitalization of existing youth and women-led informal platforms, networks, and organizations, a concept note released stated.
“This will be achieved by strengthening youth-led and women-led organizations and networks to meaningfully participate in political and intergenerational dialogues, interact with political actors, women leaders, mentors, traditional and religious leaders and other state actors and connect to formal civic platforms using a digital interface,” the release continued.
The 24 representatives from 12 youth-led and women-led organizations and networks were drawn from Montserrado and Lofa counties and gathered from May 9-10, 2024 at the Orange Digital Centre, Cuttington University Campus, Suakoko District, Bong County.
Speaking with reporters at the close of the meeting, they lauded the three UN agencies for the increased knowledge.
The youths however, promised to transfer their new knowledge to their respective networks and organization to build strong capacities for Liberia.
The selected youth representatives are further appealing to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) to decentralize the project rather than the two counties for other young people to benefit.
Mohammed Kamara, President, Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) stated: “It’s a distinquished honor to have participated in such a training because it was a learning process for us. As we get back to our various institutions, let’s be able to create an environment where we can able to share the knowledge. We also want to thank the three agencies including the government for staging this gathering.”
Ruth B. Cooper, Social Worker, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection noted that “the workshop was an eye-opener and will help transform the country”.
Seawon S. Lawaiyea, first Deputy Speaker, Mano River Union Youth Parliament Liberia Chapter (MRUYP-LC) told journalists “the training is in alignment with the goal and objective of the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, so it’s glad being a part of this inception meeting.”
Joan M. Mulbah of the Independent Nationa Commission on Human Rights called for a decentralized effort for the country to benefit.
“We are appealing that the project be implemented across the country rather than the two counties”.