After Mobilizing First Time Voters About The Values Of Democracy In The 2023 Elections
In continuation of the project tilted “Mobilizing First Time Voters to Support Democracy Values, participate in the 2023 Election in Liberia and Espouse Democracy in Liberia” the Young Women Action for Rights, Peace and Development (YWARPD) has begun establishing clubs in schools.
It has now established a Democracy Club at the Dorcas Academy in District #2, in Montserrado County.
YWARPD has conducted a training workshop for members of the club as part of the initiative. The workshop provided training on issues relating to civil education, democracy, citizenship, elections, human rights, with focus on women and children’s rights, conflict resolution and leadership and brought together 30 students from the school.
The Democracy Club initiative by YWARPD will lead public debates for the students and also facilitate the hosting of an election of class officials and officials of the student council government. The initiative is sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and encompasses the setting up of one Democracy Clubs in each district in Montserrado County. Already, YWARPD has set up nine democracy clubs across Montserrado County. Under the project, YWARPD will set up 17 Democracy Club in each electoral district in the county.
According to Ms. Richelle Allison, Executive Director of YWARPD, the establishment of the club is part of a long-term vision to ensure that students in schools adopt democratic values and civil responsibilities at an early age and further contribute to the enhancement of democracy in Liberia. She noted that young people have a crucial role to play in promoting Liberia’s democratic credentials and that an early understanding of democracy and its structures will help young people better understand the gaps and root causes of development issues at the grassroots level, as well as a better understanding of the mandates of government.
She commended NED for supporting her organization to achieve its objectives. 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.