Youth

On August 12, 2010, the United Nations celebrated the ”International Day of Youth,” aimed at recognizing the efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society and promoting ways to engage the youth in becoming more actively involved in contributing positively to their communities.

That same day also marked the launch of the UN's “International Year of Youth,” which aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions, and civilizations.

These celebrations are especially meaningful for country like Liberia, where the youth form large portion of the population. Today 55% of Liberians are under 19 years of age. This puts immense pressure on the education and health sectors of Liberia, as these are the sectors from which the young population needs the most services.

USAID believes that providing young Liberians with appropriate education and health services is one of the greatest investments that Liberia can make in its people: thus, USAID is firmly committed to partnering with the Government of Liberia in these sectors.

The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), in collaboration with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), on Thursday, August 12, 2010, observed the International Youth Day under the grand theme: “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding for Youth Development in Liberia”.

In special remarks, the Resident Representative of UNFPA in Liberia, Ms Esperance Fundire, called on decision-makers to listen to the needs of young people and respond to them effectively. She called for a meaningful dialogue between government and young people in an effort to develop a mutual understanding on how to jointly address development challenges young people are faced with.

Ms. Fundire said it was necessary for government to establish a partnership across generations, in fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which calls for a more peaceful and just world.

Ms. Fundire disclosed that the UNFPA was promoting the participation and leadership of young people, especially in the areas of life skills education, universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, HIV prevention, treatment, and support for the young people.

She said on a daily basis, young people aged 10 to 24 of the world's more than 1.8 billion people are searching for opportunities to pursue and fulfill their dreams and potentials.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Monday, August 9, 2010, submitted to the National Legislature, for ratification, the African Youth Charter, which seeks to establish a foundation upon which to build policies, programs, and actions for youths' development across African Union (AU) member states.

The Youth Charter also aims to preserve basic rights afforded youths, which include the right to development, privacy, protection of family and property; freedoms of movement, expression, and association; and freedom from discrimination based on race, ethnic group, color, sex, origin, language , religion, status, activities, or expressed opinions or beliefs.

In addition, the Charter is aimed at ensuring youths' development and employment in key strategic areas where they have traditionally been marginalized by society, specifically in the areas of education and skills development, to mention just a few.
Liberia is a signatory to the African Youth Charter. It provides a strategic framework for youth development at continental, regional, and national levels. The need to address issues of youths' marginalized as perpetrated through unequal access to state resources and decision-making give rise to the formulation of the Youth Charter.

The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), which is the umbrella organization of all youth and student groups in Liberia, on July 16, 2010, commenced a unification conference among youngsters of Liberia. Focus will be placed on youths drawn from all walks of life from the hinterland of the country.

The Unification Conference is aimed at promoting peace and unity among the young people of Liberia beginning with four counties, including Lofa, Nimba, Montserrado and Bong. The Conference is expected to be held in Gbarnga, Bong County from July, 16-17, 2010.

It is expected that the conference will bring together one hundred young people from the four strategic counties considered by FLY as conflict-prone zones in Liberia.

At the Conference, the young people will be looking at new dimensions and resolutions that will protect them against violence and abuse. The Minster of Youth and Sports, Madam Etmonia D. Tarpeh, who is hoped to grace the gathering, will make a special statement of encouragement.

Additionally, the conference will be climaxed with a soccer tournament to afford the participants to the chance to interact and network among themselves with a renewed vigor, as peace ambassadors.

Mr. Emmanuel Wheinyu, a young Liberian journalist, on Thursday, June 24, 2010 lost valuable belongings of his owning to a fire that gutted the house in which he lived in the Chugbor Community on the Old Road. The incident left him and other occupants of the seven-bedroom house homeless.

According to Mr. Wheinyu, the Star Radio journatlist, prior to the destruction of the house, it hosted 23 persons, all renters.

Hear him: “No one took a pin from the house.”

Meanwhile, Emmanuel is sending out an SOS call to his fellow colleagues and other well-meaning Liberians to. “I lost all including school documents. I want assistance,” Emmanuel pleaded.