MONROVIA — To mark International Youth Day, Alvin Clarke, Global President of the Economic and Trade Cooperation of African Youth (ETCAY), led a youth-driven road rehabilitation and community revitalization project in Johnsonville’s Flower Garden neighborhood.
By Francis G. Boayue
Young volunteers and local residents repaired the road, cleaned public spaces and promoted environmental sanitation.
Clarke said he chose a non-political path, focusing on hands-on solutions rather than electoral politics.
Launched in early 2024, ETCAY’s Community Program builds on last year’s large-scale cleanup in Paynesville and emphasizes practical action, self-reliance and quick response without waiting on bureaucracy.
“In many parts of Africa, especially in Liberia, people believe that every problem needs money to be solved. Whenever people think of challenges, the first notion is the need for money. But that is not entirely true. The will and meticulous planning to achieve a goal or solve a national problem, as we are doing today, are the vital resources—not money. At ETCAY, we see beyond money. We have the will and the abilities. We will use what we have to do what we must do for our community,” Clarke said.
“Development isn’t always about millions of dollars,” he added.
“It’s about people coming together to solve local problems.”
He urged Liberian youth to move from talk to action through volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and community service and welcomed partnerships with government and stakeholders when helpful.
Background — About ETCAY:
The Economic and Trade Cooperation of African Youth (ETCAY) was founded in China in 2018 by young African leaders aiming to strengthen China–Africa ties through economic cooperation, youth empowerment, and community development. ETCAY runs independent, youth-led projects across the continent—focusing on skills development, environmental initiatives, and small-scale infrastructure—to demonstrate how collective local action can spur sustainable development.
