MONROVIA – The Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), an accredited non-profit, passionate, and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy American Corner – Kakata conducted the eighth edition of its annual Youth Leadership Summit.
This one-day event held under the theme: “Enabling Youth to Lead” took place on December 14, 2018, at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) main campus in Kakata City, Margibi County and brought together one hundred seventy five (175) students and youth leaders from eight (8) junior and senior high schools together with the Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute, community-based organizations and the Federation of Liberian Youth.
Speakers and facilitators were drawn from competent and experienced background with the requisite skills needed for various segments of the summit. The Deputy Inspector General for Operations of the Liberia National Police, the Principal and Executive Officer of the BWI alongside other motivational speakers, educators and social workers rose to the occasion.
Harris Fomba Tarnue, Principal and Executive Officer of the BWI welcomed everyone and expressed appreciation to Youth Exploring Solutions for choosing BWI as host for this year’s Youth Leadership Summit. He urged the participants to listen, learn, network, exchange ideas and utilize the knowledge acquired from the summit to build lasting peace, enhance social cohesion and foster the development of the country.
“Most of you were born after the civil war and wouldn’t know or quite remember detailed information about what really happened during those dark days in our country’s history. However, let your generation muster the leadership and courage to right the wrongs of the past and lead this country to prosperity,” the Principal and Executive Officer stated.
Tarnue continues: “As youth, you have the responsibility to make your country better and stronger through the utilization of your own imagination, creativity and energy to bring about innovative initiatives that would improve livelihood, increase economic growth, and harness infrastructural development”.
Sheikh Kamara, Early Warning and Early Response Focal Person at the Peace Building Office- Liberia who proxy for the Executive Director spoke on mitigation and conflict resolution. He outlined the causes and effects of conflict and proffered practical remedies for resolving some of the most common conflicts prone to schools and communities as well as among youth and people of all ages and gender.
Presenting on the topic: “Youth and the Environment: How Can Youth Protect the Environment”, Charles Dahn, Program Director of the Environmental Science Association of Liberia asserted that young people must play a pivotal role in protecting the environment.
According to him, youth makes up 70 percent of the World’s population and in Liberia over half of the people are below the age of 30. He indicated that the numerical strengthen of youth is advantageous in ensuring a greener, cleaner, safer and healthier environment for Liberia and the entire world.
Dahn lamented the adverse effects of global warming, climate change, environmental degradation and water-resource pollution in Liberia. He stressed the need for youth to get involve in voluntary grassroots activities to safeguarding environment, protecting biodiversity, conserving nature and advocating for policy changes.
Sam Harrell, an executive member of the Organization for Women and Children, spoke about Gender Based Violence Prevention and Inclusivity. He narrated the story of his wife, Mmnbeydo Joah-Harrell, who he said followed her passion and established an organization dedicated to advocating for women and children to live in a society free of gender violence, rape, sexual harassment and other societal vices meted against someone because they are women.
“No one should go through pain and anguish just because of their gender. We must take the lead to work for women and girls to achieve their full potential and measure of happiness because they are the most vulnerable group in our society that cannot be left behind,” Harrel pointed out.
The Liberia National Police Deputy Inspector General for Operations, Robert Budy, expounded on the topic: “Youth as Catalyst of Change”. He emphasized the importance of youth in nation building and cautioned to practice honesty, integrity, accountability, and prioritize education while ensuring zero tolerant to corruption.
“You are the leaders of today and the agent of change for tomorrow. I urge you to be honest no matter the circumstances and conditions you might find yourself. Don’t blame others for your misfortunate or mistake. Learn to take responsibility for your action. Use your youthful age to become problem solvers and thing makers, not trouble makers and thing broker,” Robert Budy averred.
Responding to the question about police officers receiving bribes in order to carry out their statutory duties, the Deputy Inspector General for Operations disclosed that bribery is always two ways, he added that there must be a giver and a receiver.
“Don’t bribe the police officer because you have violated the law or committed a crime. Each and every Liberian citizen should learn to adhere to the rule of law and respect constituted authority. I admonished you to stay away from drug abuse and consumption of alcoholic beverages. I plead with every young person to study hard and pass examination fairly without any form of cheating”, the Deputy Inspector General for Operations noted.
Boersen Hinneh, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of The Professional Volunteer presented on Branding Yourself as a Leader. He spoke about the styles of leadership, characteristics of leadership, the difference between leaders and managers, and what it entails to brand oneself as a leader.
Youth Leadership Summit is designed to engage, educate and empower young people aged 16 to 25 with the needed leadership skills, entrepreneurial capability, fundraising techniques, environmental consciousness, conflict resolution mechanism and advance a sense of volunteerism as well as enhance critical decision-making abilities in an exciting atmosphere that is challenging and fun.