GARDNERSVILLE, Montserrado County – The Montserrado Chapter of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) has launched its new leadership administration with a major civic education initiative, bringing together more than 50 young people for a day-long workshop on democratic participation and electoral accountability on Borbor Island.
The workshop, held Saturday, June 27, in the Gardnersville community, took place just one day after the inauguration of FLY Montserrado’s newly elected president, Ernest Duku Jallah, signaling what organizers described as a strong commitment to youth engagement and democratic governance.
The training was organized under the Youth AHEAD: Promoting Youth-Led Actions for Democratic Participation and Civic Engagement project, which is funded by ActionAid Liberia and implemented by FLY in Montserrado and Bong counties.
The project seeks to strengthen youth participation in governance through digital civic education and community-based engagement, with organizers emphasizing the critical role young people play in Liberia’s democratic development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Montserrado County Coordinator Patrick F. Wee outlined the objectives and expected outcomes of the project, describing it as more than a traditional educational initiative.
“The AHEAD Youth Project is a transformative civic mobilization effort designed to empower young people to become agents of democratic change,” Wee said.
He noted that the Borbor Island workshop represented a significant milestone in the project’s implementation and encouraged participants to view the training as the beginning of sustained civic engagement rather than a one-time event.
Wee also acknowledged the support of ActionAid Liberia and reaffirmed FLY Montserrado’s commitment to achieving measurable community impact through the project.
The first session, facilitated by FLY leader Augustus Fahnbulleh, focused on youth involvement in promoting electoral accountability.
Fahnbulleh described electoral accountability as the process through which citizens hold elected officials responsible for their promises, actions, and performance through free, fair, and credible elections.
He warned that weak accountability systems can contribute to corruption, impunity, and declining public trust in democratic institutions.
During the session, participants examined the role of young people in strengthening electoral integrity, including election monitoring, reporting electoral irregularities, promoting peace during elections, educating first-time voters, encouraging voter registration, and combating misinformation through responsible social media use.
The second session, facilitated by FLY volunteer Paul Dolo, explored the relationship between democracy, civil society, and youth-led institutions.
Dolo emphasized that democratic governance depends not only on government institutions but also on active citizen participation and strong civil society organizations.
He noted that civil society groups play a crucial role in promoting transparency, protecting human rights, advocating for policy reforms, and holding public officials accountable.
According to Dolo, youth-led organizations have become an increasingly influential component of Liberia’s civic landscape, with young people actively contributing to peacebuilding, electoral processes, social advocacy, and national development.
“Youth institutions are not merely advocacy groups; they are important instruments for democratic consolidation and social transformation,” he told participants.
The workshop concluded with participants expressing renewed commitment to serve as civic educators and advocates within their communities.
Organizers said the event demonstrated FLY Montserrado’s growing ability to mobilize young people around issues of governance and democratic participation.
As implementation of the AHEAD Youth Project continues across Montserrado and Bong counties, FLY called on government institutions, civil society organizations, community leaders, and development partners to support youth-led civic engagement initiatives as an investment in Liberia’s democratic future.
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