Monrovia – As part of efforts to commemorate the Day of the African Child on June 16, 2019, the 2015 Children Peace Prize winner Abraham Keita Friday, June 14, told youths in the Township of West Point to serve as ambassadors of change in the fight to end violence against children.
Keita, a child rights advocate, was born and bred in West Point, Liberia’s biggest slum, a place noted for violence against children.
At his early age in West Point, Keita started the campaign to end violence against children. For that reason, in 2015, he won for himself the International Children Peace Prize Award.
Keita is now doing his university studies outside Liberia. However, he was back recently in the country to host a two-day youth football tournament in the Township of West Point to commemorate the Day of the African Child.
The theme of the tournament, “Kick to End Violence against Children,” had six teams participating. After the tournament, a program was held on the Day of the African Child on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at the YMCA on Crown Hill.
Keita said the aim of the tournament was to create the awareness to end violence against children and raise awareness on children’s rights and protections.
The 2015 Children Peace Prize Winner told the gathering of young people to report any act of child violence in their communities.
Keita continues: “Despite I have the opportunity to go different parts of the world; I still feel that I have a root. And my root is West Point. There is no place I can be better proud of than here. West Point is my home.”
He added: “We are hosting this tournament to raise awareness about ending violence against children.”
According to Keita, during his boyhood days in West Point, he experienced lots of abuses, something he says are still occurring among children.
“After this tournament, it is our expectation that you will go back in your different areas in every part of West Point and serve as changed agents. When you see that the rights of a child have been abused do not hesitate to report it,” he urged peers.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of the Township of West Point, William Wea, called on the townships youths to emulate the life of ‘their own brother’ Abraham Keita and make a change in the various communities.
“Yesterday, he (Keita) was just like you and today if Kieta can make it, you can also make it,” Commissioner Wea said.
“He would have chosen elsewhere to organize his tournament but he knows West Point remains a priority for him and that is the reason he has come.”
According to Commissioner Wea, there are too many news about violence in the country; and that West Point is of no exception.
For this reason, he called on young people in the Township to be part of the change in their various communities.
“Moving Liberia forward is not only depending on us, the leaders, you know we cannot be everywhere at the same time. You, too, have your role to play,” he said.
Commissioner Wea added: “When you are passing and you see somebody beating a child the way they are not supposed to beat the child, say no our ma, you not supposed to beat the child like that.”