Paynesville – The Ministry of Youth and Sport on Thursday, May 23 conducted its first monthly youth sector coordination meeting with development partners to find a framework for the implementation of impactful youth programs in Liberia.
Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
The event which is a first of its kind under the CDC-led government brought together a cross-section of youth groups from around the country.
Giving the welcome remark at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville, the Minister of Youth and Sport D. Zeogar Wilson called on young people in the country to see the life of President George Weah as an example to transform their own life.
He added that it is time that various youth organizations work hard to develop programs for youths in the country.
“We believe in realistic goals. Gone are those days when we used to write fine, fine concept paper and nothing is done,” he said.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa after the program, Deputy Minister for Youth Development, Isaac N. Doe, added that the event also intended for officials of the ministry to get acquainted with partners to strategize the developmental agenda of young people.
Said Doe added: “We had to tell them where we stand and then we wanted to know from them where they stand. Mainly, on the basis of what they have been doing, what are their plans to go forward and what are our own visions in seeing the youths’ agenda move forward.”
According to the deputy minister, during the next five years, the minister is hoping to achieve a smooth coordination with various development partners and youth groups in the country.
“We want to ensure that the youth sector of this country will be coordinated in a way that the Ministry of Youth and Sport – the government arm charged with the responsibility of overseeing all activities of the young people in this country – can play a lead role in accounting for every developmental thing done in this country for the young people,” he said.
“I am not in Grand Gedeh County, (but) what can we do to make sure that every youth activity that goes on there can also be accounted for here.”
Also, giving the overview earlier, the Assistant Minister for Youth Service, Emmanuel M. Johnson disclosed that since 2009 several meetings have been held with youth organizations about their progress made, status of their programs and projections for future interventions.
According to Johnson, there are over 100 members from civil society organizations, international and local NGOs and the private sector.
The purpose of the youth sector coordination committee is to identify organizations that are planning and implementing youth programs in the country, he said.
“To identify cuts-cutting programs in terms of who is doing what and what impact those programs have on youth development,” Johnson added.