Monrovia – As Liberia gears for the political season for a change of leadership democratically, United States Ambassador to Liberia Christian Elder has charged 4th semester students of the young political Leadership School to own, protect and preserve the peace as they ensure greater transparency in the political process of their country.

Report by Edwin G. Genoway, Jr – edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

The YPLS is a development program designed by NAYMOTE to improve Liberia’s democracy and electoral politics through effective youth participation and leadership as well as equip young people with the rudiments of political engagements, to effectively manage and be responsive to the national political environment.

Delivering her keynote address, the U.S. envoy emphasized that as the electoral season heats up, both politician and youth must promote a sense of Liberianess (Liberia first), above parties, counties and hold a peaceful process that is not based on terms but respect for the rule of law.

She wants young Liberians leaders take charge of their own peace if they want a developed and peaceful Liberia in the future.

“Be the change you want to see, own your peace because the responsibility is on all of you.”

“By practicing how to do this respectfully and peacefully, you will ensure that there is greater transparency and fairness in the political process because in a political process, your voice needs not to only be heard, but heeded by government officials and the international community,” she said.

She indicated that politicians must remain conscious in their actions and words and ensure that their words and deeds empower the citizens who must use their minds and voices not knives and rocks.

She mentioned “peace is not something to be achieved; it has to be actively protected and preserved every day.

“This is not something that UNMIL or International Community can deliver to Liberia; every Liberian must feel the burden of responsibility of protecting this peace.”

Speaking, Millais Z. Sheriff President of the YPLS described the training of young political leaders as a tool that will rebrand the style of politics in Liberia.

He said “under the YPLS we do not see political parties but mama Liberia. This vision is so important to get our country rebranded and to understand that irrespective of our political affiliations, we owe a duty to Liberia and not political parties.”

 “We need to be rebranded as leaders because only we can make Liberia great. “

“Liberia needs to move forward and young people through the young political leadership school are the rebrand of such an opportunity. At the YPLS, we do not see political parties but the prospect of Liberia moving forward,” he said. 

Monrovia – The lead lecturer at the Young Political leadership School second semester Jeff Fox says young people participating in the YPLS program are the inspiration for the future of Liberia.

Report by Al-Varney Rogers alvarney.rogersfrontpageonline.com

“They are inspirational for the future hope of Liberia, if you get young people like this into leadership role in five, ten to fifteen years, you will have a better country,” Fox said.

For the past three days Fox has been enhancing their skills in leadership, public speaking, developing campaign message, citizen engagement and campaign planning.

“It was a fabulous experience, I have interacted with youth activist all over the world and this the first I have the pleasure of working with youth political activist in Liberia, I found them very creative, very hardworking, keen to learn new idea and new strategy, leadership, public speaking, developing campaign message, citizen engagement, campaign planning,” Fox added.

YPLS Lead lecturer hopes that the National Youth Movement for Transparent Election attracts funding to replicate the program across Liberia.

“My hope NAYMOTE is able to attract long term support to move this program across the country; this will affect generation change and produce new leaders,” Fox said. 

The training lead by fox comprise of Seventy five young political leaders from cross sections of political parties, university student leaderships and independent candidates who are passionate about improving Liberia’s democracy and electoral politics will undergo 5 days intensive training in Campaign Planning, Campaign Communications, Voter Contact, Message Development-Creating Powerful and Persuasive Messages, Citizen Engagement, Participatory Decision-Making, Leadership Styles and Skills, etc. Participants will also engage in a Mock Election Campaign Event, and more.

NAYMOTE’s Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo said, the YPLS aims to strengthen and contribute to Liberia’s democracy through building the capacity of young political leaders that can make political institutions more effective players in the political system of the country. He emphasized that the initiative is a part of his organization’s (NAYMOTE) democracy enhancement program for Liberia.

H.E. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf serve as keynote speaker for the opening of the YPLS second semester, on the topic: Young Political Leaders and the Transformation of Liberia; while the Ambassadors of the Embassies of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Sweden and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General are expected to address the opening ceremony.

Jeff Fox, Political and Communications Strategists, Conflict to Peace International Consulting based in the USA will serve as lead facilitator.

NAYMOTE-Partners for Democratic Development has launched the Young Political Leadership School (YPLS) in Liberia to respond to election challenges. This program seeks to empower young Liberians who are youth wing leaders in political parties and political support based groups.

The program targets young independent political candidates who have the will to serve and need a deeper understanding of political and governance processes in the country.

The program aims at strengthening the capacity of young political campaign managers, campaign organizers, voters’ base managers, civic educators as well as public relation officers.

The young leadership program was firstly organized in April of this year under the theme “Organizing Political Campaigns’.

The YPLS is a development program designed by to empower young political leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to support the development of research-based campaign platforms, effectively build and manage voters base, lead effective political campaigns, engage voters, to and deliver issue based campaign messages.

The YPLS wants to ensure that political platforms reflect the views of the people and electoral campaigns are organized based on standards and are free from violence; so as to increase citizens’ trust in political parties, improve Liberia’s democracy and electoral politics.

Monrovia – After a successful completion of the first class of the Young Political Leadership School, NAYMOTE is expected to begin the second class beginning August 8-12.

Seventy five young political leaders from cross sections of political parties, university student leaderships and independent candidates who are passionate about improving Liberia’s democracy and electoral politics will undergo 5 days intensive training in Campaign Planning, Campaign Communications, Voter Contact, Message Development-Creating Powerful and Persuasive Messages, Citizen Engagement, Participatory Decision-Making, Leadership Styles and Skills, etc. Participants will also engage in a Mock Election Campaign Event, and more.

NAYMOTE Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo said, the YPLS aims to strengthen and contribute to Liberia’s democracy through building the capacity of young political leaders that can make political institutions more effective players in the political system of the country.

He emphasized that the initiative is a part of his organization’s (NAYMOTE) democracy enhancement program for Liberia.

H.E. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to serve as keynote speaker, on the topic: Young Political Leaders and the Transformation of Liberia; while the Ambassadors of the Embassies of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Sweden and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General are expected to address the opening ceremony.

Jeff Fox, Political and Communications Strategists, Conflict to Peace International Consulting based in the USA will serve as lead facilitator.

NAYMOTE-Partners for Democratic Development has launched the Young Political Leadership School (YPLS) in Liberia to respond to election challenges.

This program seeks to empower young Liberians who are youth wing leaders in political parties and political support based groups.

The program targets young independent political candidates who have the will to serve and need a deeper understanding of political and governance processes in the country.

The program aims at strengthening the capacity of young political campaign managers, campaign organizers, voters’ base managers, civic educators as well as public relation officers.

The young leadership program was firstly organize in April of this year under the theme “Organizing Political Campaigns’.

The YPLS is a development program designed by to empower young political leaders with the tools and knowledge needed to support the development of research-based campaign platforms, effectively build and manage voters base, lead effective political campaigns, engage voters, to and deliver issue based campaign messages.

The YPLS wants to ensure that political platforms reflect the views of the people and electoral campaigns are organized based on standards and are free from violence; so as to increase citizens’ trust in political parties, improve Liberia’s democracy and electoral politics.