By Grace Q. Bryant
FREE-Liberia, in collaboration with the Association for Life of Africa (AFLA)-Liberia, over the weekend concluded a one-day trauma-healing conference for university students in Monrovia.
The conference, which was under the theme “Transforming Today, Succeeding Tomorrow,” was characterized by life changing stories and testimonies by the participants, as some of them, in an emotional manner and form, explained their worst experiences that they are currently battling to overcome.
The participatory conference that was held at the Cuttington Graduate School in Congo Town, brought together over 50 participants from various universities and institutions in and around Monrovia.
Making remarks at the opening ceremony, the Country Director of AFLA-Liberia, Amb. George Blamoh, used the occasion to call on Liberians to always be in a space that will be meaningful in order to better their lives.
“I count it as a blessing to be in the space of this generation to create a sense of hope. I know many people are discouraged to be in this space, people just want to get out of Liberia, either seeing themselves in America, but thank God you are in this space today,” Amb. Blamoh told the gathering.
“We are Unleashing the potentials of the next generational leaders by creating a new paradigm and mindsets,” he noted
He also appreciated the participants for being in a space where they will gain education which will help shape their life journeys for the better.
“You are blessed to be here during this season and time, so that you can get some education that you can ride on and it will help transform your lives,” Amb. Blamoh said.
He assured participants that their time spent in the conference will not be wasted, stating, “God is going to use this as a seed so that you can be able to enhance your goal.
At the same time, the Chief Executive Officer of Foundation for Research and Education, FREE-Liberia, Charles Gbollie, appreciated the participants for taking time off their busy schedules to be a part of the trauma-healing conference.
The conference, as Gbollie stated, was meant to strengthen the journey of participants as they go through their daily life challenges.
He assured participants that they will achieve their goals, saying, “We can assure you through divine provision that something is here for you that will be able to move you to another level.”
He added that, if not everyone, many people are having some issues, and these issues in some way shake them or move them in so many ways.
“But today, some of these issues will be unearthed. We will also share knowledge on how to progress,” Gbollie noted.
The young motivational speaker and educator also called on the participants to open their minds and be receptive to participate in the discussions that they will go a long way in impacting their lives.
Meanwhile, participants at the end of the day-long trauma-healing conference for university students, were touched and very excited on the knowledge gained.
According to some of them, they kept their pains and agony for years and just could not express themselves to the general populace due to lack of safe space.
They also appreciated the facilitators for the knowledge shared, noting that it will go a long way in transforming some of the difficult decisions they intend to make, aimed at improving their lives and getting over obstacles that have served as barriers in their life for years.
