In observance of a day’s celebration, Liberians over the weekend joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Youth Day in Monrovia with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Country Representative, Bidisha Pillai, urging Liberian youths to claim their space on the global map.
Speaking at a program marking the official commemoration of the International Youth Day, Madam Pillai said after the devastation of the country due to the 14 years of civil crisis, the transformation of Liberia now rests on the shoulders of the young people.
She added that the world population is around 8-billion and this amount contain 40% of the youthful population, therefore she encouraged Liberian youths to make a high mark among global youths in order to put Liberia on the map.
“Let the world say ‘wow!’, the young people in Liberia are driving change in their country, because young people play a major role in development and they have the ability, passions, ideas, efforts and energies to transform the country,” Madam Pillai noted.
According to the UNFPA Country Rep, it is proven that the young people of Liberia are experiencing serious challenges in several areas including education, political participation, skills development, health and more, urging youths in Liberia to work diligently in order to close the gap.
At the same time, she disclosed how the United Nations have designed a plan for the development of global youths, reiterating that the UN will continue to provide opportunities to the Liberian youths as part of efforts to empower them so as to close the existing gaps and overcome the challenges as well.
The first International Youth Day was celebrated on August 12, 2000 and was commemorated under a theme ‘Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages.’
Designated by the United Nations in 1999, International Youth Day is observed on August 12 every year. The day, established on the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers, aimed at coming up with solutions for issues fronting youths across the world.
International Youth Day also emphasizes on the rights of young people to have access to education, employment, healthcare, monetary services and participation in public life. This is specifically significant as several young people across the world are struggling with issues related to physical or mental health, education and employment.
For his part, Liberia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, D. Zeogar Wilson vowed to concentrate on cultural, legal, and challenges confronting the youths of Liberia.
He then called on every Liberian youth to be instrument of change in shifting the direction of the country in a positive way.
The program which was held at the Monrovia City Hall in Sinkor, Monrovia brought together scores of Liberian youths representing various sectors of the Liberian society.
