Youths Participation: The Key To Lasting Peace.

The fratricidal killings and blatant destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the civil war in our country saw the youths being exposed to the brutality of the war and the dehumanizing pogrom at the hands of warring factions which have to a larger extent rendered them remorseless. Their capacity to fend of their predators has been largely reduced by a list of negative self-images and the lack of opportunities. They lack outlets that could afford them the opportunity to acquire values and express their views and voices. Their ability to learn and develop skills has been grossly compromised by a continuous being in and out of school over the last 15 years. They now live in a state of chronic dependency surviving on handouts only to make life worth living.

They have been exposed to violence, drug addiction, prostitution and all sought of horrible things that has dampened their potentials and thus rendering them to be used as baits for the launching of insurrection and instability as evidenced in our immediate past history. Because of this, Most of them languish behind bars at detention centers while some lack the necessary securities to help them meet the challenges in an environment that is so frustrating and don’t offer opportunities for the attainment of success. Their hope for a better future is shadowed with the vices of the past; their educational and economic well-being suspends in limbo and is threatened by neglect on the part of the adult population that makes the moral decisions and controls the resources and power in our society.

Since the climax of the October and November polls which to a larger extent has set the stage for a pluralistic democracy, the involvement of every Liberian especially the youths in the rebuilding process must be the focus of this new government. The youth needs to build equity of their lives which requires an active and full participation in all sphere of the Liberian society. They must be given the chance to make impact on the basis of competence, credential, character and commitment.

With all of these, there is an endless list of Liberian youths that have struggle to acquire a minimum level of education and skills so as to prepare themselves for the future and survive the turmoil we are faced with in these crucial times of our nation’s history. Amongst them are Bankers, Lawyers, Technicians, Financial Experts, Economists, Medical Doctors, Teachers, Nurses, Mechanics, Masons, and Plumbers etc, etc.

If this new government fails to focus on the empowerment of youths who are the vulnerable class in our society, nation building and national security which are the fundamentals of any given society stand a risk; the fragile peace we enjoy today could be derailed by detractors, political misfits and warmongers.

Finally, the President Sirleaf led government should ensure the broad participation of Liberian youths in government as a means of preparing them to face the enormous challenges of the future. A national conference on youth must be held so as to afford the youths the opportunity to express views and voices on issues that tend to ship their future. The government should ensure the appointment of a youth advisor-whose preferment should emanate from recommendations of a cross section of Liberian youths as a means allowing them the opportunity to channel their grievances and developmental programs initiatives. This new government must have a comprehensive and cohesive agenda and strategy that can be used to improve the lives of Liberian youth. It is with this that we hope appointments in government at lower bureaucracies should involve the youths.

The youths are our “Precious Jewel” and so we must engage them in ways that would set the process of participation into motion which will subsequently increase their livelihood and prepare them for the daunting task the future holds. We must therefore act now or forever remain in a state of total backwardness and neglect.