By Abraham Kolleh Morris
From December 19 to 21, 2025, Liberia took center stage in Africa’s ongoing conversation on peace and development as it hosted the Regional Youth Strategy Forum on Peacebuilding and the Right to Development. The high-level forum, jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and Messengers of Peace–Liberia (MOP-Liberia), convened youth leaders, government officials, civil society actors, and international partners from across the continent.
Opening the forum, MOP-Liberia Executive Director Gwendolyn Myers welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of holding the event in Liberia—a country whose history of civil conflict and post-war recovery offers real-world lessons for peacebuilding. She described the forum as both symbolic and practical, noting that Liberia’s experience adds credibility and depth to discussions on youth-led peace initiatives.
“Hosting the African Union here places real community experience at the center of policy dialogue,” Myers said. “It reminds us that peacebuilding must be grounded in the daily realities young people face.”
A major highlight of the forum was the launch and commissioning of a Quick Impact Project (QIP): the complete renovation of Kpor Town Public School in Margibi County. The project followed an African Union technical assessment conducted earlier this year and was designed to demonstrate how peacebuilding efforts can deliver immediate and visible development outcomes.
The renovated school was officially unveiled on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as part of the forum’s activities. Myers described the initiative as a clear shift from dialogue to action, stressing that peacebuilding must lead to tangible improvements in people’s lives. “What we are commissioning is more than a building,” she said. “It is a safe and dignified learning environment that gives children hope and opportunity.”
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Kpor Town, Myers emphasized education as a cornerstone of long-term peace and national recovery. She explained that Kpor Town Public School was selected after assessments of public schools in Montserrado, Margibi, and Bong Counties identified it as having the most urgent needs. The renovation was completed in less than two months through close collaboration among MOP-Liberia, contractors, and development partners.
Officially dedicating the renovated school, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS), Bankole Adeoye, said the project reflects the African Union’s commitment to supporting countries emerging from prolonged periods of civil unrest. He commended the students and community of Kpor Town for giving the AUC the opportunity to serve Liberia through the project.
According to Commissioner Adeoye, the school’s renovation underscores the need for stronger collaboration among civil society organizations, communities, and African governments to make education a top priority for African children. He described the partnership among MOP-Liberia, the Government of Liberia, and the African Union as a concrete expression of Pan-Africanism and reaffirmed the AUC’s support for Liberia in line with Agenda 2063.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the school, Principal Melvin Lackay described the renovation as a historic moment for the institution. He said the project goes beyond infrastructure, helping to shape the minds of future leaders toward peace, security, and responsible citizenship.
The renovation included the addition of junior high classrooms, construction of a basketball court and children’s playground, installation of perimeter fencing, and the building of separate bathroom facilities for male and female students.
Also addressing the forum, Emmanuel Bawoh, Peace and Security Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered remarks on behalf of Foreign Minister Sara Beyslow-Nyanti. He reaffirmed the Liberian government’s commitment to youth empowerment as a central pillar of peace and sustainable development under President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s leadership.
Bawoh highlighted Liberia’s engagement with the Youth, Peace and Security agenda at both national and international levels, including advocacy at the United Nations Security Council. He stressed that peacebuilding extends beyond ending violence to include economic inclusion, social justice, good governance, and trust between citizens and state institutions.
“Youth empowerment is not charity,” Bawoh said. “It is an investment in stability and in our shared future. Young people must see themselves as partners in peace, not merely recipients of policy.”
Deputy Minister of Education for Instruction, Amos Armah Fulley, also addressed the forum, calling on young people across Africa to work together toward a shared vision of peace. He emphasized that the role of MOP-Liberia and similar organizations in peacebuilding and development cannot be overstated.
“This is not a time for empty promises,” Fulley said. “The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Education, is fully prepared to work with the African Union and MOP-Liberia to advance youth-led peacebuilding and educational initiatives.”
As the opening sessions concluded, organizers expressed confidence that the forum’s outcomes would extend beyond Monrovia, influencing regional policies, partnerships, and community-level action. Myers reiterated the broader significance of the gathering, noting that its success would be measured by sustained impact. “This forum matters for Liberia, for the region, and for Africa as a whole,” she said. “Our responsibility now is to turn these conversations into lasting results.”
The Regional Youth Strategy Forum continues with thematic panel discussions and strategy sessions focused on strengthening youth participation in peacebuilding and advancing the Right to Development across Africa.
Myers also expressed gratitude to the African Union Commission—particularly its Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) and the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Centre—as well as the Government of Liberia, notably the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, for their partnership and institutional support.
