Monrovia, Liberia โ Young representatives from Maryland, Grand Kru, and Montserrado counties stood before the Liberian Senate this week to deliver a powerful plea for better education, healthcare, and justice systems. The children, participants in the 9th Annual Peace Through Fair Play Camp organized by the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, shared their firsthand experiences of the challenges facing Liberian youth.
Speaking on behalf of his peers, N. Kenneth Weah, a student from Lady of Fatima High School in Harper, Maryland County, began by expressing gratitude to Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee and her foundation for creating the transformative camp program. He acknowledged the government’s efforts in developing infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals, which have brought hope to many communities.
However, Weah emphasized that significant challenges remain for children across Liberia. The young delegates described how their education suffers due to severe teacher shortages, inadequate learning materials, and crumbling school infrastructure. Many students face grueling daily walks of over five kilometers to reach the nearest school, only to find overcrowded classrooms where individual attention from overburdened teachers is nearly impossible.
The situation is particularly dire in science education, where poorly equipped laboratories fail to provide proper practical learning opportunities. Healthcare access presents another major obstacle for Liberian children. Rural communities struggle with the absence of nearby clinics, forcing families to undertake arduous journeys to urban centers for basic medical care. Even when healthcare facilities exist, they often lack essential medicines, equipment, and qualified medical personnel.
This dire situation leaves many children without access to timely treatment, routine vaccinations, or basic preventative care. Economic hardships compound these challenges, as many parents rely on subsistence farming or small-scale trading that generates insufficient income. The resulting poverty forces difficult choices, with school fees often going unpaid and children being sent home from school.
The lack of job opportunities for both parents and graduating youth creates a cycle of economic instability that affects entire communities. Safety and justice concerns further darken the outlook for Liberian children. Many areas lack accessible police stations or functioning courts, leaving families vulnerable and without legal recourse.
This justice gap leaves children feeling unprotected and undermines faith in the rule of law. The young petitioners presented concrete requests to address these systemic issues. They called for substantial investment in education to recruit qualified teachers, provide modern textbooks, and rehabilitate school buildings. For healthcare, they advocated building more clinics, ensuring consistent medical supplies, and expanding mobile health units to reach remote populations.
Economic solutions included establishing vocational training centers and supporting small businesses to create sustainable livelihoods. To enhance safety, they urged the expansion of police services and court access across all regions. Weah concluded with a hopeful vision for Liberia’s future, emphasizing that with proper education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and justice systems, all Liberian children could look forward to brighter prospects.
The young delegates expressed their faith in the Senate’s ability to address these critical issues and create a more equitable society where every child can thrive. Their heartfelt appeal ended with a reminder that the future of Liberia depends on actions taken today to support its youngest citizens.
