-ActionAid Country Director Says
MONROVIA – ActionAid Liberia’s Country Director, Madam Johnson, has emphasized the essential role of young people in maintaining Liberia’s peace and advancing national development. Speaking at a peace tournament held at the Invincible Sports Park in Monrovia to mark International Youth Day 2025, she hailed Liberian youth as “agents of change and leaders with the power to bring about positive transformation.”
The event, organized under the global theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” highlighted the importance of youth-led initiatives in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering sustainable, inclusive progress.
“We are excited to officially launch this peace tournament,” Madam Johnson stated. “As a social justice organization, ActionAid recognizes that our development goals cannot be achieved without actively working with young people.” She reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting youth-driven programs across Liberia, noting that youth development is a central pillar of ActionAid’s Country Strategic Paper.
The gathering brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from UN Women, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), WONYEN Agro Inc., Girls Health Alliance, Youth Aid Liberia, and other youth-focused groups.
Madam Fatima of UN Women commended the young organizers for their collaborative spirit and dedication to peace. Mr. Guy Njike of OHCHR also praised youth groups for their leadership, highlighting OHCHR’s ongoing Youth Promotion Initiative Project, which works with FLY and the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) to strengthen youth capacity for peacebuilding in Montserrado and Lofa Counties.
Executives from FLY expressed gratitude to ActionAid Liberia, UN Women, and other partners for their sustained support. “Sports unifies us all,” one FLY representative noted. “Seeing nearly 100 percent of participants as young people is truly inspiring.”
International Youth Day, observed globally on August 12, serves as a platform to celebrate the energy, innovation, and activism of young people while addressing the challenges they face. This year’s commemoration in Liberia was coordinated by YOUNETPO with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
