Unleashing the potential of young people in Liberia: a new initiative

“An engaged alumni community prepares the way for a brighter future” said Beyan Flomo Pewee, Executive Director of YOCEL.

It is a brighter future for young people across Liberia, which a new joint initiative is aiming to achieve. The initiative, developed by Future First Global, in partnership with YOCEL, is being launched this week to enable Liberian schools to be supported by thriving and engaged alumni communities, which can support young people as they transition from school into further education, training or the world of work.

The initiative launches in fifteen pilot schools later this year, after an initial launch workshop with all involved, including representatives from the schools and the Ministry of Education. An assessment undertaken by YOCEL over the last couple of month’s show that 80% of outgoing high school students are willing to give back to their former schools. It further showed 90% of students want career advice and mentoring from former students.

There is already some sporadic use of alumni networks at a high school level in Liberia but this new partnership will support schools in developing well-functioning alumni networks. It will unleash the latent will of alumni to give back as volunteer role models, mentors and providers of work experience. The initiative aims to be nation-wide in Liberia by 2017.

“Imagine if every young person in Liberia had access to a network of mentors, role models and work experience providers to help them in their journey to fulfilling their own potential. Together, I am confident we can establish a programme which will do just that” said Jake Hayman, CEO of Future First Global.

About Future First Global
Future First Global’s vision is to turn every school into a community by engaging former students, now in jobs, as mentors, role models and work experience providers to young people at their old schools. They currently work in the UK, Kenya and USA.

YOCEL is a Liberian based non-profit youth oriented organization that promotes quality education and provides supportive platform that challenge the creativity of young people.

For additional information on the initiative contact: Jake Hayman, Jake@futurefirst.org.uk or Beyan Pewee f.pewee@gmail.com

EAYP Reflection from Liberia

The Big Experience , La grande experience, Big Iskustvo, La Gran Experiencia, Der große Erfahrung.

By : Beyan F. Pewee

In life the people who meet, talk to, live with matters and affects our normal life.

It was a great and big experience for me to have attended the First Euro African Youth Parliament organized by the European Youth Parliament and the Youth Bridge Foundation.

This initiative was not only to build partnership but also to bring us to the platform where we can speak out on issues affecting the continent.

This event was not just about team building or working as a committee, but it was also about living as a family and pushing one agenda even it is right or wrong. One way of the other the exclusive ten days we had will make an impact in our various lives.  

There was a time my committee chairs Felicia and Arif told me that no matter what someone say to you or do to you just keep in mind that you still love them and you will always support  the decision of the committee.

For me the ten days was also about learning how to tolerate, respect the opinion of the majority and remain strong in union.  If these days were a joke to you nevertheless for me it was remarkable and I enjoy the best moment ever.

It all counts down from the arrival day to team building, from team building to Cultural Night, from Cultural night to committee work, from committee work to  sightseeing, from Sightseeing to the Euro Africa Concept, from the Euro Africa Concept to the General Assembly from the General Assembly to the time of pains and tears.  This is all what we experienced and we experienced it as a team not as an individual. The pictures we took including the amazing selfies, the birth days we celebrated and the party we organized in our rooms, without all of these moments the Euro Africa would not be a success. You made it real and exciting.

Thanks to the organizing team for the hard work and once again to all committee chairs who lead us during our committee work and the session president for his experience in chairing the session

"An Open Fall on Education “

It is regrettable to see the kind of education our peers received in some parts of the country-Liberia.  The agenda for transformation and the Liberia rising (nation’s vision 2030) creates an avenue for the full realization of quality and affordable education for every child without discrimination. But the implementation of these legal instruments is still a major challenge to government. 

This article reveals actual happenings in some rural communities in Liberia.

I was opportune to have form part of the official assessment team of the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia (YOCEL) to a nearby town called Gbaigon located in Bomi County with only one hour thirty minutes distance from the nation’s capital (Monrovia).

The Educational situation of the people most especially girls cannot be over emphasize. Teenage Pregnancy has become the order of the day for school age girls and a vocational training skill is never their dream.

The population of the town is estimated to be over 500 hundred and the youthful population constitutes 154 with 68 boys and 86 girls. It was mention by the PTA Chairman and confirmed by the town chief that the total numbers of girls in the town are of school age and most of them have refused to go back to school due to pregnancy or over age problem.   

Furthermore; the only school they had, has gone to a deprivable   condition that creates room for ineffectiveness and poor learning environment.  Many parents have refused to send their kids to school due to the recent fees imposed by government to public primary school.

 My mind is been question, looking at the kind of learning conditions and thinking if these kids will ever have the opportunity to advance their studies.  No text books, No siting capacity in class room that suggest students to sit on the floor, lack of sanitary facilities, three teachers teaching the entire public primary school and the most regrettable aspect is the low enrollment dropping from 250 to 60 students.  

These situations proves that Liberia’s free and compulsory primary education law is not working, cause parents labor very hard to pay their children schools fees considering the fact that most of them are single parents with no adequate skills.

Can you determine a single Future for these kids who have never experience the excitement of education and have no idea of it? Their lives are center around making cassava pitch for their very survival. 

PRESS RELEASE

Girls Rising Regional Ambassador

  Beyan F. Pewee
 

Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia to host Girl Rising – International Day of the Girl Event in Monrovia
Friday, October 11th is International Day of the Girl. To celebrate, Girl Rising, supported by their founding partner Intel, is supporting thousands of events around the world that will shine the spotlight on the transformative power of girls’ education.

Monrovia, Montserrado October 11, 2013 – Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia (YOCEL) is bringing a global movement to educate girls and change the world home to Monrovia with an International Day of the Girl Sporting Event. Girl Rising is a groundbreaking feature film that spotlights the stories of nine unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. The film captures their dreams, their voices and their remarkable lives. It is also a movement dedicated to empowering and achieving educational equity for girls around the world.

This International Day of the Girl celebration will bring Communities together to raise global visibility about the importance of educating girls. It will be registered on the Girl Rising campaign map http://10x10act.org/take-action/idg-screening-kit/ with the goal of capturing the attention of global policy leaders and inspiring them to include girls’ education on the post­2015 United Nations agenda, an important step for achieving educational equality for girls.

“We at the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia believe(s) in the power of education to change not only a girl, but the world,”. “By hosting an International Day of the Girl Event in Monrovia we are demonstrating our commitment to breaking down the barriers that prevent girls around the world from going to school ­ barriers like child marriage, sex trafficking, gender violence and discrimination. We are proud to be part of this growing movement, raising visibility in Monrovia alongside thousands of other events worldwide.”



ABOUT GIRL RISING

Girl Rising was directed by Academy Award­nominee Richard E. Robbins and is narrated by Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloë Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington. The film premiered in the United States on March 7th, the eve of International Women’s Day, and has since been screened by millions in cinemas, campuses, corporate boardrooms and private homes worldwide.

“If to see it is to know it, this film delivers hope; reasonable, measurable, tangible hope that the world can be healed and helped to a better future," said Meryl Streep.

“It's a powerful film that has the potential to inspire change in the world. If you're not moved, you're not breathing,” said Alicia Keys.

Girl Rising is also a movement that embraces the words of activist Malala Yousafzai: "One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution.” The movement was founded by award­winning journalists at The Documentary Group and Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, along with strategic partner, Intel Corporation. Girl Rising’s International Day of the Girl activities are sponsored by Intel.

Girl Rising is built on a foundation of partnerships with NGOs, corporations, policy makers, and grassroots organizations — all working to change minds, lives, and policy. A portion of film ticket sales goes to support girl­focused programs through the Girl Rising Fund. The Fund is distributed to Girl Rising’s high­impact network of non­profit partners who are working on the ground: A New Day Cambodia, CARE, Girl Up/United Nations Foundation, Partners in Health, Plan International USA, Room to Read, and World Vision.

Best regards

Beyan Flomo Pewee
Girls Rising Regional Ambassador
Founder/National Chairman
Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia(YOCEL)

GIRL RISING IS A FILM.
GIRL RISING IS A MOVEMENT.
GIRL RISING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE FUTURE.

Postpone National Summit on Education for Youth Engagement 2013

Due to some level of preparations, the Summit Committee has decided to postpone the Summit from December 2013 to February-March 2014.

All applicants are encourage to keep visiting the blog for more information about the Summit.

There is still a call for Application. here  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12THCCGcaV2UaVYhJLe3Ca5qJyNBbsFvUlD0Ze-4wkWM/viewform/

Remember that every young and passionate youth around the world are encourage to apply.

Celebrating the International Day of Peace in Liberia

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The Chairperson of the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia has called on the UN Mission in Liberia to continue their tremendous support in placing young people at the 
center of their activities. Beyan Pewee says there is a powerful opportunity for society if 
young people can participate positively in all aspects of sustainable peace and education.He 
also wants the UNMIL to support the proposed National Youth and Children’s Summit in 
Liberia. The summit plans to host the UN Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi and Malala 
Youfsazai, the young Pakistani girl shot in the head for wanting an education.




School for you, school for me, school for peace. That was the theme of today's Education 
for Peace Festival at J.J. Roberts Methodist High School in Monrovia. The festival was 
organized by the UN to mark the International Day of Peace. "Students, as Liberia's future 
leaders, you can do so much to keep your country at peace this year, next year, ten years 
from now," said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Karin Landgren.

Call for Application

National Summit on Education for Youth Engagement 2013

Held Under the Theme: A Quest for Quality,Relevant and Accessible Education; without Discrimination
February 25-2 March  2014

The Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia considering its objective, mission and vision statement in fostering the holistic agenda for youth transformation, and being strongly interested in cross section of issue and happening which surrounds the general welfare of students and youth, lunches  the First National Summit on Education and Youth Engagement 2013 held under the theme: A Quest for Quality,Relevant and Accessible Education; without Discrimination.This broad like minds to provide keener cutting edge on critical issues stiffing the growth and development of the society.  This year’s summit is expected to create a wider forum for young to develop partnerships, discuss and share experiences on how they can influence and be part of the development process.

Goal of the Summit:

Ø      To awaken the spirit of youth to engage them in constructive action that seeks to support National development through continuous interaction and partnership with African Union and the United Nations (UN) to build a prosperous and peaceful nation.

Date of the Event: February 25-2 March  2014

Ø  The Committee will provide Accommodation,Feeling and internal transportation for all selected delegates.

Deadline for application is December 10, 2013 at 12:00am GMT

How to apply:

Visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12THCCGcaV2UaVYhJLe3Ca5qJyNBbsFvUlD0Ze-4wkWM/viewform or Send an email to yocelliberia@gmail.com

Summary of the Work Plan for the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth

The overall priorities of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth are guided by the priority areas announced in the Secretary-General’s 5-year action agenda.
During the first year, increased focus will be placed on Economic Empowerment and Civic Engagement while ensuring the integration of a gender perspective across all work areas. In parallel, the Envoy will support the Education First Initiative and the planned activities in relation to youth and education.

Further to consultations with the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) and taking note of the Terms of Reference of the Envoy, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth will work on the following priority themes, goals and actions:

1. Participation

Goal: Increase youth accessibility (including marginalized youth, and young women and girls) to the United Nations through promoting structured mechanisms for youth participation at national, regional and international levels.

Actions: Promote structured mechanisms for youth participation in the UN

1. Establish a new body, the
4. United Nations Panel on Youth, representing different sectors and groups with a mandate to act as advocates for stronger youth agenda at the national, regional and international level
5. Work closely with UN Volunteers (UNV) to develop and implement the youth volunteering modality
6. Support ECOSOC endeavors to establish the first ever
9. Regional ECOSOC Youth Forums (2014) and the Global ECOSOC Youth Forum (2015)
10. Support working with and for young people by facilitating the participation of youth-led organizations in youth related policies and programmes at the United Nations
11. Work with the Resident Coordinators and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs)to establish National Youth Advisory Groups to engage youth in the preparation of the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) (Target for the first year - 15 countries)
12. Encourage more governments to participate in the Youth Delegate Programme

Create active channels of communication between young people and the United Nations

1. Meet with youth and youth led organizations in all missions abroad
2. Establish regular Google+ Hangout (Topics to cover thematic and geographic debates)

1. Maintain regular interaction on UN Social Media sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc)
2. Develop an online platform to provide updates and allow for submission of ideas/suggestions
3. Publish a newsletter highlighting the work of the UN System for youth

Enhance youth access to information related to the United Nations’ work on youth in all six UN official languages

1. Launch a UN Youth Calendar (Smart phone application providing information on all youth related events organized by the UN agencies)
2. Launch online database for the history of youth related resolutions/declarations and important documents

Advocacy

Goal: Promote stronger youth participation in setting, implementing and evaluating the various development frameworks and increase international awareness and attention to youth issues.

Actions: Promote youth participation on achieving the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)

1. Support the "MDG Momentum-1000 Days of Action" to achieve the MDGs

Advocate for placing youth rights and development at the centre of the Post-2015 Development Agenda

1. Propose concrete indicators including youth persepective in partnership with IANYD and the youth organizations
2. Work with the High - Level Panel (HLP) members to ensure prioritizing youth issues across the different goals and indicators
3. Participate in at least three of the final thematic consultations
4. Promote youth participation in online and offline consultations

Advocate for youth-friendly International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Beyond 2014 Programme of Action

1. Ensure youth participation in the final regional ICPD meetings and in drafting the global report
2. Follow-up on Bali Global Youth Forum Declaration

Utilize various platforms to advocate for stronger youth agenda at the national, regional and international level

1. Speak at forums and events covering thematic and geographic areas
2. Participate in the World Economic Forum and engaging the young global leaders in supporting the UN programmes on youth
3. Coordinate with the regional organizations such as the European Union, Council of Europe, African Union, League of Arab States, Organization of American States, the

　

Commonwealth, and others

Deploy traditional and new media tools to advocate for stronger youth participation
with special focus on marginalized youth and young women and girls

1. Promote updated Facts Sheets on the status of the world’s youth by working with IANYD and UN DESA
2. Enhance the dissemination of youth-related information/reports
3. Provide key advocacy messages through social media and e-publications
4. Assure regular media presence on international TV and news channels
5. Write regular op-eds in different languages
6. Facilitate the celebration of the International Youth Day

Partnership

Goal: Engage Member States, private sector, academic institutions, media and civil society, including youth-led organizations in the UN programmes on youth and facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships on youth issues.
Actions: Coordinate closely with Member States to further support youth issues and to reinforce a youth perspective in relevant resolutions

1. Support the establishment of Friends of Youth Group to support youth related issues/ resolutions.
2. Regular meetings with the Permanent Missions and Ministers of Youth
3. Facilitate joint meetings between the Ministers of Youth and UN agencies at national and regional levels
4. Partner with the government of Sri Lanka in the organization of the 2014 World Youth Conference
Explore establishing a Global Trust Fund for Youth Development

1. Develop a concept for establishing a Global Trust Fund for Youth Development in consultation with all concerned stakeholders
2. Facilitate partnerships between the United Nations and Governments, the private sector, youth organizations, youth-serving institutions, research centers and the media
Support evidence-based research on youth issues

1. Work with a network of researchers through the Global Colloquium of University Presidents to produce timely research on youth issues
Support networking of youth-led organizations and explore building a global coalition for youth rights

1. Work with the national, regional and international youth councils and networks

4. Harmonization

Goal: Work as a catalyst to enhance the coordination and harmonization of youth programming among UN agencies.
Actions: Promote the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY)

1. Develop principles for creating an enabling environment for young people
2. Encourage Member States to develop national youth policies incorporating the principles of the WPAY
3. Encourage Member States to report on the implementation of the WPAY
Support the establishment of inter-agency networks at regional and national levels and the implementation of the System Wide Action Plan (SWAP) on Youth

1. Support the implementation of the SWAP on Youth at regional and national levels
2. Promote regional coordination mechanisms between UN agencies in 5 regions in 2013
3. Promote national coordination mechanisms between UN agencies in at least 15 countries (countries TBC)
Enhance the communications and the flow of information between UN agencies

1. Provide an information hub for youth related news/updates in the UN System
2. Enhance the dissemination of the UN news on youth
Support implementation of the Youth Volunteerism strategy and advocate for promotion of volunteering among youth and recruitment of young people as volunteers in large scale UN Programmes

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