YOUTH
Liberian Youth Dialogues
10 March 2023
A Youth Dialogue roundtable entitled, Youth Development and Economic Possibilities, facilitated by the Embassy of South Africa in Liberia, in association with the Ducor Institute, and the University of Liberia (UL) was hosted on 2nd and 3rd February 2023 at UL in Liberia's capital Monrovia. The report summary below outlines the purpose, key ideas, actions and follow up. The event created greater awareness of the historic links between Liberia and South Africa and aimed at increasing exchanges and cooperation between the younger generation of these African nations.
Summary Report below
1. Purpose
1.1 To summarise for youth leaders, policy makers, business, diplomats, the key ideas, and possible follow-through points from the Dialogue roundtable discussions with thirty student leaders from the University of Liberia (UL) and fifty participants, who attended the Youth Dialogues entitled, Youth Development and Economic Possibilities, on 2nd and 3rd February 2023, facilitated by the Embassy of South Africa, in association with the Ducor Institute, and the University of Liberia (UL).
1.1.1 Key Objectives
b) To share, interrogate and analyse information for the development of projects to address the prime development concerns of youth leaders.
c) To explore entry points for peer learning, youth exchange programmes, training opportunities, and logistical facilitation (in the context of youth development and economic opportunities in Liberia, South Africa, West Africa, Africa, and the world).
2.0 Summary of Key Ideas from University of Liberia Student Leaders Meeting, Thursday, 2nd February 2023
2.1 South Africa and Liberia have a long history of international cooperation and diplomatic relations. The Republic of Liberia aided prominent iconic leaders like Nelson Mandela, OR Tambo, Miriam Makeba, Govan Mbeki, and many South Africans.
2.2 South Africa and Liberia established diplomatic ties in 1997 and embassies in both countries’ capitals. Both countries have cooperated on several fronts especially in the context of peacebuilding, peace-making, demobilisation, diplomacy, economic, and technical support, and training opportunities.
2.3 Hold frequent dialogues to identify urgent, identify possible points of entry for peer learning, student exchange programmes, mentoring, technical assistance, and logistical support especially in the areas of health, medicine, science, law, research, and digital technology.
2.4 Follow up on the realisation of key project ideas from the twenty-six (26) UL Law, Medical and Pharmaceutical student leaders who visited South Africa in September 2022. (Universities of WITS, Johannesburg, Pretoria and UNISA)
2.5. Advocate with the Liberian legislature to ratify the African Free Trade Continental Area Agreement.
2.6 Improve coordination with UL and UNISA (University of South Africa) in the context of Law, Health and Economic programmes.
2.7 Youth are encouraged to hold meaningful dialogues and reject violence in Liberia’s 2023 General and Presidential Elections. Youth have a prime role to play in the up-coming elections. Approximately 65-73% of Liberia’s population is a youthful population.
2.8 Collaborate on joint youth programmes in the context of health, specifically, HIV AIDS, drug, and alcohol abuse.
2.9 Advocate for the Government of Liberia to decentralise the Medical and Law Schools to the political sub-divisions of Liberia for more educational opportunities or explore possible cost-effective digital online education with friendly partner accredited Universities.
2.10 There is need to collectively advocate for an incremental free movement of all peoples without visas at borders on the continent and/or to initiate an efficient and affordable visa policies in all African countries.
2.11 Youth are encouraged to creatively lead the campaign to promote peace and discourage crimes and drugs via the spirit of volunteerism.
2.12 Advocate for legislation that promote the incremental teaching of national languages in Liberian primary schools to ensure the sense of national identity, ownership and social cohesion.
3.0 Summary of Key Ideas from the Youth Dialogue, Friday, February 2, 2023
3.1 Ambassador Prof. Iqbal Jhazbhay, facilitator of the dialogue, informed the participants that this dialogue on youth development and economic possibilities was the 3rd in the series of dialogues organised by the diplomatic community in Liberia. He noted the Embassy of China held a dialogue on Sustainable Development on 14th December 2022 while the Embassies of France and Germany held a joint Dialogue on Reconciliation on 23rd January 2023.
3.2 Ms. Nonceba Mhlauli, Media Spokesperson on the Minister in the South African Presidency, informed the participants that young people from South Africa and Liberia share many commonalities, she noted that like Liberia, South African Youth constitute roughly 65%-73% of the population and most of them are unemployed.
3.3 Use existing regional and continental forums to place the youth agenda at the centre of our body politic on the continent. For example, the African Free Trade Continental Area (AfCFTA) can be utilised to promote trade amongst members of the two countries youth.
3.4 Liberia has proven to the rest of the world that you can build your country through sports, we can jointly develop programmes around sports, arts, and entertainment to develop our countries as part of our joint social and national development goals.
3.5. South Africa has recently been elected chair of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) but this leadership must ensure that all African Countries benefit and not just member states. Therefore, the 2023 BRICS theme of South Africa is: ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism’.
3.6 Develop a Memorandum of Understanding between South African and Liberia student and youth formations for joint projects in the areas of vocational, education, health, science, sports, music, arts, technology, peer learning and student exchanges programmes.
3.7 The issues of disability and persons with special needs will be factored whenever, we undertake projects and programmes.
3.8 It was recommended that the youth of Liberia are encouraged to learn more about their culture, history, and languages. They indeed can learn how to volunteer and demonstrate patriotism, national ownership and nationalism.
3.9 There is a need to nurture a culture of political respect and denounce all forms of violence. Youth votes should not be blank cheque during elections.
3.10 Young people can take advantage of internship opportunities at major South African construction and medical companies in Liberia (WBHO and AMI etc.).
3.11 Young persons can take advantage of the UNFPA Liberia empowerment programmes on offer.
4.0 Requested Actions
4.1 Develop 2-4 pager of key ideas and action points from the youth dialogues to share for targeted comments and suggestions for the design of programmes and projects on different thematic areas.
4.2 The South African Ambassador and Team will engage the diverse development partners for the development of projects and grant based concept notes to solicit resources for the project.
5.0 Follow-Up Actions
5.1 Distribute the draft 2-4 pager of prime ideas to all relevant persons for inputs and further engagement.
5.2 Follow-through possible projects with youth leaders and partners.
5.3 Work with Liberian/UL youth leaders and South African youth leaders to develop the Memorandum of Understanding to guide joint development programmes.
5.4 Develop a WhatsApp group of Youth leaders to progress this Youth Dialogue initiative to exchange data and articles.