On April 20 to the 22nd, I was entirely engaged with Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). This global event is observed once a year in April around the world.
In 2008, I helped register Liberia after the Event had been observed around the world for over 22 years without Liberia’s participation.
In 2008 we observed it in Monrovia. Thirty to fifty thousand young people took part. In Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, it was mainly observed in Gardnersville and West Point.
The following year (2009), we observed it again. But like the previous year, it was observed in Monrovia again. This time, learning from previous mistakes, we made headway.
2010 and 2011, I wasn’t in Monrovia. I was in Maryland dealing with other sociopolitical and economic matters centered on peacemaking and justice. And so, GYSD wasn’t observed in Monrovia through my influence and participation. Previous to that, there were criticisms that GYSD was only being observed in Monrovia. our critics suggested that the Event be observed throughout the country. And we agreed with our critics. But the funding to do so has not been available to stretch our work outside of Monrovia. As such, Monrovia is the only place where it would celebrated until funding is made available.
Since I am in Maryland County, this year (2012) I thought to introduce GYSD and observe it with the Youth of Maryland. I designed the Concept Paper; presented it to the youth and other stakeholders. After review, the Concept Paper was accepted. And work began. Even though the time was short, we still embark upon prepping the Event. The reason why we thought we needed to continue in the face of the fact that time was against us is that Maryland youth needed to feel GYSD on their own just like the youth of Monrovia and parts adjacent. We got in contact with some INGO and NGOs for help. Some yielded and gave help. Others did not. Those who helped us include, UNCHR, Right-To-Play, DRC (Danish Refugee Council), IBIS, Visions in Action & Oxfam Liberia.
Initially, we intended to involve the entire County. In other words, we wanted to spread the Event to all youths across the County. But as time drew closer, we realized it was impossible for lack of funding. Then we cut it down to Harper District. That too proved impossible, giving the short time and limited funding. In the end, we cut it down to Harper City. And things began to fall right into place. Few schools were invited including, A. Dash Wilson Junior High School and E. Othello Gongar Junior High. All the surrounding communities in Harper were invited. They all took part. They are, Easytown, Bishop Hill, J. Lamark Cox, Lake Shepherd, Tobbyville Township (New Krutown Barrobo Community, Hance Street), Green Street, Bassa Community, Central Harper and the Refugee Central Command. They all took part and made the Event a total success.
GYSD is a 3-day event.
It is hosted every April of each year around the world. Every youth group has to decide its project for the Event. We chose to embark upon a 2-day Cleanup Campaign throughout the entire Harper City. It started from Friday, April 20 and ended Saturday, April 21. By the time we were done with the cleaning of the City, Harper looked as if a Head of State came to visit the City. All the streets are spic and span. Vegetation along the streets are cleared out. Mud, sand and debris sitting and flying all along the roads were reduced to a level that gives a sense of good atmosphere and healthy environment.
The Third Day, which was the final day, was Sunday, April 22. Hon. Mary T. Broh, Lord Mayor of Monrovia was expected to deliver the Keynote Address. But she was not allowed to travel to Harper on board the UNMIL flights. She really wanted to drive to Harper to address the youth of Maryland, but she had just arrived from the US on a conference and time was against her to travel on a 24-hour nonstop driving time to Harper.
On the last day of the Event, parade and sporting events took place. All the games took place in the Martha Tubman Ball Park. The Refugees Ball Club won the Championship. Food and refreshment were served.
After all was done, GYSD was over and concluded on April 22.
The next Event is in April, 2013. We hope to observe it again in Maryland. This time, it is our ardent desire to incorporate all youths across the County.
Somewhere in the future, we might take GYSD across the Southeastern Region including, Sinoe, RiverGee, Grand Kru and Grand Gedeh. Little-by-little GYSD may be observed around the entire country before 2030.
We thank Hon. Alfred T. Thompson, Harper District Commissioner, whose office collaborated with the us - KudeNumo Peace Initiative Foundation, Inc. (KNPIF).
Thanks also to Hon. Mary Broh who was willing to travel this far to speak to our youth but could not because UNMIL flights denied her the opportunity.
Thanks to all of our sponsors, UNCHR, Right-To-Play, DRC (Danish Refugee Council), IBIS, Visions in Action & Oxfam Liberia. They made a significant difference.
Our special thanks to the Superintendent of Maryland County, Hon. J. Gblebo Brown.
Thanks to Sen. H. Dan Morais and Rep. Dr. Bhofal Chambers. They helped us all along the way. They are the only two members of the Maryland Legislative Caucus that assisted us.
Special thanks to Eva Flomo of UNMIL Radio. She lifted our voice. Had it been for Eva’s Talk Show (Coffee Break), our voice would have been locked down. In Maryland there’s only one radio station. And it is located in Pleebo City. It covers Pleebo alone. We wish Eva Godspeed.
Messrs. Archie Williams and Minister Eugene Nagbe did not receive a Concept Paper or invitation for the Event from us. But in the final analysis when the proverbial rubber hit the ground and we got stuck for help, Archie rose to our help, as usual.
The Event was large. But we received a total amount of $200 United States dollars with a huge quantity of materials including rice, whitewash paint, water, soft drinks, cutlasses, files to sharpen the cutlasses, whitewash paint brushes, footballs, volleyballs, volleyball nets, Frisbees, jumping ropes, buckets, and other needed materials. This made our job much easier. More so, we practiced “Marginal Utility.”
Essentially, the Event was a resounding success taking into consideration the short time prep, and implementation, coupled with planners’ inexperience and short notice to our sponsors. Truth be told, we have learned a lot from the Event and how our sponsors think about these sorts of programs. That means, if we begin the planning process of GYSD 2013 very early, no doubt in my mind, it will succeed more than GYSD 2012.
The Event was graced with the presence in the county of Messrs. Eli Budu Tubman, Phil Merriam and Anthony Reggio. Phil and Anthony came to attend the Maryland Development Conference. Budu Tubman came to bury his mother. All of them were giving the opportunity to see Maryland again after a protracted period of time outside. We are grateful to all of them!
I am Thomas G. Bedell working and speaking on the ground in Liberia.
No comments:
Post a Comment