Education
Source: FrontPageAfrica
An alumnus of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program of the United States Department of States administered by Meridian International Center under the project entitled "American Youth: Inspiring Leadership and Civic Participation", Mr. Amos Mulbah Lavalah, Jr. has launched his first initiative named and styled 'Girls' Mentorship Club' in partnership with the Youth Exploring Solutions, a passionate, non-for-profit and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization.
The program which was held at the King's Farm Public School on Friday, April 26 brought together scores of students from three schools in Careysburg, Montserrado County. It is a pilot project intended to address issues affecting female students in school while involving their male counterparts.
The Girls' Mentorship Club aims to engage, educate and encourage girls to aspire for greatness in every undertaking. It is designed to empower and enable girls to make informed decisions and smart choices about education, health, safety and environmental conservation. Besides, the initiative is also geared towards enhancing girls' participation in leadership and national governance.
Speaking during the program, Amos, who was selected through a competitive vetting process as the lone participant from West Africa, narrated his worthwhile experiences and remarkable knowledge acquired during his month-long visit to the United States of America.
According to Amos, the Girls' Mentorship Club was derived from interaction and network opportunity with PACE Center for Girls, which is a nongovernmental organization based in Pensacola, Florida. He recounted the philosophy of PACE that values all girls and young women, believing each one deserves an opportunity to find her voice, achieve her potential and celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace.
He revealed that the Club would model activities to assist girls to remain in school, engage in positive ventures, enhance participation in sustainable development and provide unique opportunity for the attainment of prosperous future.
The youth leader stressed the need for girls to be empowered through education, counseling and agricultural initiative as well as be allowed to participate in decision-making processes that affect them. He cautioned male students to stop embarrassing their female counterparts for early sex and other unwholesome practices that have resulted to so many girls being out of school.
Amos used the occasion to cautioned the female students to begin the formulation of study group so as to share knowledge, cultivate teamwork and search for mentor and even contemplate on planning a lifeline to be able to determine and achieve full potential and measure of happiness.
Serving as keynote speaker, Madam Noorie Dudley, Per-Urban Agricultural Specialist of the Food and Enterprise Development Program of the United States Agency for International Development called on students to exhibit determination, eagerness and self-motivation if they are to succeed in school and professional career.
Noorie spoke on the theme: "Trade What You Have to Achieve What You Want". She narrated an inspirational story about how she came from a poor family and sold all sorts of flour products just to obtain daily meal and school fees. Noorie lamented that her father died at the age of 10.
"In spite of all the circumstances and difficulties, I was faced with during my upbringing, I was resolved and refused to sell my body" she added.
The youthful Liberian agriculturist encouraged young people especially girls to trade their time and effort and do everything humanly possible to achieve their ambition in life. She warned to be very careful of choosing their friend and environment, because according to her, the two play major role in determining a successful future.
She urged female students to trade time as it is of essence and become studious and serious in acquiring education so as become meaningful Liberians to meet up with the challenges that lie ahead and to make Liberia a better place for this generation and posterity.
At the close of the program, the administration and students of the invited schools extended thanks and appreciation to Amos and Youth Exploring Solutions for such a brilliant idea and expressed gratitude to the keynote speaker. They also used the occasion to appeal to agricultural tools so as to get involved in School Garden Project in order to get elementary and secondary students involved with sustainable food production.