PEACEJAM - LIBERIA (PJLIB-2022)
4TH ANNUAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
PEACEJAM LIBERIA 4TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE (PJLIB)
PeaceJam is one of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) flagship program under transformative leadership Initiative(TLI) which was founded 1996 to support togetherness of youths from diverse backgrounds to inspire them using the life and success stories of the Noble Peace Prize winner. The PeaceJam Liberia hosted the fourth Annual Youth Leadership Conference to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of fourteen (14) Nobel Peace Laureates who passed on the spirit, skills and wisdom they embody.
The theme for the PJLIB 2022 is “Our Peace, Our Future, Our Legacy” which was held at the Baptist Theological Seminary, Paynesville, Montserrado County.
PEACEJAM - LIBERIA (PJLIB)
Conference Activities. - Power House Members Training
On December 1, 2022, training was conducted for Mentors, Mentor-volunteers, and Volunteers to provide information about their roles, duties, and functions at the conference. It was also a learning, networking, and brainstorming session for newly recruited volunteers and Powerhouse members in preparation for the conference. The training focused on the following major topics: GPFA Child Rights Policy, Overview of the History of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) and PeaceJam Foundation. This training was facilitated by Mr Johnny Montgomery–Coordinator PeaceJam Liberia (PJLIB) and Mr David S. Konneh–Program Director of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA).
Day 1 – Friday, Pre- Arrival Preparation - December 2, 2022
Early Friday morning, the bus picked up mentors, mentor volunteers, and volunteers from major pick-up points to be dropped off at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Paynesville, Montserrado County. Members of the team arrived at the conference site by 11:00 a.m.
As part of plans to kick off the conference, Mentor-Lead David Karmo had a session with powerhouse members to inform them of activities leading to the implementation of service projects, the strategic roll map, and the scope of the entire conference. After the briefing session, Powerhouse members visited service project sites primarily to identify and assess proposed service project sites. Following a long day of work, powerhouse members gathered in the dinner Hall to have lunch at about 3:45 p.m…
Also, powerhouse members prepared to receive the first batch of jammers. The jammers arrived at the conference site at about 7:30 p.m. and were immediately served dinner.
Day Two – December 3, 2022 - Arrival
The third batch of daily participants from different schools in Montserrado County arrived at the conference by 8:15 a.m. They were received by powerhouse members/mentors and ushered into the auditorium, awaiting the official opening ceremony. They were later registered in the official registration log, and breakfast was served at 9:00 a.m.
Opening Ceremony
During the conference's opening ceremony, students paraded in their official school uniforms, holding onto their various school flags while simultaneously showcasing symbols of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The fifth annual youth conference keynote speaker, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Madam Leymah Gbowee, spoke on the topic “Our Peace, Our Future, Our Legacy.”
Meanwhile, twenty students demonstrated the essence of the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This is to portray that every citizen, specifically youths, can bring these goals to reality by 2030. Our keynote speaker, Madam Leymah Gbowee, used the moment to showcase her support for the SDGs.
Two exceptionally brilliant students (Jack Karngbeae and Abraham Zwannah) were fortunate to receive a scholarship opportunity for the University (Stella Maris Polytechnic and Cuttington University) from Madam Leymah R. Gbowee, while others received cash prizes for academic performances.
Family Groups Session
There were twenty (20) established family groups with a total of two hundred thirty and four (234) students, comprising ninety-eight (98) males and one hundred and thirty-six (136) females. While in the different family groups, peace jammers learned the life journey of Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee and her keynote address, as well as created family group norms and leadership.
Service Project
The Service Project, one of the essential parts of the PeaceJam Liberia Conference, was divided into eight groups ranging from A to H. Therefore, Peace Jammers went into communities and surrounding environments to implement selected service projects.
Group A: This group promoted sanitation, clean water action, and reduced marine pollution, elevating healthy life and emphasizing the importance of hygienic water for all. This group focused on plastic removal and cleaning the beaches along the shore of Soorya Beach.
Group D— Food production is vital for economic growth. Most countries don’t value the produce of their farmers because it can feed only their households. We taught the value of appreciating farmers for “Grow what you eat.” The significance of appreciating Liberian farmers is evident in cleaning farms at the Christian Association of the Blind (CAB).
Group F—Our young people, our future: preventing teenage pregnancy and school drop-out among children and adolescents. One-on-one interaction and sharing of flyers with VOA community residents.
Group H—Service to humanity is the way to go; maintaining a clean environment is essential. This group focused on cleaning the Baptist Theological Seminary's compound.
Group B - This group had an awareness of children’s rights and abuse at the VOA market. They were educating the people to end the misery, knowing their children’s rights, avoiding child abuse and trafficking - advancing women & children's rights.
Group C - They realized that economic empowerment is essential to people's livelihood, especially in communities in abject poverty. The team focused on celebrating true entrepreneurship in Liberia to alleviate the suffering of business-minded people living in extreme poverty—awareness of buyers' and sellers' relationships in the VOA market.
Group E - Making others happy, just as you have experienced; spending time in the Orphanage home and sharing love with the orphans. Interaction and sharing of experience with blind folks at the Christian Association of the Blind (CAB).
Group G - Social Responsibility is everyone’s business; the desire to help care for public property. Cutting grass and cleaning the facility of the Christian Association of the Blind.
Day Three (December 4, 2022)
Arrival/Breakfast
The daily participants returned for the third day of the conference. They arrived at the conference site by 7:30 AM and had breakfast at 8:15 a.m. Afterward, they proceeded to the hall for the ceremony of inspiration.
Ceremony of Inspiration
During the inspiration ceremony, the Noble Laureate Leymah R. Gbowee started by narrating a personal story. She emphasized perseverance, integrity, and determination. Madam Leymah R. Gbowee said, ''Everybody has a story, but their determination can shift that story; people naming us by our situation doesn’t matter, but what we answer matters.''. ''A few years from now, only educated people will survive in our land, Liberia. We should push ourselves so we will not be judged based on our silence''. She clarified that we only have power over ourselves and asked, “What are you going to do with the power you have?”
She closed the ceremony with a word of inspiration: “Never Give Up”. The sharing experience and candle moment with Madam Gbowee and the students were emotional and educative, there was so much admiration attracted, some stories brought sorrow, while others gave hope and strength. Madam Gbowee lights the big candle while praying for the young people of this land Liberia.
SCHOOL PRESENTATION
JOHN CHRISTIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM
Service Project Tile: Controlling Environmental Waste
Project Description: Cleaning-up campaign, an educative forum on keeping the environment clean and safe
Recommendation: Let’s promote sustainable development goals in schools and communities to have a clean environment.
ISAAC A. DAVID MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Service Project Tile: Bullying in School
Project Description: Awareness of Bullying among peers
Recommendation: Anti-bullying clubs should be established in schools
D. TWE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Service Project Tile: Stop Discrimination
Project Description: Awareness of Discrimination
Recommendation: PeaceJam Liberia Jammers should spread the message of ending Discrimination
WELTONA HIGH SCHOOL
Service Project Tile: Breaking the silence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Project Description: Advocating to eradicate Sexual and Gender Base Violence
Recommendation: Proposal to strengthen the policy that concerns Sexual Gender Base Violence.
FORCE
Service Project Tile: Drugs Addiction
Project Description: A forum to educate students who are involved in Drugs Addiction
Recommendation: Proposed that the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa build a rehabilitation center.
MUSLIM CONGRESS HIGH SCHOOL
Service Project Tile: Child Labor & Children’s rights
Project Description: Advocating against Child labor and Children’s rights.
Recommendation: Proposed that Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa strengthened the advocacy of children’s rights and Child labor in our society.
Workshop Briefing & Workshop
PeaceJammers were placed into 15 workshop groups with different topics and facilitators.
CLIMAX OF THE CONFERENCE
On the last day of the conference, after all the activities, the conference officially ended at 4:00 p.m., when Peace Jammers boarded the buses.
The 5th annual PeaceJam youth conference was successful at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. During the conference, a series of activities were held to inspire, educate, and motivate Peace Jammers and mentors. This year, our very own 2011 Nobel Laureate, Leymah Gbowee, passed on the spirit of peace and hope to our Young people.
