Federation of Liberian Youth
Past and Present Programs

In an effort to contribute to the post-conflict development challenges facing Liberia, the Federation of Liberian Youth design programs that ensure meaningful youth participation in policy formulation and implementation. Amongst these are: National Youth Policy  implementation & enactment, Girls in Radio Program, Advocacy, Community Cleaning-up Campaigns, Computer Training Program, HIV/AIDS & Reproductive Health Education, Youth Agricultural and Environmental Awareness, Mapping up exercise, County Youth Secretariat (Youth Networks), Capacity Building, Strategic Planning, Youth Clubs, Youth Leadership Training Programs & Conferences, Membership Meetings, Youth & the Media, Academic & Vocational Educational Awareness, etc.

National Youth Policy Implementation and Enactment
The National Youth Policy is the framework that endeavors to address issues affecting young people in Liberia. It provides broad-based strategies that can be pursued to give youth meaningful opportunities to reach their maximum potentials. The NYP recognizes that the youth are a key resource that can be tapped for the benefits of a nation.

The NYP is the guiding principle for planning, designing and implementing all activities relating to the development of youth. The policy provides a framework for Government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector in planning and implementing gender-balanced programs which cater to the needs and aspirations of youth.

FLY, Ministry of Youth and Sports and our partners have developed three very important documents in line with the National Youth Policy; The National Youth Policy Action Plan, National Youth Policy Trust Fund document and the National Youth Policy Act.

NYP Action Plan – The action plan has pointed out specific activities to be conducted over a three-year period to achieve specific outcomes in line with the NYP framework

NYP Trust Fund Doc. – The Trust fund intends to raise at least U$10,000,000.00 over the next three years. It is our hope that agencies implementing youth programs will contribute towards the fund by making known the actual amount of monies spent on youth programs per annum in support to youth development, which will be charged to the trust Fund as their contribution to the achievement of the outcome of the NYP Action Plan.

NYP Act- The Act is the legal framework, which when passed into law, will give FLY and other stakeholders the legal authority to hold implementing agencies and the Government of Liberia accountable for the implementation of the NYP. It will also enable FLY to monitor the implementation of all youth programs and projects without fear or favor across the country and report the facts.

Programs that are been implemented in line with the National Youth Policy

GIRLS IN RADIO PROGRAM – with support from Phelps Stokes Funds, FLY provided the space for adolescent girls to meet and discuss issues affecting them twice weekly. Their views were aired through a satellite based radio once every week. The program brought together over 20 young female leaders to add their voices to the advocacy for female participation and involvement. The program is closed due to funding.

ADVOCACY- FLY is gradually shaping the focus of youth from activism to advocacy in Liberia. Youth and students were known in Liberia for activism. Today, young people are now advocates for their inclusion in decisions that affect them and FLY is leading the effort. FLY has made achievements in its advocacy work across the country.

Mapping Up Exercise – Liberia as a post conflict country is going through major reforms and the youth community can not be left out of this major process. To measure up to the task, FLY is conducting a mapping up exercise in the fifteen counties of Liberia to determine the number of youth organizations in each county, their capacity, program focus, membership, partners, etc. This will enable FLY and other partners in the youth development process to organize activities that involve them and build their capacity based on needs.

The mapping up exercise has been conducted in nine of the fifteen counties with funding from UNDP, Action Aid, Christian Children Fund, Search for Common Ground/Talking Drum Studio, etc.   

COUNTY YOUTH SECRETARIAT (YOUTH NETWORKS) - The Mapping-up exercise sets the basis for the establishment of the county youth secretariat. The youth secretariat is the structure through which the implementation of the National Youth Policy Action plan will be coordinated and supervised at county levels. The youth organizations that are identified as a result of the mapping-up exercise are brought together to go through a one-day leadership training exercise and an election process in which they elect the leadership of the County Youth Secretariat. The leadership includes: The County Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator for Programs and the Finance Officer. The three elected officers meet and appoint five support volunteers in consultation with the National Secretariat of FLY for two years to support the work of FLY in the county. It is an opportunity for young people in the counties to form part of the workings of FLY and acquire practical leadership skills while still in their respective counties.

CAPACITY BUILDING Initiative – FLY provides capacity building training for its member organizations including provision of logistical support to its county youth secretariat in selected counties. Fifteen computers and some printers were supplied to all the fifteen counties, while motorcycles were provided to Bong, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, etc. Maryland received several pieces of computers, Motorcycle and one drum of fuel oil as support to youth activities in the county.   

STRATEGIC PLANNING – A two-year strategic planning process to map up the programmatic needs of the youth population in line with the National Youth Policy was held in Monrovia. The process, which was facilitated by Talking Drum Studio, identified five thematic areas of intervention as follows: Sexual & Gender Based Violence/Exploitation, Advocacy, Education, Drugs & Substance Abuse and Unemployment/lack of livelihood skills. FLY is positioned to conduct strategic planning for its member organizations.

Computer Training Program – FLY runs a computer training program in Harper City, Maryland County. The training aims to address the computer literacy needs of young people in the South-eastern Region of Liberia. The program graduated 39 youth in February and later enrolled about 50 youth. The UNMIL Pakistani Contingent in collaboration with FLY trained 14 public sector employers as FLY’s support to the Government Capacity Building Program. FLY also provides electricity to the Harper Prison Compound as a means of encouraging young people convicted for various crimes to complete their sentences without breaking jail. It is also intended to give hope to inmates while in detention.

Youth Leadership Training & Conferences – FLY conducts regular leadership training and conferences for its members and young people in Liberia. The Ministry of Youth and Sports and FLY conducted the first National Youth Conference in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County. This was in conjunction with the celebration of the National Youth Day, which has been decentralized over the last three years in various counties.

The training and conferences provide basic leadership skills and education to young people and enable them to interact and appreciate each other’s culture as a way of building bonds of friendship.

Membership meetings – The membership and potential members meet regularly to discuss issues that affect the youth population. The meetings, among other things, highlight FLY’s achievements and challenges.  Membership meetings review the activities of FLY and suggestions are made for action on behalf of the Liberian Youth