MONROVIA – In a plea for action, children representing Maryland, Grand Kru, and Montserrado counties on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, addressed members of the Liberian Senate during the 9th Annual Peace Through Fair Play (PTFP) Camp, calling for improved education, healthcare, job opportunities, and justice in their communities. The event, organized by the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA), gave voice to the youngest citizens who experience firsthand the country’s developmental shortcomings.
Speaking on behalf of the campers, N. Kenneth Weah of Lady of Fatima High School in Harper, Maryland County, delivered a heartfelt message to the Senate and the GPFA leadership. He expressed deep gratitude to Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah R. Gbowee and her team for creating a platform that allows youth from Liberia’s southeastern region to engage with national leaders and participate in leadership and peace-building exercises.
Weah acknowledged the ongoing efforts of lawmakers to develop counties through infrastructure and social services but stressed that critical issues remain unresolved. The children highlighted the severe challenges they face in education, noting that many schools lack trained teachers, adequate textbooks, and functioning science laboratories. In rural areas, some students walk over five kilometers to school and often learn in overcrowded classrooms.
Healthcare also emerged as a major concern. The campers pointed out that medical facilities are far apart, with shortages in staff and medicine making timely treatment nearly impossible. Parents often travel long distances for basic vaccinations or medical emergencies, putting the lives of children at risk.
The petition also touched on the dire state of employment and economic conditions in the region. According to the campers, many parents work tirelessly as farmers or market vendors, but low incomes prevent them from covering basic expenses like school fees. This economic hardship has caused many children to drop out of school.
Issues of justice and safety were not left out. The children recounted stories of families struggling to access police or legal assistance, leaving many to feel unsafe and abandoned by the system.
In their formal request to the Senate, the children urged lawmakers to invest in education by hiring qualified teachers, improving school facilities, and updating learning materials. They called for better healthcare services, including the construction of more clinics and the deployment of mobile health teams to remote areas. Additionally, they requested support for job creation through training centers and small business development, as well as the strengthening of local justice systems.
“With better roads, education, health, jobs, and justice, we believe all Liberian children can have a brighter future,” Weah said, ending his petition with a call for peace and unity. “We hope you will remember our voices and do everything possible to address these needs, especially keeping our country peaceful so that we can grow up safely together.”
The children’s appeal was a poignant reminder that despite the progress Liberia has made, significant gaps in public services continue to impact the nation’s most vulnerable. Their testimony served as a call to action for national leaders to respond with urgency, empathy, and accountability.
