The Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development (COYPED) a registered non-governmental youth-led organization has launched a program intended to improve the reading skills of primary school students in the country.

Speaking in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on December 16, 2011 at the program marking the official launch of the 2011/2012 Reading Enrichment Program, the Executive Director of COYPED Mr. James Koryor, stated that the program was initiated based on a research conducted by his organization form July-September 2011 in Grand Bassa County.

 He also noted that the research reveal the out of every ten (10) primary school students in the county only two can read properly, while the others can’t do otherwise. The COYPED boss further stated that the program will help disadvantaged and underprivileged primary school children in the county acquired the requisite knowledge and technique in reading as well as to identify gifted and talented student who may need support.

 The youth advocate further stressed that the 14 years civil conflict did not only destroy the infrastructure and economy of the country, but every sector of the country went untouched especially the educational sector. He noted that if appropriate program are not initiated at the early stage for children who are the future generation, the country will have serious education problem by having a young generation of students who cannot read. The youth l

 Serving as Keynote Speaker at the launch program, the Vice President of the Grand Bassa Community College Dr. Zechariah Gaye, commended the youth NGO for the steadfastness to help in providing voluntary services to improve the reading skills of primary school students in the county. He also encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunity that has been afforded them by the youth organization. He used the occasion to caution students in the county that if they are to achieve their full potential they must take their lesson seriously noting that no one can became educated if he or she can’t read properly. He also donated one of his recent book published title “From a small Village in Liberia, West Africa to the United States of America” which was presented to a six grade  student at the program. He also promised to serve as advisor to the County Chapter of the Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development.

 For his part the Dean of Teacher Education at the Grand Bassa Community College, Rev, S Augustine Yeahgar in a special remark thanked the organizers of the  program stating that the program when commence will bring relief to primary school children in the county by improving their horizon intellectually especially in reading. He further called on relevant institutions supporting education activities in the country to join the youth organization in building the capacity of youth and children so they can be able to contribute to the society.

Speaking on behalf of principals of invited schools at the launch of the program, the principal of the New Testament Baptist School Rev. Wilton K. Korporal welcome the guests and thanked the youth group for the initiative and promise to work with the County Chapter of the Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development in ensuring that the program is fully implemented in the county stating the his school will serve as host for the program in the county.

 For his part, the county coordinator of the Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development Grand Bassa County Chapter, Mr. Jerrison M. Davies thanked the invited institutions, special guests and students for taking up their time and leaving their busy schedule to grace the occasion and promised to coordinate the program professionally in the county.

In conclusion of the event, the Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development distributed over two hundred local readers to students that attended the launch program. The readers were provided to students from kindergarten to grade six. twelve (12) schools was in attendance each school was represented by ten (10) students while the host school New Testament Baptist School was represented by over one hundred (100) students from kindergarten to grade six and ages ranging from 6 to 16 years. The total of ninety-eight girls attended the program while the other was boys’ ages ranging from 9-17 years old.  Approximately 210 students attended to event.

 The Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development (COYPED) is a registered non-governmental youth-led organization established in 2008, COYPED seek to empower young people to contribute positively to society by working  together with a shared sense of purpose and responsibility on matters relative to health, education, human right, anti-corruption, civic education and developmental issues regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, geographical location, political  or religious affiliation.

A registered non-for-profit youth-led organization Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development (COYPED) attention has be drawn to failure of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) and the Ministry of Youth & Sports to empower youth-led organizations operating in the country.

Speaking at the organization office in Monrovia the Executive Director of COYPED, James Koryor stressed that there is no shortage of effective youth-led organizations in Liberia. There is however, a shortage of resources and funding, and small organizations are often overlooked by national and international institutions. Commenting on the 2011 political process, the youth leader called on the government and international partners to strengthen and increase youth democratic participation in the elections process.

The youth advocate also indicated that for a democracy to survive and flourish, a critical mass of its citizen’s especially young people must possess the skills, embody the values, and manifest the behaviors that accord with democracy. They must know enough about the basic features of a democratic political system to be able to access it when their interests are at stake, and they must believe in the importance of certain key democratic values, such as tolerance for divergent viewpoints and support for the rule of law.

They must also be willing and able to participate in local and national politics, and they must believe that their participation is important to the continued viability of the democratic political system

The COYPED boss further maintained that Young people are identified with higher propensity to engage in change. They also posses clear insight into the perception of change in society and the continuity of those changes; and they are the largest, most productive, most active and major driving force in society and must be empower at all level.

Speaking in a very simple manner the youth leader stated that the reason why many social and political forces or movements consider it important to invest time and resources on young people as a mechanism of promoting and influencing their causes. Hence, one of the ways of making our young people productive citizens in the affairs of their country would be to focus on education and provide impetus on enhancing Liberia’s present political process that provides our youth every opportunity to participate in the lives of their people. And to empower them to address the challenges we all face, and to train them to be agents of change and development, in a way that emboldens justice and democracy in future Liberia, and not instilling politics that inspires violence and hatred in their society.

Mr. Koryor also called on the youths to remain peaceful and tolerent as they engage into the political processes and must not be use by egotistical and ravenous politician as agent of desturction and confusion. He also maintained that it is about time that the young people of Liberia see themselves as problem solver rather than problem maker the youth leader maintained.

More than 300 hundred children in New Kru Town are expected to benefit from the 2011 Children Study & Play Program

According to COYPED Executive Director, James Koryor the program was first initiated in 2010 and benefitted 410 children in New Kru Town and its environs. The COYPED boss further stated that this year program is been sponsored by the Liberian Education Trust-Monrovia (LET-M).

The Children Study & Play Program is a Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development (COYPED) initiativedesign to address the educational and social needs of vulnerable and underprivileged Liberian children. The program is intended to improve the reading skills of primary school children and keep in-school children off the streets after they leave school daily and especially during vacation.  It also gear toward helping out-of-school children play safe and provide conducive environment for a cordial interactions between in-school  and out-of-school children through study/tutorial  classes, recreational activities and sports.

The COYPED boss revealed that an independent survey conducted by the organization in 2010 on the Bushrod Island and Paynesville communities indicates that seven out every ten children lack access to early childhood education program, which lead them to perform poorly in academic and further undermine their quest for quality education. The research revealed that children are at the disadvantage due to poverty, inequality, corruption and other societal lapses.  

Most children on the Bushrod lost focus or concentration of their lesson during vacation and even after school hours.  Some are isolated from educational activities while other engages in street selling thereby making them as bread winners for their masters.  Some are glued to television/video clubs while other illustrates actions from movies on their friends or peers.  Some are out-of-school while other lacks access to tutor.  In fact, there is a need to put into place mechanism for identifying gifted and talented students at the appropriate age as well as students with special education need at the proper time to receive support.

Commenting on the venues of the program, Mr. Koryor said that the program will be held at the Point-Four Elementary School campus in New Kru Town the program commenced on July 18, 2011.

More than 1000 youths in Liberia join their friends around the world to celebrate the 2011 Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17). The event brought together Governmental Officials, Youth Leaders, and Individuals from the NGO community and prominent citizens.

speaking at the indoor program held at the D-twe Memorial High School in New Kru Town, the Governor of the Borough of New Kru Town, Hon. Richard Tobii encouraged the youths to be agents of change and engage in voluntary ventures that will have impact on thier communities.

also at the program the Executive Director of the Youth Exploring Solutions, Mr. Stephen B. Lavalah called on young People to engage into voluntary activities and promote social responsibility. for her part the Special Project Manager at the Liberia Maritime Authority, Madam Celia Cuffy-Browne said it was about for youth especially war affected one to forget about thier past and engage into activities that will help them achieved their full potential.

other personalities at the program include the Deputy Secretary for Finance at the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), Mr. Robert Pyne, Madam Musu Jugbor, chairman  of the woman wind of district # 12 Montserrado county.

in continuance of the GYSD on April 16, 2011 the Country Partner Consolidated Youth for Peace & Development along with local organizers carry out massive cleaning up exercise in communities in Montserrado County and on Sunday, April 17, 2011 in climaxing the event COYPED host a all day sporting festival.