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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.