100 Youth Receive Integrity, Volunteerism Training

In commemoration of the International Volunteers Day (IVD) 2021, EQUIP Leadership – Liberia Project led by its Country Coordinator Benedict Tokpa Danuweli, has trained over 100 youth leaders (volunteers) in integrity and volunteerism through its Transformational Leadership Development. 

The IVD for Economic and Social Development (5 December), more commonly referred to as IVD, is an international observance mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985. 

It offers an opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to promote volunteerism, encourage governments to support volunteer efforts and recognize volunteer contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local, national and international levels

The training, which took place from December 6-10, at the Gethsemane Retreat Center in Louisiana, Upper Caldwell, brought together participants from Grand Bassa, Lofa, Nimba, Margibi and Montserrado Counties. 

The weeklong activities of skills, knowledge and experience sharing took place under the theme: “Equipping Young Leaders to Volunteer Now for Our Common Future”, and was held in partnership with Liberia Unites, Liberia Red Cross, Carter Center, Liberia-YMCA, University of Liberia Volunteers and Volunteer Hub-Liberia.

Armed Forces of Liberia Maj/Gen. Prince Charles Johnson, III, who led the conversation on “Engendering the value of Integrity in youth volunteering”, urged them to always exhibit a high degree of integrity and honesty in all of their undertakings, as they prepare themselves for future leadership. 

General Johnson admonished them to fully get involved with volunteerism, which, he said is the hallmark to successful leadership, adding that “integrity and volunteerism have been an age-old challenge in both the private and public sectors of the Country, and you as emerging leaders of the Country must work very hard to address the situation”.

For his part, EQUIP-Leadership Project Coordinator, Benedict Tokpa Danuweli, who motivated the youth leaders,  expressed optimism that the young people who benefited from the weeklong Transformational Leadership Training will put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired and also serve as EQUIP-Liberia’s volunteers or "Beyond Success Facilitators" in their respective counties.

“The plan is to replicate this, across the nation. We’re open to working with like minded institutions, to ensure that youth leaders from the other ten counties form part of future training. These are the future of our country. They are the ones that can change the narratives, and inspire positive change in their communities with our support”, Mr. Danuweli lamented.

Participants and beneficiaries of this year’s IVD lauded EQUIP Leadership-Liberia project and other partners, for organizing such an impactful and behavioural change initiative, promising to positively impact their communities upon their return to their counties. 

EQUIP-Leadership Liberia is a subsidiary of EQUIP Leadership (global), a non-profit organization founded by renowned American leadership coach and New York’s time best seller, Dr. John C. Maxwell, with a mandate to equip leaders around the world to lead positive change in their different spaces of influence.