CDC Gets New Auxiliary for Disadvantaged Youth Amid Claims of Abandonment

Amidst speculations in some quarters that disadvantaged youth of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) have been abandoned by stalwarts of the ruling party, a new auxiliary has been established to cater solely for the needs of less fortunate members of CDC.

‘Congress Disadvantage Youth for Progressive Change’, a new ancillary of CDC launched on 7 July 2021 at the party’s headquarters in Congo Town, is to champion the cause of disadvantaged youth within the party, among other things. 

The new political movement which was launched at a ceremony marking the celebration of its founder and CEO, Daoda Socrates Carlon’s birthday, seeks to also address the many problems disadvantaged population of Liberia’s biggest political grassroots party are faced with, including the lack of opportunities such as vocational training and human services programs, which are vital to said population to seek employment opportunities.

The group intends to also give voice to disadvantaged youth, most of whom are sheltering in ghettos in slums across the 17 electoral districts of Montserrado County.

Carlon, a former senior member of CDC USA Chapter, who recently returned to contribute to nation building, said disadvantaged youth are a significant constituents that contributed greatly to struggles that led to the election of CDC in 2017. 

Speaking at the launch of Congress Disadvantage Youth for Progressive Change, partisan Carlon said the auxiliary comprises disadvantaged men and women from the 17 electoral districts of Montserrado County.

“It’s intended to take the burdens of neglect of our population that has been marginalized 12 years ago,” he said.

Carlon, who works as Assistant Manager for Environmental Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) at Liberia Environmental Protection Agency, explained, “We cannot continue to divide our people based on who wears clean clothes or dirty clothes, or who rides a car or a motorbike.”

He believes that disadvantaged youth referred to as ‘Zogos and Zogees’ have potentials which can be developed into positive things that can create a platform for their contribution towards national agenda.

“It is on this basis we will continue to remain engaged with them whether you like it or not. There is nowhere to push them, this is their country. We will be with them to help them turn away from their negative habits,” Mr. Carlon assured.

He disclosed plans to initiate regular counseling sessions for disadvantaged youth, noting, “We will tell them that life has ups and downs and that there is a need for you to get up when you fall.”

Mr. Carlon also promised to make representation for disadvantaged youth at the national level to ensure that they are placed on the agenda policy of the country so that programs can be developed to cater for less-fortunate men and women as it is done in developed countries.

Carlon said: “Men that understand the philosophical principles on the universal and the scientific basis on which structures are established will know that without people there will be no government. So it’s important that the militants, laymen, sons of peasants are always involved in the development of our country.”

He further explained that “Any government or official that fails to realize that, you are living in space because these are the people whom we are called to serve.”

Carlon admonished the disadvantaged youth who gathered at the party’s headquarters to witness the launch of the new auxiliary not to underestimate what CDC can do for them.

He recollected that he joined the party as a ‘placard holder’ when he encountered Chairman Mulbah Morlu in 2008, who was then the Chairperson of the Movement for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court.     

“I was a young man coming up when I joined the movement only as a placard holder. We had the belief that the gun that was liberated must not rule. All of you who here who see yourselves as battle criers today, don’t underestimate what CDC can do for you,” Carlon told the disadvantaged youth.

However, several disadvantaged youth of the CDC who attended the ceremony lauded partisan Carlon for establishing the group to care for less-fortunate members of their institution.

In separate interviews, the CDC youth thanked Carlon for identifying with them on his birthday and recalled how he has been helpful to disadvantaged members of the institution.

For his part, the Chairperson of the CDC Revolutionary National Youth League, Isaiah H. Togba, was grateful for the establishment of the new auxiliary and promised to work with the institution in advancing the ideology of their political movement.

Another stalwart, Hon. Randall M. Dobayou, who is also Deputy Executive Director at the EPA, lauded Carlon for the initiative and described him as an ordained follower and a baptized trustee of the ‘blue revolution’.

At the end of the ceremony which was characterized by merry-making, the Youth League honored Carlon by carrying out a sacred initiation of wearing of the blue beret, an emblem of the party.