Some 120 youths
selected and trained to become Eco-brigades in Buchanan and Greenville have
been urged to become ambassadors for their respective cities by initiating
businesses that will transform the Buchanan and Greenville into clean, green
cities.
Officially
launching the Youth Eco brigade in Buchanan, the Superintendent of Grand Bassa
County, Mr. Janjay Baikpeh, said the youth were being empowered
to help to clean up the port city of Buchanan, and its environs.
“We had a meeting
with UNDP and asked where they could help the youth of the county; today we are
excited to see 60 youth empowered for the benefit of Grand Bassa County. I
encourage each of you to take ownership of the opportunity given and make use
of what you learned during the training to initiate businesses that will keep
the city clean,” said Mr. Janjay Baikpeh.
“You must become
ambassadors for positive change. You have to take charge of the opportunity you
have, let people see your work, and your leadership in action. You have a
greater opportunity ahead of you, so take the Youth Eco-brigade Program
seriously”, he added.
The Executive
Director of the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), which
is the implementing partner for the Eco-brigade, Mr. Michael F. Garbo, said the
program was designed to empower young men and women to give a facelift to
Buchanan and Greenville, calling on the local leadership and the entire
citizenry of both cities to join the youths in keeping the environment
clean.
“Buchanan is a
lovely city in Liberia.
We have to clean
it, so let’s do it together. The grant of $400.00 you will receive isn’t pay. UNDP
empowers youth with business start-up funds to help you generate an income
while cleaning your city”, said Mr. Garbo.
UNDP’s
representative, Ms. Gboryonon B. Z. Williams from the GEF Small Grants
Programme said: “This program is an income and livelihood alternative for you.
Most times, we ask you to protect the environment, stop killing animals, etc.
without providing an alternative. This programme now provides an alternative
source of income for the youth, and we hope you make the best use of it”.
She said UNDP
promotes a culture of engagement, where people are involved and participate in
serving their communities, promoting youth leadership.
Samuel K. Mappy,
the Coordinator of the Cadet Program in the Ministry of Youth and Sports,
extended thanks to UNDP and its partners calling on the citizens, and the youth
to work together to keep the city clean.
In Greenville,
Barbara M. Keah, the Assistant Superintendent of Sinoe County, and Mr. Otis
Seton, City Mayor, Greenville also extended their appreciation to UNDP, the
Government of Liberia and SCNL for empowering 60 youth in the County and
pledged to work with the youth for the improvement of Greenville.
Last month, 120
Youth Eco-brigades were selected from Grand Bassa and Sinoe counties. The Youth
Eco-brigade in Sinoe County is named: ‘Snokrol Ecobrigades’ meaning “we live
inside here”, while the Youth Eco brigades in Grand Bassa County is ‘Gbehzohn
Eco-brigade’.
Eco-brigades are vulnerable youth empowered to
initiate livelihood and income activities that generate an income while
protecting and conserving the environment and natural resources in a bid to
ensure the country builds back its economy better through youth-driven green
recovery initiatives such as providing environmental sanitation services or
eco-tourism.
