Published: December 23, 2025
KAKATA, Margibi County — The African Union Commission, in partnership with Messengers of Peace–Liberia, has commissioned the fully renovated Kpor Town Public School in Margibi County, turning a regional youth peace forum into a visible demonstration of action-driven peacebuilding.
The project was unveiled Saturday as part of the Regional Youth Strategy Forum on Peacebuilding and the Right to Development, hosted in Liberia from Dec. 19–21. The forum placed Liberia at the center of Africa’s peace and development dialogue, drawing youth leaders, government officials, civil society actors and international partners from across the continent.
From Dialogue to Action
Speaking ahead of the dedication, MOP-Liberia Executive Director Gwendolyn Myers said hosting the forum in Liberia carried both symbolic and practical significance, given the country’s history of civil conflict and postwar recovery.
“Hosting the African Union here places real community experience at the center of policy dialogue,” Myers said. “It reminds us that peacebuilding must be grounded in the daily realities young people face.”
She described the renovation as a shift from discussion to delivery, stressing that peacebuilding must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives. “What we are commissioning is more than a building,” Myers said. “It is a safe and dignified learning environment that gives children hope and opportunity.”
The project followed an African Union technical assessment earlier this year and was designed as a Quick Impact Project to demonstrate how peace initiatives can deliver immediate, visible results. Myers said Kpor Town Public School was selected after assessments in Montserrado, Margibi and Bong counties identified it as having the most urgent needs. The renovation was completed in less than two months through close collaboration among MOP-Liberia, contractors and development partners.
AU Reaffirms Support for Liberia
Officially dedicating the renovated facility, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye said the project reflects the AU’s commitment to countries emerging from prolonged conflict. He thanked the Kpor Town community for allowing the AU to serve Liberia through the initiative.
Adeoye said the renovation underscores the need for stronger collaboration among civil society, communities and African governments to prioritize education. He described the partnership among MOP-Liberia, the Liberian government and the African Union as a practical expression of Pan-Africanism and reaffirmed the AU’s support for Liberia in line with Agenda 2063.
Education as a Peace Pillar
Principal Melvin Lackay, speaking on behalf of the school, called the renovation a historic moment, saying it goes beyond infrastructure to help shape future leaders toward peace, security and responsible citizenship.
The project added junior high classrooms, a basketball court and children’s playground, perimeter fencing and separate bathroom facilities for male and female students.
Also addressing the forum, Emmanuel Bawoh, peace and security adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered remarks on behalf of Foreign Minister Sara Beyslow Nyanti. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to youth empowerment as a pillar of peace and sustainable development under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“Youth empowerment is not charity,” Bawoh said. “It is an investment in stability and in our shared future. Young people must see themselves as partners in peace, not merely recipients of policy.”
Deputy Education Minister for Instruction Amos Armah Fulley urged young people across Africa to work collectively toward peace, emphasizing the critical role of organizations such as MOP-Liberia. “This is not a time for empty promises,” Fulley said. “The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Education, is fully prepared to work with the African Union and MOP-Liberia to advance youth-led peacebuilding and educational initiatives.”
Looking Beyond the Forum
As the opening sessions concluded, organizers expressed confidence that the forum’s impact would extend beyond Monrovia, shaping regional policies, partnerships and community-level action. Myers said the true measure of success would be sustained results.
“This forum matters for Liberia, for the region, and for Africa as a whole,” she said. “Our responsibility now is to turn these conversations into lasting results.”
The Regional Youth Strategy Forum continues with thematic panels and strategy sessions focused on strengthening youth participation in peacebuilding and advancing the right to development across Africa. Myers also thanked the African Union Commission—particularly its Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Centre—as well as the Liberian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education for their institutional support.
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