Youth Empowerment in Post-war Liberia: a Critical Assessment 1989 - 2012

Abstract

This study provides an overview of youth empowerment in Liberia which has a very youthful population of which almost all were affected by the civil crisis. The study investigates the extent to which youth empowerment in developing countries can be a strategy for fostering sustainable international relations. It analyzes the role of youth empowerment in the socio-economic development of post-war countries and explores empirical findings on youth empowerment in Liberia and beyond. As a way of getting an in-depth understanding of how youth empowerment in Liberia can contribute to the socioeconomic and cultural development of country, using a qualitative method, the study sampled the views of selected government officials, adult community members, and youth in Montserrado and Margibi counties. The study established that youth themselves need to understand what youth empowerment is all about and the policies that are in place for youth empowerment are being implemented, The study concludes that despite the little efforts made by the Government of Liberia, the issue of youth empowerment still needs to be given keen attention and that preventive mechanisms be put in place to avoid youth-led violence.