A local non-governmental organization, Kids Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), has undertaken a nationwide initiative to educate first-time voters about the importance of voting, the reason why they should vote, and the need to elect competent leaders.
Over the weekend, KEEP-Liberia convened a meeting with the Consulate of the Swiss Mission in Monrovia to discuss the work their girls and young women have been doing, which center around civic awareness for first-time voters.
Representing the Swiss Mission at the meeting, the Deputy Head of Mission for the Swiss Embassy in Abidjan, Leo Trembley, said by experience young people, especially girls, can be shy when they meet people for the first time, but was proud and happy to see that the youth at KEEP-Liberia are eloquent and bold in expressing their thoughts.
Trembley said it is important to engage the young people at varied ages because they are the future leaders. “The young women are also important because they need to know how to stand their ground and defend their point of view in public,” he added.
He underscored that the topics under discussion were broad, including human rights, sustainable development, governance, citizens awareness, fostering free and fair elections, gender equality as well as women empowerment. He noted that these topics are not only being discussed in Liberia but in other countries faced with election problems.
KEEP-Liberia is educating young voters about the danger of being influenced to vote for a specific candidate by being transported to other parts of the country where they do not reside, in exchange for money.
As part of their civic voter education program for first-time voters, they are teaching them to avoid all forms of violence, including verbal abuse, physical fighting and heated arguments with election staffs, observers and other citizens.
