On Monday, 15 July, 11 Liberian youngsters stood on the steps of UNMIL Headquarters in Monrovia and raised their hands. They were standing up for quality education for all children across Liberia.

But they were doing more than just standing up. Inspired by activist Malala Yousafzai, whose fight for girls’ education in her home country of Pakistan left her fighting for her life in a hospital, and backed by Plan Liberia, these youth were taking action.
 

As members of the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia, these students drafted a resolution proposing ways of encouraging equal access to quality education in their country, and they were taking it on a cross-country tour to spread the word.
 

“Malala Day is just a day, but in Liberia we also believe that there are a lot of Malala’s in our country, many children and young people who are deprived the right to quality education,” said Beyan F. Pewee, National Chairman of the Coalition.

“We have brought this Malala Day as a kickoff to a new era for girls’ education in Liberia.”
 

The resolution, called “One Stakeholder Equals One Girl,” was drafted at a two-day workshop in Lofa County that was organized to mark 12 July, Malala’s 16th birthday. It outlines the major educational gaps and challenges in Liberia, with specific reference to children with disabilities and girls. It also calls on the government, civil society, non-governmental organizations, and parents to prioritize the provision of quality education to all children without discrimination.
 

“This day is not just for her, it is for all of us,” said Pewee.
 

Soumya Brata Guha is the Programme Support Manager for Plan Liberia, which has been supporting the Coalition’s efforts.
 

“This has been their idea to do this programme. It’s they who have planned it, they who have executed it,” said Guha. “There was just one piece of idea that came about and that’s let’s not do this programme in Monrovia but let’s take it to the hinterland so that you actually connect with those girls who are more in need. And that’s why they went to Lofa and there was a lot of enthusiasm in Lofa. They got more children than they expected.”
 

The youth came to UNMIL Headquarters to share their resolution and ideas for change, where UNMIL Spokesperson, Aleem Siddique, received the students.
“Can I just say how inspiring it is to see so many young people who have come to visit UNMIL today with one very clear message that’s been heard very loud and clear: that girls’ education is important, it’s a priority here in Liberia,” said Siddique.

“Every human child has the right to be educated and although we’ve seen so much progress in this country, we all know that there is much more to do. I want to assure you that the United Nations shares your commitment and your wish to see all Liberian children, girls and boys, educated.”
 

To applause, Siddique announced that UNMIL would present the youth’s resolution to the Secretary-General.