04/10/2025
BLESSING-Liberia Participates in World Peace Day Event
On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Building Linkages for Empowerment and Sustainable Society in National Governance (BLESSING-Liberia)-a local education and peacebuilding focused organization operating here was honored to participate in a powerful gathering of peacebuilders, hosted by the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation (KAICT) at the University of Liberia (UL) in Monrovia.
First celebrated in 1981, International Day of Peace, also officially known as the World Peace Day, is a United Nations sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September.
Connected to the global theme: “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, the 2025 event which fell on Sunday, was celebrated on Friday 26 September under the local theme: “Challenges, Initiatives and Collaboration in Peacebuilding in Liberia”.
The event brought together civil society actors, international partners, and grassroots leaders to reflect on Liberia’s peace journey, challenges, and collaborative pathways forward.
Representing our organization, Mr. Eugene Kwehghai Myers, Executive Director of BLESSING-Liberia, delivered insightful remarks that traced his personal journey from surviving Liberia’s civil war, to advocating for peace through journalism at the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), and now leading grassroots efforts in education, empowerment, and peacebuilding.
In his address, Mr. Myers highlighted:
✅ Campaigns against harmful practices like early marriage and female ge***al mutilation
✅ Trauma awareness and cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training for over 50 frontline workers in partnership with Liberia Medical Mission 2025
✅ Youth leadership camps promoting non-violence, tolerance, and civic responsibility
✅ Girls’ education and economic empowerment initiatives and
✅ Civic engagement programs including the Flag Day Forum for national unity.
“Peace is not an abstract idea. It is a daily practice—shaped by what we teach, what we accept, what we advocate for, and how we empower our youth”, he said.
As we continue our mission to “engender peace and prosperity for the needy,” we remain committed to building strong, informed, and peaceful communities across Liberia.
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Who We Are
Founded on Friday Mach 3, 2023, and formally registered on Saturday June 14,2024, Building Linkages for Empowerment and Sustainable Society in National Governance (BLESSING-Liberia) is a nationally recognized non-governmental organization operating in the education sector as a strong partner of the Ministry of Education.
Since its inception, the organization has been dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable education across Liberia, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
In Liberia, the post-war education sector continues to face multiple challenges—limited access, weak infrastructure, poor learning outcomes, and high dropout rates among vulnerable groups such as girls, orphans, and children with disabilities.
While many NGOs operate in the education space, the demand for comprehensive and community-driven programs still far exceeds supply.
The existence of BLESSING-Liberia is therefore necessary, as it complements and strengthens government efforts while ensuring that no child is left behind.
BLESSING-Liberia’s work is directly in line with Article 6 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, which mandates the state to ensure equal access to educational opportunities and facilities for all citizens, regardless of gender, status, or background.
Our programs and advocacy therefore reinforce the constitutional commitment to equity, literacy, youth empowerment, and peacebuilding through education.
Aim
To be a leading education-focused NGO in Liberia that champions inclusive, equitable, and sustainable learning opportunities for children and youth while fostering peace and community development.
Mission
To support the Ministry of Education efforts to improve access to quality, inclusive, and sustainable education for children and youth in Liberia, while fostering peace, empowerment, and lifelong learning.
Goal
To help transform Liberia’s education system by ensuring no child is left behind, teachers and school authorities are empowered, youth are skilled, and communities are united through education for peace.
Objectives
Access & Equity – Leaving No Child Behind
• Expand scholarships and school support to vulnerable children (especially girls, orphans, and children with disabilities).
• Strengthen community involvement through PTSAs and local partnerships.
• Improve school infrastructure including desks, libraries, and WASH facilities.
Quality of Teaching & Learning
• Strengthen teacher and school manager capacities in academic instruction, management and ICT integrations.
• Establish reading clubs, remedial programs, and develop local-Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) learning materials.
• Support curriculum development in civic and peace education.
Youth Empowerment & Skills Development
• Equip youth with life skills, leadership training, and nonviolent problem-solving.
• Provide ICT and entrepreneurship training for older students and out-of-school youth especially single mothers and other vulnerable young women and girls.
• Create mentorship and career guidance opportunities through role models and alumni networks.
Education for Peace & Social Cohesion
• Establish school-based peace and dialogue clubs for conflict resolution and tolerance.
• Train teachers in peacebuilding and inclusive classroom practices.
• Organize community dialogues and literacy-based peace education for parents and youth and other stakeholders.
What We Do / Our Work
Through scholarships, teacher and school administrator training, youth clubs, and peace education initiatives, we address barriers to learning, strengthen teaching capacity, empower young people with skills, and promote social cohesion.
Our programs are anchored in four thematic areas:
1. Access & Equity – Leaving No Child Behind
2. Quality of Teaching & Learning
3. Youth Empowerment & Skills Development
4. Education for Peace & Social Cohesion
Where We Work
BLESSING-Liberia currently operates in rural Montserrado, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties, with plans for national expansion.
Our Core Values
• Integrity – We uphold transparency and accountability in all our work.
• Inclusion – We prioritize vulnerable groups, especially girls and children with disabilities.
• Empowerment – We build the capacity of teachers, youth, and communities.
• Peace – We believe education is a driver of unity and social cohesion.
• Sustainability – We design programs with long-term community impact.
Policy & Development Alignment
BLESSING-Liberia’s mission and programmatic areas are strongly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
• SDG 4: Quality Education – By ensuring inclusive and equitable access to quality learning opportunities.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – By prioritizing girls’ education and female teacher empowerment.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By equipping youth with ICT, vocational, and entrepreneurship skills.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Through education for peace, conflict resolution, and social cohesion.
Contribution to the African Union Agenda 2063 & Agenda 2030
BLESSING-Liberia’s work contributes directly to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the continental Education Agenda 2030, which emphasize inclusive growth, human capital development, and peacebuilding.
In particular:
• Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development – by expanding access to education and skills training.
• Aspiration 6: An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth – through youth empowerment, leadership, and gender equity programs.
• Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) – through strengthening teacher capacity, promoting literacy, and integrating ICT into education.
Alignment with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda (2024–2029)
The Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda (Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism) provides the current national development framework.
BLESSING-Liberia’s work directly supports the Education pillar and contributes to other cross-cutting priorities:
• Education – Expanding access, equity, and quality in rural schools, in line with the Ministry of Education’s priorities.
• Sanitation (WASH) – Working with partners to improve school-based WASH facilities.
• Rule of Law & Peacebuilding – Promoting civic education, tolerance, and conflict resolution among children, youth, and communities.
Through these synergies, BLESSING-Liberia demonstrates its role as a strategic partner in achieving global, regional, and national development goals.
Contact Information
📞 +231-886-608-740 / +231-776-264-035
📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://web.facebook.com/blessinglr.org/
