Minister Kruah Launches County Tour to Engage Youth at the Grossroots

‎Minister Kruah   Launches County Tour to Engage Youth at the Grossroots

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah has launched a county-wide decentralization tour aimed at engaging young people at the grassroots to gain a firsthand understanding of the programs and projects, and to understand the young people challenges and aspirations.
The first stop of the tour was in Zorzor District, Lofa County, where the Minister held an open dialogue with young people in the district. During the engagement, the Youth Public Relations Officer, Mr. Daniel Dorbor, presented key concerns affecting youth in Zorzor
Mr. Dorbor highlighted the urgent need for improved communication between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and young people in the district, including students, motorcyclists, and persons with disabilities. According to him, stronger information sharing would help address many of the issues facing youth in the community.
He also stressed the lack of skills training opportunities, noting that both Zorzor and Salayea districts lack Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers, leaving many high school graduates without productive opportunities. He called on the government to establish a TVET facility to help young people acquire practical skills and livelihoods.
Additionally, Mr. Dorbor appealed for the construction or upgrade of the district’s youth center, explaining that the current facility is too small to accommodate the growing youth population. Other issues raised included youth unemployment, the need for job opportunities, scholarships, and youth exchange programs.
In response, Minister Kruah acknowledged the existing communication gap and emphasized the need for a structured flow of information between the Ministry and young people across the
country. She proposed strengthening youth centers with coordinators and information boards to help share opportunities and programs from Monrovia to the counties. She also encouraged youth to utilize social media and work through the established youth leadership structures to maintain regular communication with the Ministry.
The Minister said regarding the request for TVET facili she could not make an immediate commitment but assured the youth that their concerns for Zorzor and Salayea had been noted.
Minister Kruah disclosed plans to organize a National Youth Leadership Retreat later this year, bringing together young people from across Liberia to discuss national development and youth empowerment.
She revealed that the Ministry’s Asset Management Team is currently assessing the facility to determine its condition and potential for future support when funding becomes available.
The Minister also announced that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will introduce its own scholarship program, allocating 100 scholarship slots per semester to each county. She emphasized that the scholarships will be awarded strictly on a transparent and merit-based process and will be limited to government-run colleges and universities in the counties. She further warned that the process must not be influenced by political affiliation.
Addressing youth employment, Minister Kruah noted that programs such as the National Cadet Program and Internship Program have not reached many communities due to weak communication and coordination. She assured the youth that future recruitment opportunities will be widely communicated to ensure districts like Zorzor fully benefit.
Minister Kruah then reminded the gathering that young people constitute nearly 70 percent of Liberia’s population, describing them as the country’s greatest asset, and they should take advantage of every opportunity that would make them productive to fit in the job market.