GBARNGA, Bong County – Two delegates from the African Union Youth for Peace Program are in Gbarnga, Bong County participating in the annual Messengers of Peace Youth Summer Camp, a flagship gathering dedicated to nurturing the next generation of civic leaders.

The week-long event serves as a dynamic platform for cross-border dialogue, leadership development, and nation-building.

The visiting envoys, Paska Alfred, an African Union Political Officer based in Sudan, and Woinshet Getachew, are attending the camp with a clear mission to deepen Liberian youths’ understanding of the African Union’s transformative blueprint, Agenda 2063, and to illuminate the continental body’s ongoing work in conflict prevention, governance, and social cohesion.

Speaking at the camp’s opening session, lead delegate Paska Alfred extended appreciation to Messengers of Peace Executive Director Gwenderline Myers for extending the invitation and fostering a partnership that bridges grassroots activism with pan-African policy.

Alfred underscored that Agenda 2063 is far more than a policy document, it is a collective pledge by African nations to realize a prosperous, integrated, and peaceful continent driven by its own citizens.

“Agenda 2063 is our shared roadmap for sustainable development, accountable governance, economic revitalization, and most critically, youth empowerment,” Alfred told the assembled participants.

She urged Liberia’s young changemakers to move beyond passive observation and become active architects of the continent’s future.

“Peace is not a gift; it is a daily practice. Your voices, your ideas, and your actions are essential to building the Africa we want,” she added.

The Messengers of Peace Youth Summer Camp, now in its annual cycle, draws scores of young Liberians from across the country’s 15 counties.

Through intensive workshops, panel discussions, and team-building exercises, the camp aims to sharpen leadership competencies, encourage informed civic participation, and create safe spaces for honest conversations about Liberia’s post-conflict trajectory, economic challenges, and democratic resilience.

For many participants, the presence of AU delegates adds a vital continental perspective to local concerns, linking Liberia’s peace-building efforts to broader regional stability and the shared aspirations of Africa’s 1.4 billion people.

As the camp unfolds, organizers expect exchanges on youth-led innovation, gender equality, and the practical steps young Liberians can take to hold leaders accountable while contributing to national recovery.

The African Union delegation’s engagement reinforces a core message that the future of the continent rests in the hands of its youngest citizens, and that Liberia’s youth are indispensable to that future.