Monrovia, Liberia – The Economic and Trade Cooperation for African Youth (ETCAY) has culminated a three-day massive cleaning exercise in Paynesville City in an ambitious effort to give the city a proper look as the holiday season approaches despite severe budgetary restrictions. A group of developing young leaders from various backgrounds with specialized knowledge in the socio-economic and socio-political sectors of society have united to form ETCAY, a recognized African Youth Network.
The rigorous and well-organized cleaning campaign, with the theme “A Clean Environment Is A Shared Responsibility,” brought together more than fifty young volunteers, primarily women, from a variety of backgrounds under the inspiring direction of ETCAY’s Global President, Alvin K.T.C. Clarke, with assistance from Madam Virtuous Garmai Gbayan, the Country Director of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
The formation of the Organization was inspired and conceived during the 3rd China–Africa Youth festival held between 20 and 27 June 2018, in China, where 104 Young African leaders representing 53 African Countries and a number of Young Chinese delegates who are at the core of national development, from Key Governmental and Entrepreneurial institutions, most of them Chief Executive officers and Directors of strategic Companies converged to strengthen and foster.
China – Africa relations with a running theme, „‟Connecting the dreams of Youth and creating a New Era for China – Africa Relationship”. Rightly so, the dreams of African Youth connected at the right time, right place and so ETCAY was birth.
Beginning on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the cleaning-up campaign focused on main streets in Paynesville City, starting from the very packed Red-light Market commercial district to the ELWA Junction. It concluded on Friday, December 20, 2024, with a certification and honoring ceremony.
The group’s Global President, also known as the Executive Secretary, praised the young volunteers for their commitment during the campaign at the recognizing and certifying ceremony held at the GONET Campus, located along S.D. Cooper Road in Paynesville City.
Clarke cautioned the young sanitation ambassadors against being the polluters themselves and encouraged them to work together to address the city’s difficult sanitation problems by taking swift action that will offer a solution.
Although the three-day cleaning exercise might appear to be a “small action,” Clarke believes that it will function as a catalyst to inspire young people in the city to join an endeavor to discover a “big solution” to the city’s sanitation crisis.
In addition to praising the thirty-two recipients who attended the certification ceremony for their volunteerism, he also urged them to do similar action in their own communities.
Having worked with youth for twenty years, Clarke’s program seeks to develop young leaders and give opportunities for them to reach their full potential in order to serve their communities and the nation as a whole.
ETCAY Country Director and Focal Person Madam Virtuous Garmai Gbayan praised the young participants for their bold passion and commitment to upholding Paynesville City’s “Clean and Green” motto.
The twenty-four-year-old, energetic woman urged the volunteers to step up and take significant action that will result in the desired transformation for their surroundings, rather than just watching as they want for their towns and the nation.
The Country Director of ETCAY promised to continue working with the volunteers on upcoming projects and encouraged them to expand their networking efforts in order to include more young people who share their enthusiasm and desire to contribute in their communities.
Additionally, Madam Gbayan expressed ETCAY’s gratitude to the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), led by Mayor Robert S. Bestman II, for giving the group multiple tricycles and helping to dispose of the trash produced during the cleanup effort. She promised that ETCAY is prepared to collaborate with the City Government in methods that would improve and maintain the city’s sanitary situation.
In his guest remarks, Sampson Godsent Wherdaigar, Executive Director of Youth GO Green Network Liberia (YUGNET), cautioned the team to foster a culture of respect for one another while encouraging them to rally all support for Madam Gbayan.
Climate justice activist Sampson Wherdaigar stated that his group is open to forming a cooperative relationship with ETCAY in order to collaboratively promote a hygienic environment for Paynesville City.
He praised the ETCAY Global President for his two decades of work to enable urban youth to contribute to their communities.
The leader of Yugnet Liberia called Clarke a change agent and inspired the young volunteers to follow in his footsteps by being innovative and forward-thinking for the sake of the city’s young people.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
