Monrovia, Liberia – The University of Liberia (UL), according to its president, Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan, will keep funding research and academic initiatives that help the country’s social workers improve. In a March 18, 2025, press release, Dr. Maparyan promised UL’s assistance on the Capitol Hill campus on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, during her keynote speech at a World Social Work Day event.
The National Association of Social Workers of Liberia (NASOWL) organized the event, which included the topic “Strengthening Communities Through Social Work for Inclusive and Enduring Well-being in Liberia.”
According to the president of UL, social workers play a vital role in various areas of Liberia and are the heartbeat of an equal and caring society.
“By strengthening intergenerational solidarity, we do not only uphold the dignity of our people, but also ensure an enduring legacy of social cohesion and collective well-being,” stated Dr. Maparyan.
Dr. Maparyan cited family strengthening and child protection as examples of the vital role social work plays in Liberia, ensuring that children are raised in a secure and caring environment while still maintaining cultural and familial bonds.
“Secondly, elderly care and support, advocating for policies that protect and empower the elderly, ensuring their active participation in society through rigorous engagement with relevant national authorities for such policies to be realized,” she said.
Dr. Maparyan also mentioned youth development and empowerment, offering young people economic possibilities, educational help, and mentorship, as well as acting as role models for them to follow and emulate. She also discussed the growing demand for mental health services, the importance of mental health and psychosocial support, and the need to lessen the stigma associated with psychological well-being.
Dr. Maparyan also spoke about social justice and community development, encouraging inclusive growth, making sure underserved communities have access to opportunities and necessary services, and persistently advocating on their behalf so that they can reap the benefits of these services.
“As we commemorate World Social Work Day, let me join you to reaffirm our commitment to building stronger, more inclusive, and more impactful communities,” stated Dr. Maparyan.
She urged funding for social work education, improved cooperation between social work schools and legislators, and the development of long-term structures for interacting with different generations.
“We at the University of Liberia are still dedicated to developing social workers who have the know-how, abilities, and enthusiasm to help people,” she stated.
During the World Social Work Day celebration, Dr. Maparyan reminded social workers that the problems they face such as injustice, inequality, and human suffering are too big for one individual to handle alone.
“We can do so much when we work together, but as Helen Keller reminds us, we can accomplish so little when we work alone. Let us leave here today recommitted to the power of collective action, to standing with the vulnerable, and to building a more just and compassionate world, because when we work together, genuinely change is possible.”
In order to create a Liberia where communities prosper, where no one is left behind, and where the values of social justice, inclusiveness, and equity define the national identity, she proposed that generations-long cooperation is necessary.
“Let us continue to unite our efforts to ensuring a fair, accessible, and equitable Liberia,” said Dr. Maparyan.
