Liberian Peace Marathon and Parade Mobilize Youth & Women
- khwang562
- Sep 27
- 2 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
Monrovia, Liberia – More than 200 young people participated in the Run4Peace marathon in Monrovia on September 20, 2025, organized by UPF-Liberia in partnership with the African Youth Fellowship. The annual marathon is held to promote peace, unity, and reconciliation in Liberia, coinciding with the UN International Day of Peace
The race concluded with a stakeholder dialogue promoting unity, health awareness, and resilience, demonstrating how sports can serve as a catalyst for social cohesion.
A day earlier, on September 19, the Young Ambassadors for Peace (YAP) held an election at the University of Liberia, electing Ms. Mariam F. Bamba as president, Mr. Unison Nagbah Meantuo as vice president, and Mr. Jutomue S. Kollie as Secretary-General. The active participation of members reaffirmed their dedication to transparent and democratic leadership within YAP. The newly elected team pledged to uphold UPF’s principles and advance youth-driven peace initiatives nationwide.
These two events reinforced youth leadership as a driving force for Liberia’s culture of peace.
The following week, women’s leadership took center stage as UPF-Liberia launched the “Peace Starts with Me” campaign, in collaboration with the New Liberian Women Skills Training and Advocacy Center, on September 27. The event marked both the International Day of Peace and the 20th anniversary of UPF, and was inspired by Ms. Miatta Sirleaf, CEO of New Liberian Women and a UPF ambassador for peace.
The activities began with a peace parade in Paynesville, led by women, followed by an official program. The keynote speaker was veteran politician and human rights lawyer Ms. Tiawan Gongloe, who emphasized women’s essential role in promoting peace and justice.
Other women’s groups also joined the parade and the following dialogue, which underlined women’s central role in community transformation.
