By Mark N. Mengonfia mmenginfia@gmail.com
MONROVIA-Youth Network for Positive Change (YOUNETPO) has completed its first retreat with a promise to be more proactive in their activities in the coming years.
The two days event which was organized under the theme: “A Keen look into the Future ”started December 9 and ended the 10th of December.
Speaking at the opening of the first ever retreat of the youth organization, the chairperson of the board, Nathanael Blama said it is always good to look back on things that they know and it helps to move any institution.
Mr. Blama said two things that are necessary for learning is an awareness of one’s ignorance and their willingness to learn.
He said it is always good to assess strength, opportunities, weakness and potential threats of any institution and by doing that, said organization will know what they want and at what time and how to tackle it.
The board chairperson encouraged the young people to always seek opportunities outside, fine other means to capacitate their members by introducing other positive ventures that will impact them.
They were encouraged to amalgamate their efforts as young people to ensure that they succeed in their activities.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Youth Network for Positive Change, Amb. Leo E. Tiah said they saw the need to organize the retreat in other to have a working tool that will drive their activities for the next five years.
Amb. Tiah said objective of retreat was to review the results and lessons learned from the past three years, identify challenges, resources constraints and ways to increase the organization’s effectiveness; and define the broader goals, objectives and methodologies of the next five (5) years.
As part activities, they review strategic planning, objectives and basic overview of strategy-making and actions mapping, presentation of plans by delegates at the retreat.
The two days event was attended by members of YOUNETPO’s the Board of Directors, senior management team members, consultants and volunteers.
The two days event was facilitated by Varfee Y.L Holmes, Communication manager at Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
According to him, they are looking into the future and planning with the team that they have at YOUNETPO adding” when the plan is finalized, everyone will find themselves into it and move alone”
When asked what was his interest in devoting his time to helping young people, he said wants to see lots of community base organization more strengthen and making positive changes in Liberia.
According to him, with the plans has helped to develop along with the young people, it will aid the youth organization to have the muscles to compute with other national organizations in the coming years.
“It was a great time spent drafting the five years strategic plans for YOUNETPO” he said.
“We hope when the plan is completed, the organization will use it at their advantage” Mr. Holmes said.