See also: » 22.04.2010 - President Ellen in Liberia poll headache » 15.02.2010 - IMF commissions a mission to Liberia » 18.12.2009 - Liberia exempted from arms embargo » 17.12.2009 - Media rights group condemns arrest of media players » 01.12.2009 - Liberia pledges support to small farmers » 07.10.2009 - Young Liberians to audition for top music award » 02.10.2009 - West African biodiversity corridor high on Abidjan meeting » 07.09.2009 - New UN trained special police graduate in Liberia Houlihan's coupons

Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no: Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares

Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no: Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike

afrol News, 22 December - A 19-year-old Vivian Akoto of Liberia has become the first female to win A Star is Born, a youth competition which since 2006 has used music as an instrument for social change, national unity, and an agent to promote peace and development in the West African country.

Speaking at the finale held at the weekend in Monrovia, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Recovery and Governance, Moustapha Soumare, said that “investing in young people is investing in the future; the performances we have seen this evening indicate to all of us that the future of this country is very bright indeed.”

The competition, now in its fourth year, is organised by the government of Liberia and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). It aims to identify young leaders in Liberia and is linked to the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), the national development plan.

The 2009 competition was launched on 19 September. Some 1,500 people aged 20 or younger from all of Liberia’s 15 counties participated. Of the contestants, 18 semi-finalists were invited into the Music Academy, where they were taught leadership and time management skills, and also participated in training workshops on rape and HIV/AIDS.

“This year’s competition was intended to promote the PRS priorities and raise awareness of the critical issues to be addressed in order to continue to build a strong and peaceful Liberia,” Mr Soumare noted.

UNMIL’s Chief of Public Information, George Somerwill, said the mission would encourage the government, organisations and individual Liberians to take the lead in organising the event next year.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda

Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda. Read more

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding" afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries. Read more

Guinea

Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries. Read more