Gwendolyn S. Myers, a Liberian peacebuilding advocate, has received the African Union's inaugural Young Peacebuilder of the Year award. The award, presented at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recognizes Myers' nearly two decades of youth-led peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and community reconciliation efforts in Liberia and across Africa. This recognition highlights Liberia's role in Africa's peace and security agenda.
The award was presented during the 20th anniversary commemoration of the African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Policy Framework. The event, themed "Twenty Years of Building and Sustaining Peace, From Policy to Action," brought together high-level officials, including African Union Commissioners and members of the Peace and Security Council. This underscores the significance of Myers' recognition within the continent's peace and security architecture.
Myers' peacebuilding journey has connected grassroots interventions in Liberia with continental and international policy processes. In 2015, she became the first youth representative to address the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, advocating for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2250. This resolution recognizes the role of young people in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Her work has received further international recognition, including being honored as a global Youth, Peace and Security Pioneer.
Myers currently serves in various capacities, including as a member of the African Union Advisory Panel on Democratic Elections and Governance, an AU Adviser on Right to Development Quick Impact Projects, and an Executive Board Member of the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding. She also serves on the Editorial Board of the AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Journal. These roles demonstrate her growing influence in peace and security governance.
The African Union recognition brings renewed attention to the work of Messengers of Peace-Liberia (MOP-Liberia), which has spent approximately 18 years promoting peace, social cohesion, and youth participation in Liberia. Through initiatives like school-based peace clubs, youth mentorship programs, and community civic dialogues, MOP-Liberia has transformed young people into active participants in peacebuilding and community mediation.
A notable demonstration of MOP-Liberia's work was its partnership with the African Union Commission's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, to organize the first Regional Youth Strategy Forum on Peacebuilding and the Right to Development. This partnership also resulted in the renovation of Kpor Town Public School in Margibi County, demonstrating how peacebuilding partnerships can translate into tangible improvements in people's lives.
The award carries significance beyond Myers' personal accomplishments, particularly for Liberia, a country whose post-war recovery offers important lessons on reconciliation and institutional rebuilding. The recognition reinforces the importance of youth participation and grassroots leadership in sustaining peace, especially in West Africa, where democratic transitions and security challenges persist. Myers dedicated the award to young people whose daily commitment continues to sustain peace across Africa.
Key points
- Gwendolyn S. Myers has been named the African Union's inaugural Young Peacebuilder of the Year, recognizing her nearly two decades of youth-led peacebuilding efforts in Liberia and across Africa.
