The Inquirer (Monrovia)
1 May 2008
Mr. Dee-Maxwell S. Kemayah, Sr., Executive Director of the Action for Greater Harvest- AGRHA who is also the Board Chairman of the Youth Crime Watch of Liberia (YCWL) was recently the recipient of the 2008 INTERNATIONAL CASEY AWARD by the Youth Crime Watch of America.
According to a press release, the honor was done in recognition of his nearly 15 years of countless dedicated and invaluable contributions, which continue to significantly, impact youth development in Liberia and other developing countries.
The award was given at the 19th National Youth Crime Prevention Conference & International Forum, which was held from the 26th -29th of March 2008 at Hilton Hotel in Miami, Florida, United States of America.
In their salutation, the Youth Crime Watch Global said, "The Youth Crime Watch Global Family thanks you for your tireless dedication to preventing crime, drugs and violence in this world."
The International Casey Award is the higher of two 2 awards given by the Youth Crime Watch of America annually as honor to distinguished personalities around the world who have made outstanding contributions; and are committed to youth development, preventing crime, drugs and violence in this world.
It can be recalled that His Excellency, Joseph N. Boakai, Vice President of Liberia, was one of the distinguished world personalities who received the 2007 International Casey Award.
According to the release, Mr. Kemayah, for his part, extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Youth Crime Watch of America for the honor bestowed upon him; and he promised to continue to work hard for the development of youths in Liberia and the global world.
Mr. Kemayah, upon his arrival from the United States of America, stressed that though he won the International Casey Award; he is dedicating it to the Liberian people; especially the youths. He urged young people to be law-abiding and do away with violence. He said they should take advantage of opportunities such as, education, skills training, health education and psychosocial.
He called on the Government of Liberia and its international partners; as well as the private sector, businesses, NGOs, religious institutions and every other sector of the Liberian society to join ranks and consolidate efforts geared towards what should be seen as a drive for an unprecedented level of support for youth development initiatives and programs that would go a very long way in ensuring a crime-free, violence-free and drugs-free society.
Mr. Kemayah then commended all of the stakeholders in Liberia and oversea who have been supportive of youth development programs in Liberia. One of such consolidated initiatives being proposed by Mr. Kemayah is the establishment of Youth Crime Watch Economic Empowerment Centers across the country.
In addition to providing economic development opportunities for the youths; the Youth Crime Watch Economic Empowerment Centers when established will also be used by Liberia's Criminal Justice System as correction facilities for the youths/juveniles in detention. The Liberian Community in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America in July 2007 honored Mr. Kemayah for his invaluable contribution towards the reconstruction and development of Liberia during programs marking the 160th Independence Day Celebration; at which time Mr. Kemayah served as the Independence Day Orator in that part of the USA..
A total of 920 delegates from the United States of America, Canada, Liberia, Haiti, Nepal, Brazil, Jamaica, Gambia, Barbados (Carribean Island), Ghana, Mauritius and Israel attended this March 2008 International Conference held in Miami, Florida, USA..
At that International Forum; there was International Track of Workshops as an integral part of the experience for conference participants. One of the important workshops that comprised the international track was: "Local Economic Development and Crime Prevention: a Serious Relationship".
The workshop explored the importance and strategies for supporting development of local entrepreneurs, youth employment, local business center development; and security/crime prevention for the local economy.
The International Economic Development Council recommended presenters at the workshop, while the International Local Economic Development workshop also featured a panel of leaders; including Mr. Kemayah who is also the Chairman of the Board of the Micro finance Network of Liberia, which has been extensively involved in local economic development; including youth employment and job development programs.
Mr. Kemayah joined other representatives from other continents on the International Panel based on his experience and expertise; and moreover represented Liberia and youth development programs in developing countries.
Mr. Kemayah's representation on the international panel afforded him the opportunity to share his experience and also hear from others at the international forum and will no doubt bring added value to local economic development; including youth employment and job development programs in this part of our global world; including, but not limited to Liberia.
In addition to being on the International Panel at the conference; Mr. Kemayah did a presentation on local economic development; including youth employment and job development programs-The AGRHA-Liberia Experience. Mr. Kemayah also facilitated the session on Small Arms Control at the conference.
Liberia was elected at the conference to serve as a member of the Advisory Board of Youth Crime Watch of America. In furtherance of the commitment of the Board of Youth Crime Watch of Liberia to foster youth development; Mr. Zuo Taylor, Executive Director of Youth Crime Watch was appointed to represent Liberia on the Advisory Board of Youth Crime Watch of America.
Following the international conference in Miami, Florida, United States of America; Mr. Kemayah also held meetings and chats in Washington D.C. with a number of officials in the United States Government and Private Sector Foundations as planned.
Amongst officials that Mr. Kemayah had the opportunity of meeting in Washington D.C were: United States Congressman, Patrick Kennedy, Mr. Dan Murphy, Legislative Assistant to US Congressman, Patrick Kennedy, Mr. Jonathan S. Scanlon of the USAID West Africa Office of the United States Department of States, Ms. Brett Lacy, Senior Programme Officer-Central & West Africa & Ms. Sarah Jane Fohl, Senior Programme Assistant-Central & West Africa-both of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Mr. Bob Creo, Treasurer & Founder, Mediators Beyond Borders and Ms. Prabha Sankaranarayan, Mediator/Trainer, Mediators Beyond Borders and Ambassador, John MacDonald, President & CEO of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy.
At the core of Mr. Kemayah's interaction with those officials, was providing insight on the nature and scope of the Action for Greater Harvest (AGRHA) and Youth Crime Watch of Liberia; respectively; and more importantly commending the international community for supporting Liberia thus far; and highlighting the more than pressing need for more support for the post-war reconstruction and development of Liberia.
Mr. Kemayah also commended US Congressman, Kennedy for his overwhelming support for the extension of the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Liberians in the USA last year. Mr. Terry Modglin of YCW-America accompanied Mr. Kemayah at all the meetings.
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