VAI TOWN, Montserrado – Liberia is on a path of reconstruction following years of civil unrest. Some of the problems being addressed in the post-war West African country are youth development, infrastructure and the restoration of basic social services.

Recreation, especially for young people, is a key to achieving the post-war development.

Chevron Liberia Limited constructed the Chevron Monrovia Central Park and turned it over as a gift to the Monrovia City Corporation. It provides unique services including an environment for study and reading.

The Calvary Empowerment Team has been authorized by the MCC to manage the park for five years –November 2015 to November 2020.

Under the agreement, CET is required to carry on improvements of the park and make it more favorable and affordable for youth and children’s recreation.

CET Executive Director, Samuel Duo said the purpose of the park is to create an affordable, accessible, and safe play space for young people.

Making use of the park, Duo said, is an opportunity to expose young people and get them engaged in activities that will build their capabilities.

Samuel Duo, Calvary Empowerment Team Executive Director, Photo by Gbatemah Senah

“We have different kinds of programs coming up like sex education, intellectual interactions with others,” he said during a Bush Chicken interview on Tuesday.

According to Duo, programs are being employed to tackle the challenge of sustaining the park.

He said facilities at the park including a hall with the capacity of about 250 persons and many other facets of the park could be rented for the hosting of seminaries, receptions, workshops, meetings and cultural exhibition among others.

“We have different facets of the park including the performance art theater for wedding receptions, cultural exhibitions, and open spaces for different activities,” he disclosed.

He added that the park also hosts a restaurant which serves a variety of dishes throughout the week.

“On weekends, we have the playgrounds for families and their children,” he added.

He noted that entrance to the park costs between US$ 1.00 to US$1.50 for children and adults. However, the amount is increased during holidays to control the crowd. “The minimum fee is to support the sustenance of the park,” he said.

He said his organization has also begun a youth interactive engagements program with 20 schools in and around Monrovia. “They are eight senior high schools and 12 elementary schools,” he added.

He said more than 300 users visit the park weekly.

Featured Photo courtesy of Gbatemah Senah