Still haunted by the scars of the 1989–2003 civil war that turned thousands of children into combatants and left deep social fractures, Liberia is taking renewed steps toward national healing through a partnership with the international peace organization, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light.
At a recent peace-building seminar held at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ Bible School on Duport Road, educators, religious leaders, students, and journalists gathered under a shared mission: to confront the enduring legacy of war and rebuild a culture of peace through education.
The initiative comes as Liberia continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of its brutal civil conflict, which claimed over 200,000 lives, displaced half the population, and left an estimated 15,000–21,000 children forced into armed groups.
However, many of those former child soldiers were never fully rehabilitated, contributing to a cycle of trauma, violence, and social instability that persists today.
According to HWPL’s Liberia Representative, Macs Nyahn Meankakeh, the seminar brought together 68 organizations and 164 participants, signaling growing national interest in structured peace education.
He emphasized that the initiative seeks to instill discipline, civic responsibility, and moral values, particularly among young people still affected by the war’s psychological aftermath.
“I expect that peace education will be taught in schools across the country, beginning in Montserrado County,” Meankakeh said, recalling the devastating impact the war had on Liberia’s youth and the urgent need to reverse its effects.
Participants at the seminar echoed concerns about rising violence and indiscipline among young people, warning that failure to act could allow “rebel behavior” to take root in modern society.
“We will use the methods taught to minimize violence in the minds of young people,” several school principals and teachers said. “If we remain idle, the situation could worsen across all sectors of society.”
The program centers on HWPL’s Peace Education curriculum, founded by Chairman Lee Man-hee, which promotes conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue, and ethical leadership. The organization, which operates in more than 100 countries and is affiliated with the United Nations through ECOSOC and DGC, aims to institutionalize peace education as a national priority.
Through partnerships with schools, religious institutions, and media platforms, the initiative seeks to embed peacebuilding into everyday life, transforming classrooms into platforms for reconciliation and long-term stability.
Despite nearly two decades of relative peace, many Liberians continue to face what some describe as an “economic war,” with poverty and hardship fueling frustration and eroding social values within families and communities.
Organizers say expanding peace education nationwide is not just a moral effort, but a strategic investment in Liberia’s future, one that could help break cycles of violence and empower a new generation to lead with unity and resilience.
