TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
boytimes's Blog
boytimes's Blog
Young Liberians Urged to Forget Past,Move On
Related to country: Liberia

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

She was born Oct 23,1992 just after a protracted period of war waged on residents of Monrovia by then rebel leader-turned president Charles Taylor.Many Liberians referred to that war as "Octopus" because it started in the middle of October and because the NPFL rebel force that attacked the people of Monrovia was a powerful rebel outfit that had widespread influence and many followers.

After having gone through a lot as a little child,she is calling on all Liberian youth,irrespective of where they currently live,to forget their bitter past and move on with new vigor,determination,and hope for their once beloved and prosperous nation.

Lovetta Conto is not a typical little girl.She thinks as a woman ,an educator,a businesswoman,a humanitarian,and she is soon to be an actress and writer.

Meeting her in the twin cities on July 2 was an honor and a blessing for me.I have a girl child,too.But though mine is not the age of Lovetta,seeing a girl child speaks the way Lovetta did when I met her was so encouraging for me as a father,then as a mentor,a journalist and an advocate.

I contacted her website once and that was it.She called my phone all day and left me countless messages.Although I was very busy at the time she was visiting family members in the twin cities,I had to buy out time for this young Liberian girl who has so much energy and passion for deserving but needy kids of Liberia and Africa.

Lovetta is changing lives in Liberia, and she is one in a million of children who has a big heart but not enough hands to reach out.
I never knew that she is the little girl whose father was my friend in the Liberian refugee camp in Buduburam,Ghana.She has grown big and exposed to many international audiences that even adults become nervous about speaking among.

Lovetta is a small girl by Liberian standards but very smart,intelligent and eloquent by American standards.Here in the United States, some children at 16 are just about becoming adults.In fact,in some instances some girls at that age begin sexual activities because they are just about to officially become adults.But by Liberian standards,she would have to be close to 25 or so before we officially consider her a woman or an adult.

But here is a girl turned-woman because of the big things that she is doing.At age 12,Lovetta became a fellow of Strongheartfellowship,a U.S based program that serves as a groundbreaking social entrepreneurship outfit designed to help bright,resilient young people from extremely chanllenging circumstances around the world develop into compassionate,innovative problem-solvers and leaders that can effect significant change in the world.

Since then,Lovetta has been creating businesses by helping to inspire young people from Liberia aimed at assisting them rebuild their country.At that young age, she is already a role model.

Lovetta's project actually involves working on jewelries made from bullets used during the Liberian civil war to kill children and their parents.

Instead of using them this time around to kill children,Lovetta is literally using those bullets and turning them into beautiful necklaces that people can buy from her and use the proceeds for charity.

Isn't that incredible!

Here is a little girl who went through a lot when her country was been destroyed by greedy political leaders and their followers.

"I know what it means to be hungry," she told me during an interview in July."I also know what it means to be put out of school for lack of money.And that is why I want to do this to help lots of young people go to school to better their lives and help improve our country."

She told me she believes every kid has a right to a better education."That is very close to my heart," she said.

She also knows how it feels to be without support and motherly love in particular."You want to go to school,you want to eat, but your mother is not there to prepare you food because either she does not have the money,or she is not home with you," she told me.

Like many other children growing up with a single parent,she grew up without her mother home.Only her father was there at times, but he, too, would always leave home in search of opportunities for himself and his little girl.

Lovetta said her dad and mom had their differences but sitting there without the other parent did not just make her lose hope.In fact,it motivated her just by knowing that it happened to other children too.

Although Liberia's president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is an inspiration to Lovetta,Oprah Winfrey,America's talk show queen,is her biggest inspiration."Oprah came from a poor family growing up on the farm with her grandmother," Lovetta said."But look at where she is today.Despite many challenges,Oprah beat all barriers and rose to the top,so she is my biggest role model. If she could do it,I can do and other kids can do it,too"

Lovetta was lacked of words,however, to describe how she feels about Africa's and Liberia's first elected female president,Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.But she also greatly admires U.S president Barack Obama.

"If she can become president for Liberia, and Obama can become president for America,it motivates me to the extend that I feel whatever goal I set my mind on,I can reach it," said Lovetta.

Miss Conto has also been touring the United States giving public speeches,hosting fund-raising parties and raising funds through other means for the needy.

Although she is strong in heart,she knows that at times the challenges can be daunting on her.

"When I was addressing the Texas Women Conference in Texas,I was frankly nervous because these were educated women from all walks of life, and there I was a little girl from Liberia still in High School addressing them," she said. "And It was a big challenge for me because I nearly lost my composure."

But those are not the only challenges that Lovetta faces at times.As a young girl with International appeal,many young boys too look at her with admiration but also with some intents she's very well aware of.

"Oh yeah," she admits."I know how easily girls can get pregnant at this age,but that's why I don't have friends.The temptation out there is too much,but I have a lot to do that I hardly have anytime for boys."

"The upbringing from my father is helping me a lot.My dad would spank me if I did not do the right thing, and he has the right to still spank me today if I do the wrong things."

As I was typing this write up,Lovetta was already leaving Austin,Texas where she had gone for another conference and flying to Canada to meet and discuss with her teachers at a High School from where she will be attending school online.

Miss Conto has been given a scholarship from Canada to further her education.And because she does not have the time to attend traditional High School in Monrovia,Liberia, her online study will be as interesting as the traditional High Schooling.

And as Lovetta continues to inspire many young people from Liberia, her project is also building a Strongheart house there where needy kids would live and attend school for free.

Like her, kids joining Strongheart have to be creative,diligent,determined and brilliant to be accepted.

But in the up-coming years,Lovetta will be publishing Teens Magazine in Liberia that would feature fashion,entertainment,health,advice for teenage pregnancy,music and role models.

Additionally,She wants to also become an actress and whatever money she makes in acting would be used to create charities around the world.

What a girl! What a woman! What a Liberian!

August 11, 2009 | 5:35 PM Comments  0 comments

You must be logged in to add tags.


boytimes's Profile

boytimes's Friends


Latest Posts
TRC’s Final Report:...
New Job for Ghana's...
Is U.S President...
Young Liberians Urged...
Prince Johnson's...

Monthly Archive
June 2008
August 2009

Change Language


Tags Archive
childrigts education foodsecurity globalization health liberia

Filter By Type
Travel
Topics

Friends
Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler
Amber
Chinyere
Rommy Wuhe

Links
NewLiberian
NewLiberian.com


3051 views
Important Disclaimer