By Christian Appleton
Harper, Liberia – July 14, 2025 — The Dekontee Artists Theater Inc. (DATI), a media-based organization dedicated to youth development, drama, and social awareness, has officially launched its highly anticipated National Youth Leadership Forum Project. This month-long initiative is designed to cultivate the next generation of Liberian leaders.
Set to run throughout July 2025, the project brings together youth representatives from all 15 counties of Liberia, creating a unified platform for leadership training, county-level dialogue, and national collaboration.
“As part of our plans, we will be conducting a one-month leadership training as of Saturday, July 12, 2025,” announced Meshach Sieh Elliott, DATI’s Maryland County Director. “This initiative underscores DATI’s unwavering commitment to empowering young people with the skills and tools to lead effectively and advocate for positive change.”
Participants in the forum will not only share updates and insights from their respective counties—offering a grassroots lens on Liberia’s current challenges and triumphs—but will also undergo intensive, ongoing training in leadership, governance, community mobilization, and communication.
The project is part of a broader national vision crafted by DATI’s founder, Rabbi Joe Gbaba, an acclaimed playwright, poet, author, and cultural icon whose work has long championed social development and post-conflict healing in Liberia. Under his leadership, DATI has become a beacon for cultural awareness, gender equity, youth empowerment, and civic engagement.
Looking beyond the forum, Mr. Elliott also teased major events planned for 2026: the National Youth Summit and the Rabbi Joe Gbaba Peace and Cultural Festival. Both events will be hosted in the same county and week, fostering inter-county collaboration and reinforcing the bonds built during the current forum.
“These events will not only celebrate our culture and promote peace, but they will also serve as a critical space for Liberia’s youth to align their visions for a more inclusive, equitable, and forward-thinking nation,” Elliott said.
DATI has made significant strides in recent years by using theater, radio, and digital platforms to deliver impactful messages on peace, unity, and leadership. Rabbi Joe Gbaba himself has remained a steadfast presence, using his voice and platform to mentor youth, challenge social norms, and advocate for sustainable development.
With the National Youth Leadership Forum Project, DATI is reinforcing its role as a national catalyst for transformation, building a movement of resilient, culturally grounded, and socially conscious youth leaders ready to shape the future of Liberia.