MONROVIA – The Embassy of India in Monrovia hosted a special youth outreach initiative, ‘India Connect: Liberian Youth @ Embassy’, on 25 September 2025, offering high school students an immersive experience to learn about India, India-Liberia relations, and the workings of a diplomatic mission.
The inaugural event welcomed 30 students from Classes 10 to 12 of the College of West Africa, one of Liberia’s most prestigious high schools, accompanied by their teachers.
Ambassador Manoj Bihari Verma of India expressed his delight in hosting the students, emphasizing the role of youth in strengthening lasting India-Liberia friendship. “Initiatives like this help students become lifelong friends of the Embassy and ambassadors of India-Liberia cooperation,” he stated.
Highlighting educational opportunities, Ambassador Verma noted that over 2,000 Liberian students are currently studying in India. He encouraged participants to explore scholarships provided through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), and other government programs. “Education is one of the strongest pillars of people-to-people relations between our two countries,” he affirmed.
Interactive Learning and Cultural Exchange
Liberian Embassy staff provided an interactive presentation on India and India-Liberia relations. The students engaged in discussions with Embassy officials, toured key offices—including the Ambassador’s Chamber, Head of Chancery, Commerce Department, and Consular & Visa Department—and sampled Indian cuisine, offering them a firsthand experience of India’s culinary heritage.
Students explored India’s rich history, culture, monuments, festivals, music, cinema, and technological achievements, drawing parallels with Liberia’s own heritage. Iconic landmarks such as India’s Red Fort and Qutub Minar were compared to Liberia’s Providence Island and Centennial Pavilion, prompting insightful questions and enthusiastic engagement from the students.
Many students expressed that the programme gave them a clearer understanding of the role of an Embassy and the Embassy’s contributions to fostering bilateral friendship and cooperation.
Rev. Agrippa J. S. Nyanti, Vice President for Student Affairs at the College of West Africa, lauded the initiative as an enriching educational experience, noting that it broadened students’ perspectives on India-Liberia relations and Indian culture.
The Embassy announced that this programme is the first of several planned events aimed at engaging top Liberian schools, strengthening people-to-people ties, and inspiring youth to participate actively in international and cultural exchanges.
