Mr. Lester M. Paye, one of the longest serving officials of the Liberia YMCA has been elected to the National Legislature of Liberia.

The Liberia YMCA Development Secretary was populously elected to the Liberian legislature in October 2011 by citizens of Forquelleh District in Bong County Central Liberia. He will represent his district in enacting laws in the interest of the people of Forquelleh District.

Mr. Paye joined the YMCA in 1988 as a Volunteer and later became an Intern, then becoming a staff.  He also served as National Youth Director, Resident Manager, Program Coordinator and Executive Director of the Monrovia YMCA.

As Youth Director of the Monrovia YMCA, Mr. Paye coordinated the activities of youths of the Monrovia YMCA.  

The civil war disrupted the activities of the Liberia YMCA in 1990, but Mr. Paye was one of the few YMCA staff who remained in Liberia and following cessation of hostilities, he resumed his responsibilities at the YMCA of Liberia.

During the 90s, he worked with many institutions to give birth to a number of youth organisations in Liberia. Mr. Paye was also Liberia YMCA’s representative to assist in the drafting of the National Youth Policy.

Mr. Paye has also had a number of training outside of Liberia, one of which is the European Alliance of YMCAs Training of Trainers course organised in the Chez Republic, Hungary and Armenia.  

He is also the first Liberian to benefit from the Bishop Desmond Tutu leadership Award for young Africans. Mr. Paye also served as Treasurer for the Bong County Development Fund. During his tenure, he facilitated sound financial management system.

Mr. Paye takes with him to the National Legislature, a wealth of experience in youth development and leadership. He is currently a student of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia.

Source: Emmanuel King, Liberia YMCA