Crown Prince Haakon in Liberia

The Crown Prince of Norway has been in the west African country of Liberia this week in his role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s Development Program.

Prince Haakon spent much of his four-day visit in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. He visited the Fish Market where he met with women and individuals working to promote peace and equality in the country. The following day, Haakon spoke with survivors and orphans of the Ebola epidemic, including 19-year-old Patience, who lost eight of her immediate family to the disease. Surviving the disease, Patience now has to face the daily stigma associated with it. Prince Haakon also spoke with doctors and nurses who helped treat patients inflicted with Ebola during the 2013-2015 crisis, and said that “we salute the courage and commitment of all the people who led the fight against Ebola.”

PovOther engagements saw Prince Haakon visit with the Pink Panthers, “an all-women association of Liberian commercial motorbike taxis drivers”, and visit the D Tweh Memorial School.

.@UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Crown Prince Haakon of #Norway lauds Liberia's #Ebola survivors and response workers https://t.co/uApm0Pe3gj pic.twitter.com/iVOSEPYRuT

— M. Martínez-Solimán (@MartinezSoliman) April 4, 2017

On Wednesday, the Prince had an audience with the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for a discussion on the nation’s progress on tackling poverty and inequality; as well as their efforts in connection with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Later that day before he departed for Norway, Haakon visited the University of Liberia’s Fendall Campus. Here he spoke at a lecture the University was hosting, encouraging the young people of Liberia – the country’s future leaders – to do everything they can to keep the improvements of the country going.

“Read the Global Goals, pick one you can make a difference on, make a plan and act on it,” he said to the audience.

Prince Haakon has been a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since 2003, and will hold the position until at least May 2018.

H.R.H. Prince Haakon meets President Sirleaf. @President_Ellen @UNDPAfrica @UNDPNorway @CTorori @PaLaminBeyai pic.twitter.com/4KXxpPESCA

— UNDP Liberia (@UNDPLiberia) April 6, 2017

Filed under Norway
Tagged Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Health, Liberia, Official Visit, Patronage, Poverty, President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, United Nations.