PHS Students Interview Famous Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee

PHS girls from the Feminenza Young Women’s Leadership Program recently went to New York City to meet and interview 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, who is best known for leading a non-violent movement in 2003 that brought together Christian and Muslim women and put an end to the civil war that had been raging in Liberia for 14 years.

“What Leymah and these women did was beyond courageous - and not only did they succeed in bringing peace to their country and thereby inspiring women all over the world, but they also paved the way for the election of Africa’s first female head of state,” explained Feminenza advisor, Eileen McGowan.

PHS students Adasa Bennet, Symphony Boyd-Roberts, Kayla Godbee, Gabby Yeagley, Nia Robinson, Jamilla Desir, and Brittney Pauta interviewed Gbowee asking questions that triggered many stories, words of wisdom, and counsels from the Peace Prize winner. Peekskill High School Principal Dr. Cassandra Hyacinthe and PCSD Board Member, Lisa Aspinall were also present and engaged in the interview process.

“The girls presented themselves with a level of maturity and stature that impressed Leymah and all the adult women in the room,” McGowan said.

During their two hour interview, Gbowee advised the girls “to never compare themselves to anyone else and to just be themselves.” She spoke to them not only about her experiences in Liberia, but also about relationships, life’s struggles and how to succeed as a woman. Gbowee also instructed her guests to “never despise humble beginnings.”

“Everyone present in the room was completely captured by Leymah’s presence, straight-forward manner, strength, and charisma,” McGowan said. “Her encouragement to the girls remained a strong thread throughout the evening.”