An American nonprofit. A government ministry in a tiny country in West Africa. A grant funded by the government of Japan. All of these organizations came together last month to make something special happen: Launch a new vocational school campus that will equip hundreds of young women and men with life-changing job skills. On February […]
Author Archives: Chris Collins
Graduate Stories, Welding
A vocational school graduate shows that overcoming poverty is complicated, but not impossible
04
Apr
Apr
After graduating from the WAVS Vocational School’s welding program, Erickson Sanhá was ready to set up his own shop. But without start-up capital, how would he buy tools and supplies? And without a power grid in town, where would he get electricity and space to work? And without business experience, how would he know how […]
Auto Mechanics, Graduate Stories
Bruno’s dreams evolve with his vocational education from the WAVS School.
22
May
May
In West Africa, a vocational education can make dreams a reality. As a little boy in Guinea-Bissau, Bruno would sit in class daydreaming of one day becoming a famous soccer player like the ones pictured on the front of a notebook he brought to school every day. But when he would get home, Bruno’s mom […]
Computer Training, Graduate Stories
Deusa’s WAVS story: How computer skills gave her new opportunities and hope in West Africa
22
Nov
Nov
Learning new computer skills helped Deusa advance her career. Deusa was nervous. It was her first day at the WAVS School’s computer basics class and she wasn’t even sure how to hold a computer mouse. But she was confident that she would learn. After all, her friends who graduated from the WAVS School were now […]
Graduate Stories, Welding
WAVS School graduate: “I’m ready. If there’s an opportunity, I can go for it.”
14
Jun
Jun
Agusto has grown up in Guinea-Bissau, a small country in West Africa that has 80% unemployment. Watch this inspiring story of a young man named Agusto who graduated from the WAVS welding course and now has his own shop.
19
Jul
Jul
João has been welding since he was 8 years old. He enrolled in the WAVS School’s welding program so he could expand his skills set. During the course, he learned about gas and electric welding, machining work, and he helped install a zinc roof. “I gained a lot of experience,” João said. “And I’ve used […]
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