Opportunity builds on itself. One opportunity leads to another. Its impact is exponential. In a nearly forgotten corner of the world called Guinea-Bissau, there are thousands of young people waiting for their first opportunity in life.
Author Archives: Chris Collins
Graduate Stories, Welding
‘None of us are professors, secretaries or doctors – but I thank God for the profession he’s given us.’
20
May
May
Cirilo grew up in a country where most people live on less than $2 a day. As a kid, he dreamed about becoming a doctor or lawyer. With a career like that, he thought, he’d leave his life of poverty behind. Now as an adult, Cirilo shows up to work every day ready to direct […]
19
Mar
Mar
For the latest number of cases in Guinea-Bissau click here. September 14, 2020: The WAVS Schools resumed classes, with extra protocols in place like wearing masks, for those students who were enrolled in the Spring term that was cut short by the state of emergency which closed all schools. These classes will go until September […]
17
Mar
Mar
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 […]
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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