Author Archives: Laura Trickett

To finish university, Rukas first needs to become a welder

Rukas Welding Student in West Africa

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of our welding students since moving to Guinea-Bissau earlier this year. One thing I have discovered is that many of those students have already studied at other schools or universities in the past. But in a country with few salaried jobs available, their education hasn’t been enough […]

How computer skills can help people in West Africa

Iano and Alassana spend their morning in computer literacy classes at a WAVS vocational school in West Africa. After their class, they both walk down the street to a local high school. They travel there for different purposes: one to attend and the other to teach. But they both need to learn how to use […]

6 Bible verses about helping the poor – and what they mean for us

6 Bible passages that show God's heart for the poor

Jesus loves the poor – but what does that look like? Here are 6 Bible verses about helping the poor – and what they mean for us. 1. The Tithing Widow The Lord cares about someone’s heart – not their financial status Mark 12:41-44 41 And he (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury and watched […]

8 facts about computer literacy and technology in West Africa

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In Guinea-Bissau (one of smallest and poorest countries in West Africa), access to clean water is hard to come by – let alone access to technology. Here are 8 facts about computer literacy and technology in West Africa – and what we can do to help. Facts about technology access 1. Only 23% of the […]

The 10 most asked questions about Guinea-Bissau in West Africa

Guinea-Bissau, located on the coast of West Africa, is one of the least-known countries in the world. That’s because it’s literally one of the smallest and poorest countries in the world. Here are the 10 most asked questions about Guinea-Bissau. 1. Is Guinea-Bissau a rich or poor country? Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest countries […]

5 reasons apprenticeships in Africa don’t prepare youth for real-world work (and how vocational schools can help)

In many parts of Africa, it’s common for young people learn a new job skill through an informal apprenticeship. But these apprenticeships are much different than the apprenticeships offered in places like the United States or Germany, where formal training at a trade school is often paired with the apprenticeship. In Africa, apprentices often end […]

What the 2022 coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau means for its 2 million residents

woman standing in front of her hut in Guinea-Bissau

On Tuesday, February 1, a group of still-unidentified people staged an attack on the main government building in the capital of Guinea-Bissau. According to the country’s president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the attackers wanted to kill him and his cabinet. Though the coup was unsuccessful, the 5-hour long gunfight left 11 dead and was a reminder […]

4 ways to help poor people in poor countries (and what not to do)

”Eat your dinner. There are starving children in Africa!” … so our parents told us when we were kids. Well, we know now that this was just a ploy to get us to eat our squishy, overcooked peas. But even as adults, we can still get guilted into doing things that don’t actually do much […]

Why are there so many countries in the world with “Guinea” in their name?

What’s with all the “Guineas” in the world? “Guinea” shows up in quite a few country names (four, to be exact). And none of them have anything to do with a furry house pet. Origins of the word “Guinea” Though there are many theories on where the word “Guinea” came from, the most popular one […]