”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 […]
02
Aug
Aug
When you click “donate” to buy school supplies for a kid in Africa, to help a woman in India start a business, or to help feed a poor family in rural Guatemala – where does your money go? Nonprofits usually try to give donors a simple message: Donate $50 now to help someone in poverty. […]
26
Jul
Jul
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 […]
23
Jul
Jul
Kids are kids, no matter where they are in the world. But their lives can look very different depending on where they live. In countries like Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, for example, children like to spend their free time playing soccer – but not in the same way as in the United Sates. In Guinea-Bissau, […]
Around Campus
Day in the life of a WAVS student: How practical skills training helps prepare West Africans for work
19
Jul
Jul
Each month, generous members of the One Student community help cover tuition costs for students at WAVS vocational schools in West Africa. Here is what a day in the life of a welding student looks like at West African Vocational Schools. 7:45 a.m. | Arrive at school (by foot or bike) Class starts at 8 […]
Nonprofit & Charity
How to help people in poverty: Donate to nonprofits that give OPPORTUNITY, not CHARITY.
23
Jun
Jun
For a long time, nonprofits have tried to help people in poverty through charity – by giving them things for free. Free meals, free clothes, free electricity-generating soccer balls. Free anything. The reason is simple: unlike businesses, nonprofits are not funded by the people they serve (the homeless don’t pay for shelters, for example). Instead, […]
About Guinea-Bissau
Five facts about Guinea-Bissau in West Africa: Its people, food, languages, economy – and islands run by women
10
Jun
Jun
At first glance, the country of Guinea-Bissau doesn’t seem like much more than just a tiny speck on the map. In fact, it may be the most forgotten country in Africa. But take a closer look, and you’ll discover a land bursting with rich cultural heritage, an economy centered around buttery cashews and sweet mangoes, […]
Graduate Stories
Four examples of how vocational schools use practical job skills training to help young people in West Africa
10
Jun
Jun
West African Vocational Schools has equipped more than 1,400 young people with life-changing job skills through practical training programs at locally-led vocational schools. After completing their courses, more than three out of four graduates find employment, start their own business, or continue with their studies. And most of them see a significant increase in their […]
21
Apr
Apr
Today, we’re announcing a new donation to WAVS: an existing vocational school in Guinea-Bissau. That’s right – an entire school in Guinea-Bissau has been donated to WAVS. Here’s how it happened. More than a decade ago, an organization called Servants to Missions built a vocational school on a 2.5-acre compound in a city called Gabu, […]
12
Apr
Apr
What do you do after drinking a can of soda? Maybe you rinse out the can, flatten it out, and toss it in the recycling bin. Once that can is out of sight, you probably don’t think much about it. But for students enrolled in the WAVS welding program, a can is more than just […]
