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 able to speak English, conduct research using the Internet, and create PowerPoint presentations. She imagined how much better she could do her job as a local radio journalist if she, too, had computer skills.
“The reason why I enrolled was because I saw that the students who studied there succeeded and are now using their skills,” Deusa said.
Six months later, Deusa completed her course. A computer mouse no longer intimidated her.
Now, Deusa is able to type up her stories to be read on the radio instead of writing them out by hand. She is also able to search the Internet for news and report it to her community.
And thanks to her new Excel skills, Deusa was also hired to help keep track of a United Nations school-feeding program in surrounding villages. Every day, she collects data from the villages and returns to her office to enter the information into her spreadsheet.
“The skills I learned are helping me a lot,” Deusa said. “It’s very important to have this school here. It’s a blessing.”
You can give young people in West Africa, like Deusa, an education and the job-skills they need to succeed.
Join One Student, a community of monthly donors giving young people in Guinea-Bissau the opportunity to build a brighter future. At WAVS vocational schools, students invest in their education by paying a small portion of their tuition. When you sponsor a student, you help cover the rest—making their training possible.
Learn More
Chris Collins
Chris Collins is Executive Director of West African Vocational Schools, a Christian nonprofit that equips West Africans with life-changing job skills.
