When I first heard that many people in West Africa live on less than $2 a day, I felt overwhelmed. Poverty is a complex challenge, and at times, overcoming it can seem like an impossible task. But at WAVS, we believe that real change happens one student at a time.
Through the support of generous sponsors, WAVS is helping students in West Africa gain job skills that lead to sustainable incomes—lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. Students like Rosa and Sergio once struggled to make ends meet, but now, with vocational training, they have access to better-paying jobs and brighter futures.
It’s because God has given me the ability to weld that I’m able to do what I’m doing today.
– Sergio
One of the keys to lasting change is local leadership. That’s why WAVS employs West African teachers and staff at our vocational schools. These leaders build genuine relationships with students, ensuring that the impact extends beyond the classroom and benefits the entire community for generations to come.
Poverty affects millions of people worldwide, but lasting change happens when individuals and communities work together to create opportunities. By supporting education and job training, we can empower people to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Each of us has a role to play in helping others overcome financial hardship and achieve long-term stability.
Understanding poverty from a biblical perspective can deepen our motivation to help. The Bible calls us to care for the poor and vulnerable, not just with words but with action. When we recognize poverty as a systemic issue that affects millions worldwide, we can approach it with compassion, wisdom, and a commitment to sustainable solutions.
The Approaching Poverty Devotional offers a deeper understanding of why poverty exists, what God’s Word says about it, and how we are called to respond. It provides scriptural insights, practical ways to help, and encouragement to be part of God’s work in bringing restoration to struggling communities.
Get the [free] Approaching Poverty 7-Day Devotional
This 7-day devotional will walk you through understanding why poverty exists, why we should help, and how we should help.
Each day will include scripture, a written reflection, and a mixture of reflection questions or connecting stories from the ground in Guinea-Bissau.
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The fight against poverty isn’t just about statistics—it’s about real people whose lives change through education and opportunity. By supporting initiatives that equip individuals with job skills, we create lasting change that ripples through families and communities.
One of the most impactful ways to get involved is by joining One Student, a community of monthly donors dedicated to helping young people in West Africa gain life-changing job skills. Your contribution directly empowers students to achieve financial independence and a brighter future—one student at a time.
At WAVS, we believe in sustainable solutions that uplift entire communities. Together, we can make a lasting difference.
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.
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