They are ready. Let’s give them the opportunity.

The goal: Raise $1 million to build up the WAVS vocational school in the capital city

WAVS is constructing a new, 28-acre campus in the heart of Guinea-Bissau that will train more than 2,000 students each year – all while sharing God’s love through word and deed.

Thanks to your generosity, Phase 1 of the campus is almost complete! Today, we’re moving forward with Phase 2, which will include a second classroom building and a large workshop for welding, construction and carpentry students. Scroll down to see an architect’s rendering of these new buildings.

Working together, if we can raise $1 million before the end of the year, we expect to complete Phase 2 by the end of 2022. Thank you for your generosity!

Latest update: So far, more than $800,000 has already been raised. Thank you! This leaves less than $200,000 to raise before the end of the year.

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A season of growth

WAVS vocational schools offer courses in computer basics, welding, English and French – skills that are in demand from employers in Guinea-Bissau. At the same time, the schools serve as a platform for its teachers to build authentic relationships with their students and share a simple message: Jesus changes everything in life – how we live, work, and love others.

WAVS opened its first vocational school in 2006 in a rural town called Canchungo. In 2019, WAVS acquired another campus in Gabu, the second largest city in the country. Later, it began construction on a third campus in the capital city, Bissau.

 

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Students learn hands-on skills like welding

Phase 1 is almost complete

WAVS will soon finish constructing the first classroom building on its new campus in Bissau. The building will include two classrooms, a student registration and reception area and offices for school administrators. We expect the two classrooms to fill up with students quickly, and we will soon need additional space.

Since the government does not provide consistent water, sewer and electricity services, WAVS has also constructed a 600-foot-deep well and shipped over a 19-kilowatt solar panel system, which will power the first classroom building. building.

Launch of Phase 2

Based on rapid enrollment growth at the other WAVS campuses, we expect to see strong initial enrollment at the Bissau campus once it opens. For this reason, Phase 2 will include a second classroom building to accommodate more students. Phase 2 will also include a workshop to house trade-skill programs in welding, machining, construction and carpentry.

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Phase 2 | Classroom Building

A 5,000 square-foot building with three classrooms, a “multipurpose room” which can accommodate large classes and events (such as student orientation and graduation) and men’s and women’s bathrooms.

Phase 2 | Workshop Building

A 13,000-square-foot building with large workshops for welding and construction, as well as smaller workshops for machining and carpentry. It also includes offices, classrooms and a large bathroom that will serve as the main restroom for all trade-skill students on the campus.

Future Phases 

Over the next seven years, WAVS will complete future phases that will include additional classroom buildings, additional workshops, a small cafe, guest house, a small hotel and a main “hub” center for the campus.

Once complete, the campus will be able to train more than 2,000 students every year.

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About WAVS

WAVS is a Christian nonprofit based in Fresno, California, that equips West Africans with life-changing job skills.

In the last decade WAVS vocational schools have prepared more than 1,500 students for work so that they can earn a reliable income and provide for their families for the rest of their lives.

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