Welcome to The Yearbook

As a One Student member, you’re part of a community of people who are creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to work for a brighter future. To celebrate this exciting work, we’ve created The Yearbook. At the end of every quarter, visit The Yearbook to see your impact up close.

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Highlights

Elisio Jose Fernandes

We are excited to welcome Elisio to the team!

Bissau campus welcomes new School Coordinator

Elisio Jose Fernandes joined the Bissau campus team this term, bringing with him years of experience in the vocational training sector.

 
2025 team trip with welding graduates

Part of the team is pictured here with Ivanildo and Vanov, two recent welding graduates

Team from the United States visits Guinea-Bissau

A team of 11 people from the United States visited the WAVS school in Bissau and participated in everything from welding their own projects with WAVS students, to visiting a nearby village. See the “Around Campus” section for more pictures of their trip.

 

2025 team trip with welding graduates

Part of the team is pictured here with Ivanildo and Vanov, two recent welding graduates

welding site visits

Students receive hands-on training so that they are prepared to take on their own projects once they graduate.

The welding program makes house calls

Welding students go on site visits to take measurements and advise clients on the designs that would work best for their needs. 

Around Campus

 

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Team shelling peanuts

One of the team’s activities included visiting the home village of Matilde Tavares Na Guile, the Finance and Administrative Assistant at the Bissau campus. Here, the team helps shell peanuts harvested in the village.

Team with pano pinti

The team enjoyed spending time with the local WAVS teachers and admin staff and were able to spend time doing worship and devotions together.

Ryan from Midtown preaching

While there, the team attended a local church—and Ryan Kenny, pastor of Midtown Vineyard Church, was invited to give an impromptu sermon!

 

When you travel to Guinea-Bissau with WAVS, expect to pack more than just your own stuff—the team brought supplies for the school in their checked bags, and the welding students were thrilled to get their custom t-shirts!

 

Welding students put their skills to work by designing and building three portable wall partitions for the multipurpose room—adding both function and flexibility to the space.

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

WAVS recently signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

 

The welding class received commissioned projects from two large, well known organizations in the Bissau! The projects gave the students experience with making desks, locking cabinets, shelving units, and more. Next on the deck: bunk beds!

Students celebrated the end of the term with a morning soccer game!

Behind the Scenes

The New Training Center is Nearing Completion!

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the new WAVS Training Center with Executive Director Chris Collins!  See the latest construction progress, including classroom and workshop spaces—set to open later this year!

Spotlight

Geronimo da Silva


Geronimo da Silva

Computer Literacy Program Graduate

Meet Geronimo da Silva 

In 2019, Geronimo studied computer literacy at the WAVS Canchungo campus to prepare for his university studies in computer engineering. He knew that WAVS was one of the most sought-after schools in the region, and his experience confirmed that reputation. “I was well prepared when I went to university. The things we were learning weren’t new things to me.”

Geronimo is still attending university and is nearing the completion of his degree in computer engineering.

“I hope you continue with this work [having a vocational school] because people deserve the opportunity to study here – and everyone who has that opportunity should,” says Geronimo.

Where are they now?

Read stories about WAVS Graduates.

Dalton’s Journey of Faith and Becoming a Welding Instructor

A Difficult Childhood Dalton Da Silva was forced to grow up quickly. As a young [...]

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From Students to to Business Owners: How Learning Welding Transformed Ivanildo and Vanov’s Future

What happens when someone living in poverty is given the chance to learn a new [...]

Read More
This WAVS graduate surprised his employer. Here’s how.

From Learning to Leading: Augusto’s Journey Augusto is a young man living in Guinea-Bissau, West [...]

Read More

View Past Yearbooks

Winter 2025 Yearbook logo
The WAVS Yearbook Fall 2024