Youth gain skills to be productive citizens, self-sufficient

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are operating “A Brighter Future”, a vocational and skills education program, in Tappita, Liberia, to help youth become productive citizens and self-sufficient. Salesians have been in Tappita since 1980, running social development programs to help improve the lives of those in the community.

A Salesian explained, “The most effective way to quickly lift people out of poverty is to equip them with the means to acquire new skills, through vocational education that gives them at least a basic opportunity to improve their standard of living.”

“A Brighter Future” was developed to bridge the ever-widening gap between those who have access to education and those who are most marginalized within society. It operates in a geographical area where the majority of inhabitants are primarily subsistence farmers, are semi-literate and have lower incomes.

According to the country’s National Report on Enterprise Development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training, drawn up by the Ministry of Education, Liberia lags behind other West African countries in the field of technical and vocational education and training. There are very few of these programs in the country, and those that exist are often poorly managed. Consequently, the professional and technical skills of Liberian youth is below average.

For this reason, Salesians conducted a sample survey to gauge the local population’s willingness and receptiveness to the technical and vocational education program before launching it. The data showed that 90% of respondents were very enthusiastic and optimistic.

A Salesian noted, “Thanks to the support of many benefactors, Salesians have been able to support the implementation of the program in the various communities of Tappita. Educational courses are offered in the hotel sector, catering, hospitality, tailoring, IT, hairdressing, soap-making, and interior design and event planning.”

All workshops have the materials and equipment necessary to carry out the education. So far, 79 youth have obtained their diplomas and received certification upon completion. A monitoring, evaluation and learning committee was established to analyze lessons learned and the skills provided to ensure recommendations for the program’s sustainability.

The Salesian added, “Education programs are widely regarded as a key tool for combating high levels of youth underemployment, high rates of informal employment and skills shortages. We strongly believe in the development of these projects, which are invaluable for missions such as that in Tappita.”

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the World Bank, approximately 33.8% of the population lives below the national poverty line, leaving around 1.5 to 2 million Liberians in extreme poverty. Urban poverty sits near 30%, while rural poverty reaches as high as 81%. The country faces significant challenges, including low human development, high rates of child stunting and malnutrition, and inadequate sanitation.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Missioni Don Bosco

ANS – Liberia – A Brighter Future in Tappita: 79 young people looking to the future

Salesian Missions – Liberia

World Bank – Liberia