West African Vocational Schools

Transform Africa.

West African Vocational Schools is a Christian non-profit that works with people like you to help transform Guinea-Bissau, a largely overlooked part of the world struggling with poverty, drug smuggling and human trafficking. We believe education and job training are long-term solutions to these challenges.

Have a birthday?

We thought so. This year, let your friends know what you really want – a better world. Click here for a fun and simple way to turn your birthday into a day of change for the people in Guinea-Bissau.

Sponsor a teacher

Click here to learn how you can be a part of transforming Africa by sponsoring a teacher. When you sponsor a teacher, you're sponsoring a whole classroom.

Update: Coup in Guinea-Bissau

The WAVS school continues to operate despite the current coup in Guinea-Bissau. For more information, please read this post on the Inside WAVS blog and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

How to speak Guinea-Bissau Creole

The primary language spoken in Guinea-Bissau is a Portuguese-based Creole. It’s a language unique to just Guinea-Bissau and its island neighbor Cape Verde. WAVS now has an audio-guided primer for learning some basic greetings in Creole. You won’t find this anywhere else online. Click here to check it out!

New video: A teacher's message

If you haven't had a chance already, watch this 2-minute special video message from one of the WAVS English teacher, Belinda. It's a great example of how WAVS is training its students to become future teachers!

WAVS students' sewing items for sale

The students of the WAVS sewing program have hand-crafted beautiful table tapestries, shoulder bags, and baby blouses. Some of these items have been brought to the U.S. and are on sale. Click here to view pictures or buy them on eBay here.