I’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of our welding students since moving to Guinea-Bissau earlier this year. One thing I have discovered is that many of those students have already studied at other schools or universities in the past. But in a country with few salaried jobs available, their education hasn’t been enough […]
Category Archives: Welding
Graduate Stories, Welding
‘None of us are professors, secretaries or doctors – but I thank God for the profession he’s given us.’
20
May
May
Cirilo grew up in a country where most people live on less than $2 a day. As a kid, he dreamed about becoming a doctor or lawyer. With a career like that, he thought, he’d leave his life of poverty behind. Now as an adult, Cirilo shows up to work every day ready to direct […]
Graduate Stories, Welding
How vocational training helped this welder grow his business in West Africa
08
Apr
Apr
Ciro (right) and his former apprentice, Nilton (left), smile as they show off their welding workshop in West Africa. Ciro attended the WAVS Vocational School so he could grow his business and provide for four orphaned children. For years, Ciro Gomes earned a meager living as an auto body repairman — patching up old cars […]
Graduate Stories, Welding
To escape poverty, this West African trained at a vocational school to become a welder
04
Apr
Apr
How job-skills training is a long-term solution to poverty How do you help a young man like Sergio, who grew up in one of the world’s poorest countries? Handouts like free food and clothing are quick and easy ways to give to the poor. But they also create dependency and aren’t long-term solutions to poverty. […]
Graduate Stories, Welding
A vocational school graduate shows that overcoming poverty is complicated, but not impossible
04
Apr
Apr
After graduating from the WAVS Vocational School’s welding program, Erickson Sanhá was ready to set up his own shop. But without start-up capital, how would he buy tools and supplies? And without a power grid in town, where would he get electricity and space to work? And without business experience, how would he know how […]
13
Dec
Dec
Nilton, a WAVS School Welding Graduate, is now ready to open his own shop. For seven years, Nilton Gomes worked as an apprentice at a small welding shop. But he was mostly given odd-jobs and didn’t receive much real training. At this rate, Nilton knew he would never be ready to start his own shop. So in October 2016, […]
Graduate Stories, Welding
Rumario: To provide for his ailing uncle and 8 others in his family, this young man became a welder.
24
May
May
How learning welding skills can provide for a whole family in West Africa Rumario started out welding like most other young people in Guinea-Bissau who want to learn a trade skill: He found someone who’s already working, and watched and learned. In West Africa, these informal internships are common. But they have many shortcomings, including […]
30
Mar
Mar
Thanks to the opportunity Papa received to study welding at the WAVS School, and a lot of hard work and determination, he now has his own shop PELUNDO, GUINEA-BISSAU – He’s gone by the name “Papa” his whole life, but soon he’ll be a father for the first time. Papa Mendes, 32, and his wife […]
Graduate Stories, Welding
WAVS School graduate: “I’m ready. If there’s an opportunity, I can go for it.”
14
Jun
Jun
Agusto has grown up in Guinea-Bissau, a small country in West Africa that has 80% unemployment. Watch this inspiring story of a young man named Agusto who graduated from the WAVS welding course and now has his own shop.
19
Jul
Jul
João has been welding since he was 8 years old. He enrolled in the WAVS School’s welding program so he could expand his skills set. During the course, he learned about gas and electric welding, machining work, and he helped install a zinc roof. “I gained a lot of experience,” João said. “And I’ve used […]
