By Bill W. Cooper
As a means of buttressing government’s effort, a non for profit organization, IMAGELIBERIA has officially launched its free skills training for several underprivileged Liberians in the country.
The free skills development program which was officially launched over the weekend under theme: “We Too Have Voice” in Kpanja community, Johnsonville, brought face-to-face over 400 students including community dwellers, Deputy Commerce Minister, a Missionary and one of the District #9 bye-election aspirants among others.
The variety of skills provided by the program, include liquid soap and soap making, catering, super bleech, cosmetology and interior decoration. Others are Air freshener and powder-soap making, fashion design as well as act/craft as special program for children.
Serving as keynote speaker, a humanitarian, Edmond Lloyd stressed the need for more vocational institutions in the country, indicating that a poor nation like Liberia needs more vocational institutions to help educate more Liberians through skills training.
Mr. Lloyd who is also an aspirant in the pending bye-election in Montserrado County District #9 said that it is time for national government to invest immensely in vocational training owing to the fact that over 60 to 70 percent of the country’s population do not have or lack the opportunity of going to grade schools like others.
According to him, if vast majority of the population that is predominantly youths get the required skills training, he believes that Liberia will stand a better chance of being on par with other comity of nations through infrastructural development.
He added, “If we are to move forward as a nation and people, then it’s time our government places serious attention on various skills training institutions, because by that, we will now be on the right trajectory of massive development.”
Mr. Lloyd then lauded the IMAGELIBERIA team for their farsightedness in providing free skills training for Liberians and pledged his fullest support through whatsoever means in making sure that other counties become beneficiaries from the program.
Earlier, IMAGELIBERIA Executive Director, Edwin G. Wandah said that his decision to establish the program was triggered by the needs of many Liberians wanting to get skills training but cannot, due to too many financial situations confronted with.
According to him, as a journalist, he feels that giving back to society through free skills training was another means of buttressing government effort in making Liberia a better and safe nation for all, noting that the many challenges parents and guardians have to go through in getting their kids/children educated cannot be overemphasized.
Mr. Wandah narrated further that he was moved and frustrated during his tour in communities when he saw and heard the pains uneducated parents were going through just to ensure that their children get the much needed education, and noted, “I felt that there was a need for such an institution that will help put smile on the faces of parents once more.”
He added that it was against said backdrop that he established the program two months ago, noting that though the challenges are enormous, but stated that there is time that one has to take risk in order to help impact the society, something he said that he now has over 400 students being schooled in different disciplines of their choice for free of charge.
The one time print media journalist then used the occasion to call on international partners and other well-meaning Liberians to join and support the IMAGELIBERIA through whatsoever means possible for a successful and smooth running of the institution.
Several students spoken to lauded the institution and his team for imparting them with skills training knowledge for free, averring, ” At first we never knew any of these things could be possible but a least today, we are now able to do and produce several things on our own.”