Louisiana, Montserrado County – July 27, 2025 — A transformative, month-long Holiday Tech Camp has officially kicked off at the picturesque Lake View site on the University of Liberia’s Fendall Campus. The camp, which runs from July 16 to August 16, 2025, is hosted at the University Innovation Pod (UniPod) and welcomes children aged 7 to 17 from primary, elementary, and secondary schools across Liberia.
Jointly organized by UNDP Liberia and the University of Liberia, the initiative marks a historic milestone as the first-ever technology camp of its kind in Liberia, offering young minds immersive exposure to emerging technologies.
Inspiring Young Dreamers
During a visit to the camp, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Aliou Dia commended the children for embracing this opportunity, urging them to dream big and remain focused—regardless of how unattainable their goals may seem.
“Before a dream becomes a reality, you must first imagine it,” Dia told the students, citing global tech icons like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg as examples of what vision and perseverance can achieve.
He also applauded the University of Liberia for its partnership and affirmed that while Montserrado County hosts this pilot program, plans are underway to expand to all counties in the coming years.
A Warm Welcome and Growing Confidence
The campers greeted the UNDP delegation and University officials with radiant smiles and excitement, proudly sharing updates on their progress. Despite being just one week into the program, many expressed confidences in the valuable skills they were beginning to acquire and deep gratitude to UNDP and the University for making it possible.
Championing Academic Growth and Innovation
Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University, thanked UNDP for the opportunity to collaborate. She echoed Mr. Dia’s remarks about the program’s future expansion and motivated the children to embrace mistakes as steppingstones. “Be persistent. Do it over and over until you succeed,” Dr. Taylor noted.
The camp hosts 60 students—36 girls and 24 boys—and is facilitated by Nervtek, a tech company led by CEO Nzometiah Nervis. He shared that the program originated in Cameroon in 2020 with just nine students and now trains around 90 annually.
Though the Cameroonian version spans two months, Nervis is confident the condensed Liberian program will fully cover the curriculum. He emphasized how fortunate students were to attend this training free of charge, thanking UNDP’s sponsorship and expressed his deep appreciation for the chance to help shape the nation’s future.
Hands-On Exploration of Future Technologies
Guided by Cameroonian tech experts Nzometiah Nervis and Njita Arnaud, campers are delving into coding, drone technology, machine learning, cyber safety, climate tech sustainability, 3D printing, electronics, robotics, and virtual reality.
The training introduces children to applied learning in STEM, innovation, and digital creativity. The facilitators bring extensive experience working with young learners across Africa.
A Vision for Growth and Recognition
Upon completion, students will receive certificates to celebrate their accomplishments. University of Liberia Vice President for Institutional Development and Planning, Prof. Weade Kobbah Boley, shared her hopes to grow the program each year, aligning it with both the government’s ARREST Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We believe we are developing youth who will remain purposeful and intentional about their career paths,” she noted.
Representing UNICEF, Mr. Robert Hensley-Aguirre Jr., Information Technology Officer, praised the initiative as a groundbreaking platform for Liberian students to explore modern tools and visionary thinking. He helps ensure that systems remain fully functional for students, faculty, and innovators alike.
Bridging Liberia’s Youth to Global Innovation
With 60 students from both public and private schools enrolled, the Holiday Tech Camp represents a powerful leap forward in digital literacy and youth empowerment—igniting a new generation of creative thinkers and tech leaders.