By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
WANHASSA, Liberia- The Balotahun Holy Cross Missionaries has dedicated a Vocational and Technical Training Institute in Balotahun town in Wanhassa district, in the northwestern Lofa County.
Named the St. Joseph Vocational & Technical Institute, it was established by the missionaries as a means of helping high school dropouts and other less fortunate youths from across the district and County at large.
Lofa is one of the largest of Liberia’s 15 counties both in terms of landmass and population.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony recently, Mr. Edmond Esaah, a son of the town, said that when fully implemented, the center will create access to opportunities through inclusive technical and vocational training to thousands of youth who lack skills to become employable in this part of the country.
He observed that a large number of the Youth in this area lack the basic skills and know-how to enhance their chances for employment and contribution to Liberia’s development process.
According to Mr. Esaah, ensuring equitable access for all Liberians to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education are very key to President George M. Weah’s Administration’s Pro-Poor Agenda.
He named carpentry, electricity and pluming as initial crocuses to be provided at the institution with a plan of introducing additional skills in the future.
Dedicating the center, a member of the Holy Cross Missionaries from the United States, Mr. Joseph Namie reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the improvement of the newly dedicated training center.
“We want this center be use to produce made in Lofa chairs, tables and other materials,” Mr. Namie emphasized.
He said despite their plans to improve the center, citizens of the county must see the training center as an opportunity for them to improve their lives.