Becky Midlane, CIC programme manager for Liberia recently made a visit to the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Cestos City. What she found there were women thriving with the opportunity offered to them, opportunities to learn, to work and to take control of their lives.....

Becky's Words

My visit six months after the opening of the VTC was inspiring, the centre has become the social and educational heart of Cestos City for many of the town’s’ women. The commitment of the women attending tailoring, pastry or hairdressing classes, and their sense of focus and pride in their achievements has created a vibrant and positive atmosphere throughout the centre.

It has never been easy for these women. Rivercess County was seriously hit by the 1990-2005 civil crisis in Liberia. As well as mass killing, raping and looting in the area, there was large scale displacement of people and vast destruction of the education and social services infrastructure. For most of these women, the Vocational Training Centre is their first experience of a learning environment.

However, over the last six months, the centre has become not only a place of learning, but one where the 140 women who are presently attending classes are provided with guidance, support and friendship. A critical part of this development has been the opening of a crèche, which provides a secure environment for children under five whilst their mother’s attend lessons.

As the first courses draw to a close, the women at the Vocational Training Centre now speak a lot of ambitions for their future. They also speak of their hopes and aspirations for the development of the centre: a library for their older children to study in after school whilst they continue with their classes, a night school for those who have completed their adult literacy class and an increase in enrolment to 300 students. The optimism and courage of these women provides Children in Crisis with the hope that this Vocational Training Centre will continue to develop and improve the lives of more women and their families in Rivercess County.

My visit six months after the opening of the VTC was inspiring, the centre has become the social and educational heart of Cestos City for many of the town’s’ women. The commitment of the women attending tailoring, pastry or hairdressing classes, and their sense of focus and pride in their achievements has created a vibrant and positive atmosphere throughout the centre. 

It has never been easy for these women. Rivercess County was seriously hit by the 1990-2005 civil crisis in Liberia.  As well as mass killing, raping and looting in the area, there was large scale displacement of people and vast destruction of the education and social services infrastructure.  For most of these women, the Vocational Training Centre is their first experience of a learning environment. 

1 x image of VTC 1 x image of Women working at VTC

However, over the last six months, the centre has become not only a place of learning, but one where the 140 women who are presently attending classes are provided with guidance, support and friendship.  A critical part of this development has been the opening of a crèche, which provides a secure environment for children under five whilst their mother’s attend lessons.

As the first courses draw to a close, the women at the Vocational Training Centre now speak a lot of ambitions for their future. They also speak of their hopes and aspirations for the development of the centre: a library for their older children to study in after school whilst they continue with their classes, a night school for those who have completed their adult literacy class and an increase in enrolment to 300 students.  The optimism and courage of these women provides Children in Crisis with the hope that this Vocational Training Centre will continue to develop and improve the lives of more women and their families in Rivercess County.