Natalie, a 23 year-old masonry student in our vocational training project in Liberia, interviewed by James Avery, Children in Crisis’ West Africa Programme Manager.
How do you find the course? What have you learnt?
I really enjoy the course as it offers me a chance to learn new skills and in future get an income. I have really liked the ‘live’ projects we deliver with the support of trainers as it shows us what the job will be like once we graduate, we also get an opportunity to work together and earn small money. I have learnt how to do quantity and cost calculations, laying foundations & wall blocks as well as floor and cement laying. The additional adult literacy and numeracy courses have been really good too as I missed out on some of this when I was younger and it’s helped me with measurement and costing work.
Masonry is quite a physically challenging job, how have you found it? Do you have any other challenges with the course?
The work is quite tough but I am slowly getting used to it and now my body is feeling fine after the work. At first I was a bit worried that it is a man’s job and also working a lot around men but I have got used to it and I can stand up to men and do just as good job as them. My male peers are supporting me a lot with the course and the work which has been good too.