Booker Washington Institute

From the chains of poverty to beacon of hope, the Booker Washington Institute empowers Liberia’s youth with vocational education

Booker Washington Institute, a government technical secondary school in Kakata City, Liberia, is empowering students with the necessary skills and knowledge to break the country’s chains of poverty and unemployment. Every year, with over 60% of graduates successfully launching their own businesses, securing employment, or moving into tertiary education, the school has become a beacon of hope in Liberia's job market and youth advancement in general. The institution's visionary approach to technical and vocational education is a game-changer, paving the way for a new generation of self-sufficient and accomplished Liberians.

Booker Washington Institute was founded 94 years ago in 1929 on the principle that students needed practical, technical and vocational training to be prepared for the world of work. This became even more important over the course of Liberia’s history, especially in the wake of the 14-year-long civil war.

Today, Booker Washington Institute’s academic-TVET programme is a platform for job creation and entrepreneurship among its students, with an emphasis on agriculture, engineering, construction, hospitality management, business education, computer science, educational leadership, and much more. Altogether, the school provides students with the skills to become successful contributors to national and global development.

To ensure that students are well-equipped, the school attracts the best instructors with industrial experience and professionals in partnership with companies and businesses operating in Liberia. Through these partnerships, students are offered internships with the hope of employment upon completion of their internships.

At the same time, financial institutions and strategic businesses fund some of the best student entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, and those interested in agriculture are provided with resources and tools for start-ups as small cooperatives for production.

If Booker Washington Institute wins the World's Best School Prize for Community Collaboration, it plans to further its efforts in creating employment opportunities and contributing to local community and national development. This includes expanding partnerships with local businesses, funding student entrepreneurs, and increasing access to resources for crop production with a focus on smart climate agriculture activities involving solar technology. Booker Washington Institute will continue to empower its students to become successful contributors to society and agents of change in their communities.