Vice-President welcomes church plan for youth education and jobs

Sierra Leone's Vice-President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, welcomed Latter-day Saints Church initiatives expanding education, skills development and youth employment opportunities.

He spoke on Wednesday 26 August during a meeting with church leaders at his office.

Discussions covered the "Succeed in School" programme, healthcare interventions and the proposed Global Education Centre, designed to give young people access to education and skills that translate into employment.

Dr Jalloh described the centre as "phenomenal", calling it an opportunity for young people to acquire knowledge and earn a living through technology.

He assured the delegation of government support, particularly in fast-tracking documentation needed for the centre, and commended the church's community-based programmes. Partnerships expanding access to education and jobs could contribute to a more productive and responsible generation, he said.

"Every time a young man or a young woman has got an opportunity to go to school and have a job, they become more responsible citizens," he said.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, highlighted the growing partnership between the government and the church in boosting practical education and job skills.

The church's support for technical institutions, including provision of equipment, was helping young people gain hands-on skills, she said, while the proposed centre already aligned with government plans for technology-enabled learning and employment beyond Freetown.

"We have to embrace technology," the minister said, noting that such initiatives could help young people acquire skills needed for dignified employment or entrepreneurship.

Church senior leader Elder Clark G. Gilbert announced plans to establish the centre in Sierra Leone, with potential to create hundreds of jobs through online education and remote employment.

The centre would provide affordable, high-quality education, connect students to global employers and allow them to remain working in the country, he told the meeting.

"We're looking at hundreds and hundreds of jobs with global employers from all around the world," he said, describing the initiative as an opportunity that could bring jobs, income and skills to the country.