FAWE Liberia Launches Landmark TVET and Higher Education Program to Empower 750 Marginalized Youth. MONROVIA, AUGUST 12, 2026—In a transformative move aimed at reshaping the socio-economic landscape of Liberia, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Liberia has officially commenced the recruitment process for its inaugural cohort of a massive education and skills-development initiative. This landmark project, made possible through a robust partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Government of Liberia, is set to directly benefit over 750 young Liberians, providing them with a gateway to tertiary education and specialized technical training. The announcement was delivered with palpable urgency and optimism by Hon.
Millias Z. Sheriff, the Executive Director of FAWE Liberia and a former Assistant Minister for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Addressing a diverse gathering of intellectuals, policy analysts, and community members at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions (CEIO) on Carey Street in the heart of Monrovia, Sheriff underscored that this is not merely a scholarship scheme, but a comprehensive national development strategy. The program is specifically calibrated to capture the demographic that is often left behind: young people between the ages of 15 and 25, including those living in marginalized rural communities, persons with disabilities, refugees, and internally displaced individuals.
The breakdown of the first cohort is ambitious, targeting 400 individuals for technical and vocational training and 250 for university programs, with broader structures in place to accommodate additional beneficiaries as the program expands. This initiative arrives at a critical juncture in Liberia’s history. Since the end of the civil wars in the early 2000s, Liberia has struggled with a chronic skills mismatch. The educational system has traditionally been tilted toward theoretical degree programs that often fail to align with the immediate labor market demands of a nation striving for infrastructural modernization.
Despite the country’s vast natural resources and potential for growth, a significant segment of the youth population remains unemployed or underemployed. The reliance on imported labor for technical services—ranging from construction and electrical engineering to specialized mechanics—has drained capital and hindered domestic economic self-sufficiency. By prioritizing TVET, FAWE Liberia and its partners are attempting to dismantle the colonial-era educational biases that have long suggested that a university degree is the only path to dignity and success. Sheriff, speaking with the authority of someone who has served at the helm of national youth policy, argued that the national obsession with conventional white-collar roles has created a precarious future for the youth.
He challenged the status quo, stating plainly, 'Everybody cannot be a politician.' This statement carries significant weight in a country where political patronage has historically been seen as the primary vehicle for social mobility. By redirecting the focus toward professional competencies, engineering, administration, and technical trades, the program aims to cultivate a workforce capable of maintaining Liberia’s infrastructure, driving industrial productivity, and fostering a culture of self-reliance. The application process for this cohort is designed to be as inclusive as possible.
Running from August 1 to August 20, 2026, the process reflects the realities of the digital divide in Liberia. While an online platform has been established to streamline applications, FAWE Liberia has recognized that not all eligible candidates possess consistent internet access or high-end devices. Consequently, they have made hardcopy forms available through participating institutions and relevant educational offices throughout the counties. To modernize the outreach, a barcode system has been implemented, allowing anyone with an Android smartphone to scan the code and instantly access the registration platform.
Sheriff was categorical about the integrity of this process, issuing a stern warning: the application is completely free of charge. In a society where gatekeeping and corruption often obstruct social welfare initiatives, the emphasis on transparency serves as a signal that this program is meant for the marginalized, not the connected. The support package for successful candidates is unprecedented in its comprehensiveness. Recognizing that the barriers to education in Liberia are often financial, the program covers full tuition for the entire duration of the studies.
However, tuition alone is rarely enough to keep a student in school. Many students drop out due to the daily costs of survival—transportation, food, and stationery. To mitigate this, FAWE Liberia is providing a US$50 monthly stipend to every beneficiary. Furthermore, realizing that the digital economy is the new standard, the initiative provides laptops to students, ensuring they have the tools required for research and technical tasks.
For those hailing from remote, hard-to-reach rural provinces, the program extends its support to include housing, thereby removing the geographical barriers that have historically forced rural youth to abandon their education. The selection of the host institutions was a rigorous process conducted with institutional longevity in mind. Through an Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA), FAWE evaluated 21 universities and 35 TVET institutions across the country. The criteria were stringent, measuring everything from administrative governance and faculty strength to the quality of workshops and labs.
Out of this extensive vetting, six universities and six TVET centers were selected as partners. This ensures that the beneficiaries are not just getting a seat in a classroom, but are entering environments that have been validated for their ability to deliver quality education. The program’s strategic focus on gender is perhaps its most progressive feature. With an 80 percent target for women and a 50 percent target for men, it seeks to rectify historical gender imbalances in education and employment.
By encouraging young women to enter traditionally male-dominated fields such as automotive mechanics, plumbing, and architectural drafting, FAWE is not only providing job training but is also attempting to shift social norms regarding women's roles in the Liberian workforce. Additionally, the 5 percent quota for persons with disabilities reflects a commitment to true social inclusion, ensuring that marginalized bodies are integrated into the economic future of the nation. As the August 20 deadline approaches, the message from the FAWE leadership is clear: the path to a prosperous Liberia is built in the workshop and the laboratory as much as it is built in the legislative hall. By reaching out to the public via 24 radio stations, social media channels, and local educational offices, the program is saturating the national consciousness.
This is a deliberate attempt to reach the most vulnerable, including those who may have once believed that their lack of resources, their disability, or their remote location had permanently closed the door to a brighter future. The FAWE Liberia initiative represents more than just a training program; it is a manifestation of a necessary shift in the national mindset. It acknowledges that Liberia’s development hinges on the ability of its youth to perform high-level technical tasks, to innovate, and to lead with practical expertise. As the first cohort prepares to begin their journey, the nation watches with anticipation to see if this marriage of private-sector funding, NGO management, and government cooperation can serve as a scalable model for future interventions.
For many of the 750 youth selected, this may be the singular, life-altering opportunity that breaks the cycle of poverty, proving that when barriers are removed, the potential of the Liberian youth is boundless.
