By George K Momo
MONROVIA, Aug. 21 (LINA) – In a significant move to empower youths across Liberia, more than 500 high school and university students are currently benefiting from the Ministry of Labor (MOL) Vacation Job Program in Lower Margibi County, gaining practical work experience ahead of the new academic year.
The selected students have been deployed to various institutions across the county, including Duside Hospital, Roberts International Airport (RIA), Flight Information Region, and the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, among others.
Speaking to journalists in Unification City, Lower Margibi, Labor Commissioner, Johnson Quoiquoi, said funding for the program was made possible through the support of partners including the Liberia Aviation Authority (LAA), Firestone Liberia, and the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
According to Commissioner Quoiquoi, the student vacation program is the first of its kind in the county and will run for a period of two months, adding that students are being rotated in batches, with new groups assigned every two weeks.
He disclosed that the initiative is part of the local labor office’s broader effort to support young people ahead of the reopening of schools for the 2026/2027 academic year in Lower Margibi County.
“The local office will ensure the continuation of the program and also work to absorb more youths in the next phase,” Quoiquoi assured.
The Labor Commissioner used the opportunity to call on goodwill individuals, organizations, and companies in Margibi and beyond to support the initiative.
He said increased support will help reduce the financial burden on parent’s especially low-income earners, as schools prepare to reopen in the area.
For his part, Gabriel Sherman of the University, and one of the beneficiaries, commended Commissioner Quoiquoi and the program’s partners for the opportunity.
He explained that the earning will help him a lot for the new academic year, something he described as a blessing for him to be in school for the new academic year.
“I was wondering how and where to get cash to handle other education needs. This vacation job is a breakthrough for my education journey especially for the next academic year,” he stated.
He called on his colleagues to be diligent and deliver on their responsibilities at their respective assigned institutions.
The vacation job program is expected to equip the students with workplace skills, income to support their schooling, and exposure to different sectors ahead of the academic year.