Published: October 6, 2025
KAKATA, Margibi County — The Alsandra Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI) Branch #2 on Saturday held its First Circle Graduation Convocation at the Calvary Baptist Church, celebrating young Liberians who completed training in catering, pastry, cake making, and decoration — skills viewed as critical to Liberia’s economic renewal.
The event, themed around youth empowerment through skills development, drew students, parents, educators, and community leaders who hailed vocational education as key to sustainable growth and self-reliance.
Delivering the keynote address, Rev. Theophilus S. B. Service, Principal of the Creative Voice Academy, challenged graduates to move beyond survival-level work and build industrial competencies that can create jobs and transform Liberia’s economy.
“Every nation grows by industrial mentality,” Rev. Service declared. “What’s holding Liberia back is our lack of industrial culture. Many of our young people are only seeking government jobs, but if we want to see real change, we must embrace entrepreneurship and develop small businesses into bigger enterprises.”
He urged the graduates to start small, remain disciplined, and focus on growth, adding, “Don’t aim for hand-to-mouth survival. Grow your skills. Become industrial-minded individuals who can create jobs, not just seek them.”
AVTI Principal and founder, journalist Alfred Kollie, said the institution’s programs are designed to empower both youth and adults with trade knowledge that promotes self-sufficiency and national development.
He appealed to humanitarians and political leaders for material and financial support to expand AVTI’s offerings to include tailoring, soap making, driving, and graphic design in Kakata.
“As Liberia grapples with high youth unemployment, AVTI’s mission aligns with national efforts to build a workforce rooted in skill, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” Kollie said.
Founded in 2022 by Kollie, AVTI is a registered training institution committed to improving living standards through vocational education. The Kakata Branch #2 milestone graduation marks a new chapter in empowering young people across Margibi County with practical, market-ready skills for economic independence.
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