Training in China boosts Liberia's brainpower

Liberian technicians have a new toolkit for their work following a skill transfer from Chinese experts at an elevator management and technology training program held in China.

The training, which took place in 2019 in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province lasted for one month. Many of the 25 trainees have started a new career and life after returning to Liberia.

James Flomo, elevator management technician at the country's Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and one of the trainees, thanked the Chinese government for the training of Liberians in elevator management and technology.

"We received 'hands-on' knowledge transfer training from our instructors, they taught us how to go about the regular maintenance of the elevator," Flomo said.

Albert D. Dossen, who works as an elevator technician at the Liberian Senate, the upper house of parliament in Liberia, said: "I want to thank China for the opportunities they continue to provide to Liberians. If it had not been for China, I wouldn't have been employed at the Liberian Senate."

Vocational education and training has been an important part of China-Liberia cooperation, with many programs carried out.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese experts building the capacity of Liberian technicians are still working at the China-aided Monrovia Vocational Training Center.

These experts, according to Aloysius Bondo of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, are providing Liberians with technical training in elevator management and technology, air conditioning repairs, and the production of bio-gas.

Bondo also said Chinese experts are training Liberians in vegetable production, animal husbandry and in bamboo and rattan weaving production at the Klay Agricultural and Vocational Training Center in Bomi county, western Liberia.