NEWS June 2016

Conference in Leipzig, Post Ebola Liberia, June 15, 2016

The chairman of HELOG Academy, Wolfgang Zagel and the General Manager Andrea Burg attended this conference which has been organized by the Honorary Consul Michael Kölsch and the Chamber of Commerce Leipzig.
In his speech, Wolfgang Zagel took the opportunity to point out the importance of vocational training in Liberia not just because of the post Ebola period. Under the headline: “Vocational training – No time to wait – No time to postpone” he expressed his concerns that every year a new generation of young people leaves the high schools and rush to the labor market, in addition to this, over 2 million young people, within the age up to 30 are already unemployed. This could cause a critical effect to the
political stability of the nation.
He urged that there is no time to wait, there is no time to postpone, and there is even no time to discuss and to develop long reports about this serious situation. A quick coordinated action is necessary to fill this large gap in vocational education. The government is promoting foreign investment. But any investment requires an educated workforce. Mr. Zagel presented a simple formula:

No education – No investment – No investment – No economic growth

HELOG rely on the responsibility of the private industry, not only to their corporate social responsibility commitment but also to their purely economic interests. HELOG is the initiator of a vocational education pact with the industry, the HELOG Academy pact. The cooperation with the private sector will enable the Academy a sustainable future and provide to the industry educated future employees. He expressed that the mission of HELOG is not just to provide vocational training concepts; it is also a strong contribution for the future economic success of the country.

Klick here >> for an abstract of the speech manuscript  Conference in Leipzig excerpt of the speech delivered by W Zagel_1

NEWS May 2016

Lehrmaterialien für die HELOG Academy in Monvoria

Das Staatliche Berufliche Schulzentrum Wasserburg am Inn unterstützt mit einer großzügigen Spende das Projekt der HELOG Academy e. V. in Monrovia/Liberia.

Die Fachgruppe Kraftfahrzeugtechnik des Beruflichen Schulzentrums Wasserburg am Inn unter Leitung von Herrn Wiedmann hat in Absprache mit Herrn Zagel der HELOG Academy e.V. ein Paket von veralteten und technisch überholten Lehrmaterial zusammengestellt, mit dem die HELOG Academy die Qualität des Unterrichts in Liberia aber immer noch erheblich steigern kann. Die Funktionsmodelle, Folien für Overheadprojektor, Simulationsmodelle, elektronische Testgeräte und Werkzeuge und vieles mehr werden in den nächsten Wochen zusammen mit anderem Aus-
bildungsmaterial per Seefracht im Container nach Monrovia geschickt.

HELOG Academy e. V. ist ein gemeinnütziger Verein, der sich auf die Berufsausbildung in afrikanischen Ländern spezialisiert hat. Finanziert werden diese Projekte durch Entwicklungs-hilfeorganisationen, Eigenmittel und Spenden. Im Januar 2016 hat HELOG Academy e.V. in Liberia eine berufliche Schule in der Nähe der Hauptstadt Monrovia eröffnet. Ein vorrangiges Ziel ist es, die in Deutschland erfolgreiche duale Ausbildung in wesentlichen Elementen umzusetzen, um den Schülern eine Basis für ihren späteren Lebensunterhalt zu geben.

70-80 % der Jugendlichen bis 25 Jahren in dem westafrikanischen Staat haben keine Arbeit und somit auch keine Möglichkeit zum Familienauskommen beizutragen. Die Hälfte der Jugendlichen
hat keine Schulausbildung, was eine Folge des Bürgerkriegs ist, der vor ca. 14 Jahren zu Ende ging. Leider gibt es auch in diesem Land keine Berufsausbildung im herkömmlichen Sinne, allenfalls
handelt es sich um ein Anlernen auf sehr niedrigem Niveau.
Die berufliche Bildungseinrichtung der HELOG Academy ist mit modernen Werkzeugen und Geräten ausgestattet, jedem Schüler wird ein Laptop mit entsprechenden Lernprogrammen zur Verfügung gestellt. Die einheimischen Lehrkräfte werden durch umfangreiche Weiterbildungskurse auf das notwendige Niveau gebracht.

Für die freundliche Spende und die Hilfsbereitschaft bedanken sich die HELOG Academy sowie auch die liberianischen Lehrkräfte und Schüler recht herzlich.

Flashlight #1

HELOG Academy has opened its new training facility in Liberia.

Dear valuable Reader,

HELOG Academy e. V. is proud to announce the opening of its new academy in Liberia.

Vice President Boakai (see picture left), Hon. Min. of Youth and Sports, the German Ambassador and other speakers have expressed the importance of technical and vocational education during the opening and commencement ceremony in Liberia. By creating this private modern facility and the unique training concept, HELOG fills a gap in vocational education.

The current program started in January 2016 training 28 students over a duration of 18 months whereby after completion students will be certified as Industrial Mechanics. The course is based on dedicated elements of the German Dual System with reputable partners from the Liberian industry. State of the art equipment and tooling, well designed curriculums as well as modern IT infrastructure sets the grounds for each student to upgrade skills to international standards.

 

 

 

 

Opening ceremony of the new HELOG Academy campus

NEXT: Enhance the knowledge of teachers and the introduction of new technologies, like “Train the Trainer” courses, will be held within the next 2 months. These educational courses will be offered for our own teaching staff as well as interested parties from other organizations and governmental training institutions

NEW: A new standardized training concept is almost ready to be launched. Please find a short overview below, more details can be send on request or follow our next “Flashlight”.

 

 

 

 

Title: Maintenance engineer
Duration: 12 months
Concept:

  • Local dual qualification with German Dual System elements.
  • 2 months theoretical training,
  • 8 months basic mechanical training, including one introductory day per month (in collaboration with selected companies operating in Liberia).
  • 2 months specializations on:
    agricultural equipment,
    heavy machinery,
    automotive,
    others on request
  • We provide state of the art tooling and technical equipment
  • Module based learning, in small learning groups
  • Number of students: 90-100 per course
  • Set up time: 4 month only

Interested in our ideas? Follow our project and continue reading our “Flashlight”!

 

 

 

 

 

The students of the HELOG Academy “Industrial Mechanic” course