More than 40% of Liberians aged 15 to 24 are neither in employment, education nor training, and many lack even basic computer skills. Access to higher education remains limited, leaving many young people without opportunities to develop more advanced competencies.
"We are in a digital world, but many young people lack the relevant skills," says Omaru who took part in the training programme SOS Children's Villages started together with the Orange Foundation.
The gap is especially visible in schools outside the capital, Monrovia, where computer labs are rare and there is a shortage of trained ICT instructors. Many young people graduate without ever using a computer.
SOS Children's Villages in Liberia and the Orange Foundation aimed to equip students with practical digital skills that can open doors to learning, employment and entrepreneurship.
Over four months, 150 participants received training in computer basics, operating systems, internet use, Microsoft Office applications and digital marketing. The programme placed a strong emphasis on gender equality and inclusion, creating opportunities for young people in disadvantaged communities. Sixty percent of participants were young women.
The training took place in a newly established Digital Lab equipped with 12 computers and staffed by two ICT instructors — a space where young people can develop practical skills with dedicated support.
"This training certificate is more than a piece of paper — it is proof of perseverance, growth and ambition. Today, I feel prepared to pursue opportunities that once seemed beyond my reach," says Grace, 22.
Equipping young people like Grace and Omaru with practical digital skills means investing in Liberia's future. For SOS Children's Villages, the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen young people's participation in the digital economy.
"When young people have access to quality learning and opportunities to innovate, they become powerful drivers of economic growth and social progress — bringing the Sustainable Development Goals to life," said Interim National Director Leul Abera.
Partnering for impact
Creating lasting opportunities for children and young people requires strong partnerships. Through collaboration with governments, businesses and civil society, SOS Children's Villages works to strengthen education, employability and economic inclusion in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
In Liberia, the partnership with Orange Foundation is helping equip young people with practical digital skills, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
At the programme's graduation ceremony, government representatives highlighted the importance of equipping young people with the right skills to meet the demands of a changing labour market.
Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Garmai Tokpah encouraged graduates to continue learning and believing in their ability to shape a better future. Deputy Minister for Instruction Amos A. Fully highlighted the gap between labour market needs and the skills many young people leave education with. "This is not just a problem of employment — it is a problem of equipping young people with the right skills," he said.
Senior Manager of Orange Foundation Liberia Uomah Brown-Witherspoon reaffirmed the Foundation's commitment to advancing digital inclusion and empowering young people through its partnership with SOS Children's Villages in Liberia. She said: "Our goal is to ensure that young people have access to the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in a digital world."
By Joseph Joboe, SOS Children's Villages in Liberia