Self Introduction by Louise Worwele Gray

by Louise Gray

My name is Louise Worwele Gray. I was born on May 2, 1990 at the Star of the Sea Hospital in the township of WestPoint.

My lovely parents are Mr. Ahmed Gray and Mrs. Lucia Blidi. My father is from Sasstown, Grand Kru County and my mother is from Grandcess, Grand Kru County.

I have one brother one sister from the father side and 3 sisters from my mother side. From all my siblings I am the oldest child.

I am Christian and a Catholic from our lady star of the Catholic Church in West Point.

I started my primary education at the Star of the Sea Catholic School in west point. I went high honor roll every period and was given certificates every year. 

When I was promoted to the 5^th grade class, I transferred to Saint Teresa Convent High School on Randall Street. It’s an all-girl school. Again I maintained my academy statue and I was always on the honour roll list.

One word I was really fighting  to change was “Can Any Good Things Come Out Of West Point”?

I said to myself yes so many good things can come out of West Point and I am going to be among those people that are fighting very hard to change this state or question.

Let me tell you a little about my father. My father is just a high school graduate because he did not have the financial support to continue his education up to university level, so he vowed to fight hard to give his children higher education.

My father was not working but was a Susu man in the community.  He so honest that people rather saved money with him then to save with a bank.

Through this Susu business he managed to pay my fees up to the 9^th grade. When I was promoted to the 10^th grade, the school sends 5 students to FAWE Girls to represent them in essay writing on girl’s education in Liberia. Out of the five students selected only two successfully passed the essay: one Sianneh Tehmeh and I. We were awarded a scholarship up to the 12th grade. I maintained this scholarship with good grades until I got out of high school.

In 2009 after my graduation, my father said I should take the Stella Maris Polytechnic entrance exam. I took the entrance and was awaiting the result so I decided to enroll at the Inter Digital Computer where I earned a certificate in MS Doc, Word Window and Excel.

In February 2010, I enrolled at the Stella Maris Polytechnic as a freshman student. I studied Accounting (major) and Management (minor).

In 2011, my father was knocked down by pressure and was taken from one hospital to another for 6months. Later he became much better but was paralysed and he could not continue the Susu business and could not afford to pay my fees again.

Then I decided to do used clothes business because I never wanted by dreams to die. I started with one (1) bill of house hold materials.

After my classes, I would take the clothes from one community to another to sell and that was how I was able to pay my fees for 3 semesters until I was sent for internship.

I was opportune to do my internship with Starks Foundation Inc. A Health, an  NGO which is owned by the CEO, Mr. Gabriel Starks.

Based on my performance, I was employed at Starks Foundation Inc. as the Finance Assistant after my internship program. I graduated with an Associate degree and decided to pursue the BSc degree, too.

During the 2011 elections, Mr. Robert A Sirleaf was offering scholarships to destitute students who had their last semester GPA of 2.5 or above. My GPA was 3.40 so I decided to take advantage of the scholarship.

Something interesting happened: the guy who was heading the scholarship programmed asked that I should give him 75.00 USD for the scholarship! I had no option but to give him the money because the scholarship would last me until I graduate.

My name came out that semester on the scholarship and I fought hard every semester to maintain the required GPA.

That was how I left the used clothes business because I couldn’t be working and selling at the same time.

Starks Foundation was more than an employer to me. They stood for me so many times, during my graduation and even the time I lost my grandfather, they were always willing to open their arms to me.

In 2016 Starks Foundation just ended their 5-year contract with Global Fund. All our activities were on hold and junior staffs were asked to stay home until the company can get another bigger contract. I stayed until June and there was no sign of contract yet so my Boss advised that we could take advantage of other opportunities because we had to sustain our families.

One day I was in a taxi from work and heard a man discussing how MERCY CORPS is helping Liberians through Apprentice program. He said they published lots of vacancies in the classified newspaper every Monday. I decided to get one paper the  following Monday and saw that NATC was accepting applicants for book keeping so I decided to take advantage.

After a week, I received call from William from MERCY CORPS who I have not met in person up to present called me and told me to prepare for an interview with the CEO of  New Africa Technology company. I had opted out of the Mercy Corps programme because the monthly stipend was too low but William offered to connect me to NATC Management for a direct interview. 

The interview went very well and I think the CEO was impressed with my level and professionalism and understanding. She said her main aim of hiring me is to migrate the company’s financial reporting from Excel to QuickBooks. NATC was not able to find an experienced bookkeeper through the Mercy Corps programme but was willing to hire me. 

I started work at NATC on of November 1, 2016 as the OFFICE MANAGER. The working environment is good and straightly professional. The CEO is a little bit tough but I think its professional way of during things because we Liberian like to get fire on our backs before we can do things straight.

My greatest aim and objective is to move NATC reporting from Excel to Quick books at least the end of this year or early next year. A Quickbooks expert recommended by me (my ex trainer) has been hired by NATC to set up the system and train me. 

Lastly I want to appreciate Starks Foundation Inc., Williams from MERCY CORPS and my present employer NATC for this great opportunity and challenge.

Self Introduction by Janneh Dorbor

by Janneh Dorbor

I am Janneh Borbor, a graduate from the Stella Maris polytechnic with a BBA degree in Accounting. 

I was born in Harbel Firestone, Lower Margibi County unto the union of Mr. James A. Borbor and Mrs. Joetta M. Borbor.

I started my primary and high school education in Harbel and graduated from the St. Pius Xth Catholic High School, with a diploma and Division 3 in the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.

I previously worked for Nepenjo Reality and Investment, Inc. as the Stockroom and Finance Clerk and also with Innovative Architecture & Engineering Corporation, where I served as Cashier intern.

I have come to realize that going to college to obtain a degree in a specific field of studied is a smart and good move but what we forget to understand is the lack of work experience in that area of studies. Most companies or entities will not hire you for said reason; lack of experience. Companies nowadays will not take the risk of training people who will later exit the said company after being trained by the said company. Hence, people are being hiring based on experience and qualifications.

With the new programme of apprenticeship launched by Mercy Corps to empower the youth will go a way of getting people trained for the job market. This also gives you the chance to learn on the job.

For my gratitude, I will like to extend my sincere appreciation and a big thanks to NATC (New Africa Technology) for accepting me as an intern in their company. While at NATC, I hope to achieve and gather the requisite experience and learn a whole of new things.  

Working with Mercy Corps' Prospects Programme to find an Apprentice Bookkeeper

by Farzana Rasheed

Left to right: Agnes, William, Janneh and Farzana

New Africa Technology Company reached out to Mercy Corps' team to help it find a bookkeeper. As you know, we've been having lots of problems finding and retaining a qualified Quickbooks expert. 

Currently, Rita Gailor, who joined NATC through Mercy Corps' Prospects programme, is filling the gap by maintaining our ledger, producing weekly and monthly reports and, maintain our filing. 

William Marshall,  Entrepreneurship & Employment Coordinator at Prospects, has been working with me to find candidates for interview for a bookkeeper since August. We had a first round of interviews on 7 September with 3 young women but failed to find an appropriate candidate. 

We had applicants who had studied accounting for several years at well-known universities but in the interview, they could not answer basic questions about bookkeeping or accounting principles. 

We asked William to post the opportunity again and this time, to only short list candidates who had worked with Quickbooks. The programme did not find any candidates with Quickbooks experience but with the relevant degree and some experience. 

We had a second round of interviews with 2 candidates - again, 2 young ladies - and frankly, I was again quite shocked and disappointed with their poor knowledge in their own field of study. The interview performance was shaky and nervous. We took a simple practical test in Excel and both candidates performed poorly. In the written test, one candidate performed better and, was able to express herself clearly and, with more confidence. 

So what should I do? Let Rita continue to help us with simple bookkeeping and, miss out on technical work on site? Or, should I give a chance to one of these young candidates, take the pains on training them, and hopefully, get a hardworking young professional who can be good for the company in the long term? 

Hi Everyone!

By Rita J. Gailor

Left to Right: Rita, Kavita and Farzana 

Rita J. Gailor is my name. I am a Liberian. My Dad's name is Everett B Gailor Sr. and he is from Grand Cape Mount County while my mom's name is Mary W Gailor and she’s from Sinoe County.  

I am from a family of eight (8), that includes my parents. I am the last born among my siblings. 

I traveled to Ghana at the age of (10) ten years with my immediate family on a resettlement program in the year 2000. We sat for an interview and did not make it. This led to my stay in Ghana. My stay in Ghana wasn’t an easy one. My family and I struggle through out just to make life since my parents had no job at that time. 

I graduated 2008 from Wisdom Academy in Kasoa Cp Last Stop. After I completed 2008 I wasn’t financially fit to enter a university at the time. I was home not going to school and not working also. 

One day my older brother told me about an NGO called Respect Ghana who had a computer school and was offering free computer courses. He made inquiries about the school and that was how I enroll into the school through the encouragement of my brother. I started the school but could not complete due to   the decision made by the administration. The administration decided to close the school down because they wanted to transfer the organization back home. During the period I spent at the school I learned Microsoft Word and started learning Excel when the administration made that decision. 

Because of how good our teacher was, I started gaining interest and decided to complete the Microsoft package. I told my parents and big brother about it and they embraced the idea. I went to a school called Prosperity Computer  School to make inquiries then I saw that the fees was affordable. I started with the Microsoft package again, after completing Microsoft, I saw that I grew more interested in learning computer courses. 

Seeing my self-making some birthday cards, certificate and other graphics work using Microsoft word and Publisher, I then decided to forward by doing some graphic courses like Corel Draw and Photo Shop. After that graphic course I took pride in learning more but I never had the hands to continue to a higher level, so I registered for sewing classes because I wanted to do something instead of sitting home. 

Right after my first two (2) months in the sewing school I had the opportunity to continue my computer education at Aptech Computer Education located at Dankuman Junction, Accra. I went with the mind set of doing Database but I learnt Html, Database, and Dreamweaver among others. 

I completed and came back to Liberia November 24 2013. 

January 2014 I had the opportunity to work at the National Election Commission in their Data Center as a Data Analyst, Quality control staff and a tally Clerk during the 2014 Senatorial Election processes as a contractor. 

I applied for a position of a data clerk through the Mercy Corps Apprenticeship program and I was linked to this noble institution (NATC) to serve as a trainee which I see as a great opportunity to achieve my goals of becoming one of Liberia's successful Female IT Persons.  

Presently I am at The New Africa Technology Company as a trainee through the Mercy Corps Apprenticeship program. 

I want to say a big thanks to Mercy Corps and the Administration of NATC for this great opportunity of another step forward in achieving my goals.