Our partnership with WAVS

Guinea-Bissau is a country of nearly 2 million people facing dramatic challenges, and as of early May, there were 475 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guinea-Bissau, and because the country’s health infrastructure is extremely poor, the cases were increasing every day. In response, the government closed all schools because of the crisis, including the WAVS training centers. Both WAVS training centers lacked reliable water sources. More than ever, access to clean water at the training centers will be essential for handwashing and disinfecting surfaces to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases like COVID-19.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, One Day’s Wages partnered with WAVS to ensure the health and safety of school staff and students. WAVS offers vocational training courses in computer basics, welding, English, and French. These skills help young women and men earn a reliable income so that they can provide for themselves and their families for the rest of their lives, but students and staff will not be able to participate in these vocational training activities if they cannot stay safe from COVID-19. Through this partnership, WAVS installed boreholes that provide clean drinking water and handwashing stations at two WAVS vocational schools in Guinea-Bissau.