SALALA, BONG COUNTY — The Thompson Development Alliance (TDA) has resumed its sixth annual Students Internship Program, committing approximately L$2 million toward providing students from seven high schools in the Salala School District with practical learning and professional exposure.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The initiative, being implemented under the leadership of TDA Chief Executive Officer William Telebo Thompson, is designed to give students an opportunity to move beyond traditional classroom instruction and gain firsthand experience through placements at various institutions across Lower Bong County.
The latest edition of the internship program comes as education stakeholders continue to emphasize the need for Liberian students to acquire practical skills alongside academic knowledge.
Through the program, participating students are being exposed to different working environments where they can learn professional conduct, develop new skills and gain an understanding of the responsibilities associated with the workplace.
According to reports, students enrolled in the program are currently undergoing hands-on training at institutions across Lower Bong County. The placements are intended to provide the beneficiaries with practical experiences that can complement what they are learning in their respective schools.
The program covers students from seven high schools within the Salala School District, making it one of the Thompson Development Alliance’s largest youth-focused interventions in the area. The initiative seeks to provide students with opportunities that may otherwise be difficult for many young people to access because of limited resources and the shortage of organized internship opportunities in rural communities.
Thompson said the decision to maintain the program for a sixth consecutive edition reflects the Alliance’s commitment to supporting education and developing the potential of young people in Salala and surrounding communities.
He explained that the purpose of the internship is not simply to assist students financially but to expose them to real-life situations where they can develop the confidence and practical understanding needed to navigate life after high school. According to Thompson, students must be given opportunities to discover their strengths early and begin preparing themselves for further education, employment or entrepreneurship.
The TDA chief executive said he believes that education becomes more meaningful when students are able to connect classroom lessons with practical experiences. He argued that young people should be encouraged to develop both academic qualifications and practical competencies, particularly at a time when competition for employment opportunities is increasing.
Thompson further maintained that the L$2 million committed to the initiative should be viewed as an investment in human capital. He said the beneficiaries are being given an opportunity that could influence their future choices and career paths, adding that the knowledge they acquire through the program could eventually be transferred to their families and communities.
He said the Alliance’s broader objective is to create an environment in which young people can see possibilities beyond the immediate challenges confronting them. By placing students in professional environments, Thompson believes they can develop aspirations, establish relationships with experienced professionals and gain a clearer understanding of the careers they may wish to pursue.
The initiative is also being implemented against the backdrop of growing concerns over drug abuse among young people in Liberia. Thompson has called for stronger government intervention to address the problem, arguing that youth empowerment programs must be accompanied by serious efforts to protect young people from destructive influences.
He said keeping young people engaged in education, skills development and productive activities can form part of a broader response to the challenges confronting the country’s youth population. Thompson urged government, parents, schools, community leaders and civil society organizations to work together to provide young people with constructive opportunities.
According to him, the responsibility for preparing the next generation cannot rest entirely on schools. He said communities and organizations must also contribute by creating programs that expose young people to practical opportunities and help them develop the discipline and confidence required to become productive citizens.
