Garage Owner Urges Youth to Embrace Vocational Skills, Appeals for Government Support

By: Peter Kollie| Correspondent, Lofa County

Zorzor, Lofa County – Thursday, April 24, 2025- A local garage owner in Zorzor City is calling on young people to take up vocational skills as a pathway to self-reliance and productivity. Speaking to reporters at his garage, John Flomo, a Guinean national who now resides in Lofa County, stressed the importance of learning trades such as mechanics and carpentry, especially for youth who are unemployed or out of school.

Mr. Flomo shared his personal story of transformation, recounting a troubled past in Guinea where he was involved in drug abuse and theft. “Back in Guinea, I used to take harmful drugs and steal from people. But I later realized those habits were destroying my life,” he said.

Determined to turn his life around, he traveled to Nzérékoré—one of Guinea’s largest cities—to learn auto mechanics, despite facing hardships. “Life was very difficult when I got there. I sometimes ate just once a day. But I endured because I wanted to learn a skill that would help me in the future,” he added.

He spent five years mastering the trade before starting to work independently, eventually building a reputation for quality service. Now, Flomo says he is committed to training young people to become self-sufficient and responsible members of society.

“I currently have nine young men learning under me from both Liberia and Guinea. I want to train more so that they won’t be a liability to the community,” he stated.

He emphasized that not everyone can work in an office, and that acquiring skills can prevent young people from engaging in crime or remaining dependent on government support.

Flomo urged school-going youth to consider attending vocational training centers after school. “When you have a skill, you can always find a way to survive, even if you don’t have a government job,” he noted.

In his concluding remarks, Flomo is appealing to the Liberian government and humanitarian organizations for support, particularly in the form of tools and equipment. “The more tools we have, the more people we can train. No one should be sitting idle when bikes come in for servicing,” he said.

Flomo’s initiative stands as a powerful example of personal redemption and community empowerment through vocational education.

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief