1000 Sierra Leonean youth with Bachelor’s Degrees stand to benefit from the SOS-NEKOTECH USA/Canada Work-Study Masters Degree National launched on March 28, 2023 at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security by the Honorable Minister, Dr. Alpha Timbo.
The Work-Study pilot program was approved by Cabinet on April 20, 2021, under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in collaboration with SOS Labour Ghana under the Transfer2Transform initiative.
To date, young Sierra Leoneans are already successfully pursuing their Master’s degree in the USA at top universities such as the Colorado School of Mines, Duquesne University in Pennsylvania, Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey and others through the game changing pilot program.
Upon completion of their 2 year Master’s Degrees, these Sierra Leonean youth will be placed in the USA Practical Training program and allowed to legally work for three years earning salaries ranging from $60,000-$150,000/year.
Inorder to reach more Sierra Leoneans to benefit nationally, the Transfer2Transform program, dubbed: “Level Don Change” now offers an 80% prep school scholarship award voucher equivalent to $2000- which is automatically applied to the prep school admission process upon pre- qualification. In addition, the program offers a no-collateral educational loan- up to $100,000 per student – paid directly to the University in the USA and Canada to cover students’ tuition, books and accomodation.
“This unique contribution levels the playing field to enable Sierra Leoneans, who could normally not afford to send their children overseas, a great opportunity to do so – through this cabinet approved partial scholarship and educational loan package offered under the Transfer2Transform initiative”, said the Minister of Labour, Hon. Alpha Timbo.
Students are financially responsible for other costs such as the 20% of the prep school fees after the 80% scholarship is applied – which leaves them with a balance of $499 to pay out of the original fee of $2500. Candidates must also pay US visa and USA Embassy Sevis fees- payable to the US Embassy- totalling $510, medicals, as well as tickets and pocket money to the USA.
The SOS-Nekotech USA Canada Work Study Fair Registration is open until April 18 and pre- qualification can be done online at the link stated below.
The virtual prep classes will commence on April 25, 2023. Seats are going fast since the program launch on March 28.
The programme is being organized by Educo USA, Nekotech Center’s African STEM & Sports Institute of Excellence (ASSIE), SOS Labour Ghana, SOS Global Investments Sierra Leone, SOS Women Transfer2Transform Malawi, Royal Return Ghana and the Journalists International Forum on Migration (JIFORM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The programme was originally launched by its CEO, a US Trained Engineer, H.E. Rev. Dr. Princess A.K. Ocansey- as a pilot program in Ghana in 2018, and then in Sierra Leone in 2021, Malawi in 2022 and Zambia in 2023.
It is now being run across Africa with new countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon and Tanzania, recently joining.
This five year master’s degree program aligns with the Government of Sierra Leone’s human capital development mandate, as well as the UN SDGs 2030 #8 and the African Union Agenda 2063.
The program is run in 5 areas:Science, Technology Engineering Mathematics,
Sports Science/Sports Management,
MBA
Healthcare and
Multimedia.
The program prep school provided students with private counselors, virtual lectures, admission assistance, industry led strategic course selections to ensure employment upon completion in the USA, school loan application assistance among other sevices for human development spiritually, physically and professionally.
Students aged 21-40, with a Bachelor’s Degree/Master’s Degree and GPA 3.0/4.0 and above can qualify and pursue their Master’s Degree in partner schools in the USA and Canada.
Interested candidates may apply through the prequalification link below.
https://bit.ly/sos-fall2023
