Welcome to Gipo Vocational Technical Institute

Teachers and Students

The Vocational High School in the community of Gipo (located about 30 miles from Ganta) which started in February 2015 is now 90% is to completion. Hopefully the vocational portion will commence in September 2015. This is being supported by three churches in the Minnesota Conference: Brooklyn UMC, Crosswind and North UMC. The school will also provide extension training and technical support to traditional local framers and women groups, for surrounding villages in agriculture program. The focus is: Auto-Mechanics, Construction, Electricity, Plumbing, Domestic Science and Agriculture program and good high school education. As the children graduate from the school with these vocational skills and begin being self-employed through developing local businesses, building construction, mechanic shops and etc.

The goal is equipping the young people to possess marketable vocational skills that can serve as a source of income generation as they decide to continue their education and training beyond the Gipo Vocational Technical School.

GVTI Today

The school serves 35 students. The tuition to go to this school is roughly $200/year. These students are not wealthy and will also be working at a job away from Gipo. The fallout is high due to the need to travel the long distances between villages. Transportation is mostly by foot. A bus runs to Flumpa, a mile from Gipo a couple of times a day. Almost no cars and a few motorcycles run to Gipo. Hitchhiking is done often with 3-5 people on a motorcycle. The following outlines what is taught at GVTI.

Agriculture

Probably the most attended class. The land is fertile and water runs through the property. Pineapple, rice, many varieties of vegetables,. Bees hives are managed for the honey. Pigs are also raised as well as chickens, although they appear to run the show.

Domestic Science

Emphasis has been on tailoring and healthy living which is very hard to manage with the primitive living conditions. Cooking by fire is being taught. Only now have solar ovens been introduced in Africa and the school is still hasn't received one to use.

Construction

Tools are limited. With the construction of the schools new building, students are taught how to plan and create projects on site. Tools are usually paper and pencils, slide rulers and triangles, shovels and wheel barrels, pick axes, knives, and machetes for the heavy work.

Auto Mechancis

With no electricity or power source at Gipo, Auto Mechanics is taught mostly by textbooks and teacher writings. The school itself has only a handful of tools that they use. Graduates are giving an assortment of donated wrenches to bring their new job.

Electricity

With no power at the school, this is a problem or teaching. They are successful due to excellent teachers and the ability to work in Ganta.

Plumbing,

No running water at Gipo but students are taught well- digging and agricultural watering, There are training and learning pportunities in Ganta.

GVTI Tommorrow

1. Students living on campus
2. Tools to fit the needs of today
3. Portable charging stations
4. Ponds creating “Fish Farms"
5. Running Water
6. Power “SOLAR POWER”

The goal is equipping the young people to possess marketable vocational skills that can serve as a source of income generation as they decide to continue their education and training beyond the Gipo Vocational Technical School.