We work with primary and secondary teachers in rural areas in Guinea to help children and adolescents reach their full potential. The education system in the country generally focuses on rote memorization. Students are taught to remember information but are not pushed to higher levels of learning, namely application, analysis, evaluation, and creation (Bloom’s Taxonomy). Further, cities located upcountry get the least qualified teachers, exacerbating inequities. This education system leads to poor learning outcomes. For example, 83% of Guinean children of late primary school age are not proficient in reading (World Bank). This failure of the educational system is reflected in the fact that only 6% of the population aged 25+ attain tertiary education (USAID). It also limits children from becoming critical thinkers and applying what they learn to create or secure employment in the future. Regardless of these issues, in rural towns, students are resilient and often do everything they can to succeed and contribute to the community.

We also work with unemployed rural Guinean youth to give them the opportunity to prosper in place despite persisting adversities (poor education and unfavorable economic policies and practices). The high rate of unemployment and underemployment is creating a strong sense of hopelessness and despair in Guinean communities. For example, 60% of university graduates are unemployed (Guinean National Institute of Statistics, 2016). This lack of opportunity creates a high desire among even highly educated young people to escape the country to go to Europe or the USA, leading to a massive brain drain from the country. 

• Society says the goal is to become rich; JE says to be responsible for what God has given you.
• Society says you are poor; JE says you have the resources to allow you to prosper.
• Society says you are worthy of more respect the wealthier you are; JE says the poor and the rich alike are created in the image of God and worthy of utmost respect.
• Society says you are worthy of more respect the more powerful you are; JE says you are worthy of more respect the more honest, humble, just and loving you are.
• Society says you have to go along to get along; JE says you should never compromise your integrity.
• Society says that you are a consumer and are happier the more you buy; JE says that you are a steward responsible to God and to the community for the resources you produce and consume.  You are happier the more you love and serve others.
• Society says there’s nothing you can do until someone gives you a hand-out; JE says you can begin by developing what you already have.
• Society says Africans are victims of exploitation and colonialism so nothing will change until the West treats us justly; JE says Africans are victims of exploitation and colonialism but we do have the freedom now to advance substantially even in the face of the powers of injustice.  
• Society says “spend it now”; JE says “invest it for the future”.  
• Society says that manual labor is less worthy than intellectual or managerial pursuits; JE says that all honest and hard work is equally worthy of respect.
• Society says there is only so much wealth to go around so if you get richer, I’ll get poorer; JE says that wealth can keep growing and that as others prosper, the economy grows and the whole society prospers. 
• Society says start big to make it big; Jeune Espoir says start small, be faithful with little and you will be entrusted with more.
• Society says that women are for the benefit of men; JE says women and men alike are created in the image of God and given charge over the creation to rule and develop it in love to God and others.
• Society says what is imported from the West is always better; Jeune Espoir says what is African-made can be just as good or even better.  

In the summer of 2006, a forerunner of Jeune Espoir (Jeunesse Espoir) came to be.  That summer four college students from North America led a 6-week program at the Center of Hope called Centre Espoir involving 15 Guinean youth chosen after application to participate.  They learned computer skills and English, studied and debated issues of the day, did community service, and visited NGOs and private enterprises in the area to see what they were doing to contribute to the community. 

 One of the participants in that program was Sekou Mansaré, who went on to found the NGO Jeune Espoir in 2014.  In the summer of 2009, he and his friends began running the computer skills training center at Centre Espoir .  Later this developed into a cyber café where people could send and receive email and go on the Internet.  He also identified and installed software for learning English and began teaching live English classes as well.  Centre Espoir also became a hub for after-school tutoring in school subjects, homework completion and studying for national exams. 

 The ONG Jeune Espoir is now carrying on a good part of the work that Centre Espoir’s founders formerly did.  When its three arms are fully functioning, JE will be empowering Guinean youth to participate in and contribute to the global economy from right where they are — Guinea.  In so doing, they will break the cycles of unemployment, poverty, and emigration to the West.

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