By Foday Moriba Conteh
During a press conference held on Wednesday 5th April, 2023 at Cannon Street in Freetown, SOS Global Investment Sierra Leone informed pressmen that 1000 Sierra Leonean youths with Bachelor’s Degrees are set to benefit from the SOS-Nekotech USA/Canada Work-Study Master’s Degree National Program with 80% Prep School Scholarship and access to $100 Million USA educational loan package that was launched on March 28, 2023, at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security by the Honourable Minister, Dr. Alpha O. Timbo.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Operations Manager at the SOS Global Investment Sierra Leone, Alhassan Baisuma, said that the Work-Study pilot program was approved by Sierra Leone’s 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.
He said that to date, 11 Sierra Leoneans are 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, adding that upon completion of their 2 years 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.
Alhassan Baisuma stated that in order to reach more Sierra Leoneans to benefit nationally, the game-changing program, dubbed:”Level Don Change” now offers an 80% Prep School Scholarship award equivalent to $2,000, which is automatically applied to the Prep School admission process upon pre-qualification, furthering that in addition, the program offers a no-collateral educational loan of up to $100,000 per student – paid directly to the University in the USA and Canada to cover students’ tuition, books and accommodation.
He disclosed that during the launch, the Minister of Labour, Hon. Alpha O. Timbo described the initiative as a unique contribution that 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.
The Operations Manager informed all that 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 $2,500, continuing that candidates must also pay US visa and USA Immigration fees – payable to the US Embassy – totaling $510, medical, as well as tickets and pocket money to the USA.
He said that 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 of which he added that the virtual prep classes will commence on April 25, 2023. Seats are going fast since the program was launched on March 28.
“The program 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, Sierra Leone,” he revealed.
Alhassan Baisuma stated that the program is now being run across Africa with new countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, and Tanzania, recently joining.
He said that the 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.
Underscoring the programs on the SOS-Nekotech USA/Canada Work-Study Master’s Degree National Program, he said that the program is run in 5 areas which include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Sports Science, Sports Management, MBA, Healthcare, and Multimedia.
“The program Prep School provides students with private counsellors, virtual lectures, admission assistance, industry-led strategic course selections to ensure employment upon completion in the USA, and school loan application assistance among other services for human development spiritually, physically, and professionally,” he maintained.
The Operations Manager informed all that 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 and that interested candidates may apply through the prequalification link below: https://bit.ly/sos-fall2023
What is the application process?
Thank you for creating an organization like this. I am a member of the sos nekotech. I’m nurse Ibrahim Foday Sankoh a bachelor’s degree holder in nursing. I’m from Sierra Leone.
I want to study and work in the united state.
Thank you.
Excellent organization
I’m happy to be among