United Grandcess Community Inc.
Programs and services
Healthcare, education, training and social programs for people in our communities and in Grandcess, Grand Kru County, Liberia.
Seven areas of work
We identify vulnerable individuals, families and sometimes whole communities in need, then work through our chapters to meet those needs directly.
Health and sanitation
Community healthcare prevention programs, sanitation support and healthcare supplies for households in Grandcess.
Education
Scholarships for youth in our communities in the United States and in Grandcess, and education materials for local schools and students.
Vocational training
Funded places in carpentry, masonry, drafting, plumbing, electrical work and information technology at recognised training centres.
Skill development
Project based learning and training for entry level skills in the construction trades and the service industry.
Mentorship
Members who have completed the same training guide students through school and into their first years of work.
Motivation
Programs that build confidence, identity and a sense of belonging across generations of Grandcess people.
Recreational services
Social programs and activities focused on community empowerment and positive child development.
Vocational and technical preparatory programs
These programs supported the transition of students and young adults into vocational and technical career pathways across Liberia.
Programming emphasised project based learning and training for entry level skills in the construction trades and the service industry. Students engaged in activities that increased their ability to access vocational and technical trades.
Expected outcomes: greater access to post secondary education programs, exposure to construction trades and service industry occupations, small business preparation, and employment for youth, women and others living in under resourced communities in Grand Kru County and across Liberia.
Component one: the Monrovia Vocational Training Center
Young adults, selected with the assistance of a selection committee in Grandcess, took part in vocational and technical training at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center.
Participants were high school graduates. After completing their training they were expected to return to Grandcess to support their peers and other Project Grandcess initiatives for a minimum of three years.
Trades studied
Carpentry
1 place
Masonry
1 place
Drafting
2 places
Plumbing
1 place
Electrician
1 place
Information technology
1 place
Component two: the Summer Bridge Vo-Tech program
A bridge for rising high school freshmen entering P.G. Wollo and St. Patrick's High Schools.
Students took part in mathematics, reading and writing workshops, and gained exposure to computers alongside vocational and technical trades.
Carpentry and masonry were the focused trades for the 2020 intake, chosen because they carry directly into the building work under way in Grandcess.
Learn Kru 101
A six week virtual learning program designed to expose children and adults to the Kru language, starting in 2026.
What students learn
Students learn everyday greetings and expressions of the Kru language spoken by Kru people across West Africa, and particularly by the people of Grandcess. The customs, traditions and history of Grandcess are built into every session, through activities covering greetings and goodbyes, common questions and responses.
Program goals
Foundational Kru language skills, cultural understanding of Grandcess customs and history, and a stronger bond between Kru communities in the United States and Liberia.
Expected impact
Younger participants connect with their ancestral heritage, which builds cultural pride, confidence and a sense of belonging, and helps preserve Kru customs across generations.
