Gonet Academy Launches 2026 Youth Empowerment & Leadership Vacation Program to Raise Next Generation of Confident Communicators, Changemakers

—Seven-week initiative targets teenagers with practical leadership, communication and personal development training

Gonet Academy has unveiled the 2026 edition of its Youth Empowerment & Leadership Vacation Program, an intensive seven-week initiative designed to nurture confident communicators, ethical leaders, and socially responsible young people.

This initiative could not have come at a better time as Liberia continues to grapple with the challenge of preparing its young people for an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving world,

Launching under the inspiring theme, “Speak. Lead. Influence. – Building Confident Communicators and Future Leaders,” the program seeks to transform the traditional vacation period into an opportunity for meaningful learning, self-discovery, and leadership development.

Running from July 15 through August 28, 2026, the program will be held every Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., targeting high school students between the ages of 10 and 19.

According to Gonet Academy’s Chief Empowerment Officer (CEO), Mohammed Kerkulah, the initiative reflects the institution’s growing commitment to developing not only academically competent students but also young people equipped with the confidence, communication skills and leadership qualities needed to succeed in every sphere of life.

“At Gonet Academy, we believe leadership is not something young people should wait until adulthood to learn. Confidence, effective communication, teamwork, emotional intelligence and ethical leadership are skills that should be nurtured early,” CEO Kerkulah said. “This vacation program is designed to help our young people discover their voices, believe in their abilities and prepare themselves to become responsible leaders in their schools, communities and eventually our nation.”

He added that while academic excellence remains important, success in today’s world increasingly depends on a young person’s ability to communicate effectively, think critically, solve problems collaboratively and influence positive change.

“We are intentionally creating a platform where teenagers can grow beyond the classroom. Our goal is to produce confident communicators who can speak with clarity, lead with integrity and influence society positively.”

Unlike conventional vacation classes that primarily reinforce academic subjects, Gonet Academy’s Youth Empowerment & Leadership Vacation Program emphasizes holistic personal development through experiential learning.

Participants will engage in interactive workshops, public speaking exercises, leadership simulations, confidence-building activities, educational excursions, team-building sessions and mentorship engagements designed to cultivate practical life skills.

Each participant will receive comprehensive training materials, an official program T-shirt, participate in educational field trips, earn a certificate of completion and be recognized during a formal graduation ceremony marking the end of the program.

Enrollment has been deliberately capped at 40 participants to ensure personalized attention, greater interaction with facilitators and a richer learning experience.

The 2026 program builds on the success of Gonet Academy’s previous vacation initiative, which attracted enthusiastic participation from students and parents alike.

The earlier edition, held last year, offered a diverse range of practical courses focused on public speaking, leadership development, communication skills, computer literacy, entrepreneurship, etiquette, confidence building, teamwork and personal effectiveness.

Throughout the program, students participated in classroom discussions, practical presentations, role-playing exercises, debates and educational excursions that exposed them to leadership in action.

Parents praised the initiative for helping shy children become more confident, improving participants’ public speaking abilities and strengthening their interpersonal skills.

Many students who initially struggled with self-confidence reportedly completed the program with greater self-esteem and improved communication skills, while others described the experience as transformative in helping them discover their leadership potential.

The positive feedback reinforced Gonet Academy’s belief that Liberia’s education system must increasingly complement academic instruction with practical life skills that prepare young people for higher education, employment and civic engagement.

Youth development experts have long argued that adolescence represents one of the most critical stages for cultivating leadership abilities, self-confidence and effective communication.

Studies consistently show that teenagers exposed to structured leadership development programs are more likely to demonstrate improved academic performance, stronger interpersonal relationships, better decision-making skills and greater civic participation.

Recognizing this, Gonet Academy says the vacation program has been carefully designed to create an environment where participants are encouraged to express themselves confidently, embrace teamwork, develop resilience and cultivate a positive mindset.

The institution believes these competencies are increasingly essential as Liberia seeks to build a new generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals and public servants capable of driving national development.

The launch of the Youth Empowerment & Leadership Vacation Program further underscores Gonet Academy’s broader mission of empowering individuals through continuous professional and personal development.

Over the years, the Academy has built a strong reputation for delivering practical training programs in leadership, communication, entrepreneurship, office administration, digital skills, project management and other professional disciplines, impacting thousands of Liberians across diverse sectors.

Its recent Cohort 14 Graduation Ceremony, which saw nearly 1,000 participants complete various professional development programs, further demonstrated the Academy’s expanding role in strengthening Liberia’s human capital.

The institution says extending that same philosophy to younger learners is a natural progression.

“The leaders Liberia needs tomorrow are sitting in classrooms today,” Kerkulah emphasized. “If we want a nation filled with ethical leaders, confident professionals and responsible citizens, then we must begin investing intentionally in our young people now. This program is one of our contributions to building that future.”

Registration for the Youth Empowerment & Leadership Vacation Program 2026 is now open.

The seven-week program carries a participation fee of US$100 per student and includes all instructional materials, official program apparel, educational excursions, certification and graduation activities.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to register early, as enrollment is limited to only 40 participants.

By transforming the vacation period into an opportunity for growth, confidence and leadership development, Gonet Academy hopes to ensure that participants return to school not only academically refreshed but better prepared to speak with confidence, lead with purpose and influence their communities for positive change.

As the Academy’s theme aptly declares, the objective is simple yet profound: “Speak. Lead. Influence.”