Gonet Academy Internship Program: Empowering Young Women, Building Careers

—As the latest batch of interns concludes their internship

Gonet Academy is quietly redefining what youth empowerment looks like—not through slogans, but through structured opportunities that translate potential into profession. At the heart of this effort is the Gonet Academy Internship Program (GA-IP), a deliberate talent pipeline designed to equip young people, especially women with real workplace experience, practical skills, and a clear path into meaningful careers.

It all started in August last year with Diana K. Miller, who was seconded by the SOS Children’s Village Liberia. When Diana joined Gonet Academy in August 2025 as an intern in Finance and Administration, she entered as a learner. Within three months, she graduated as a professional transitioning into a full-time administrative role based on performance and institutional need effective November 2025.

That transition was not incidental; it reflects a system intentionally built to identify, nurture, and absorb talent.

Her journey illustrates a key strength of GA-IP—it does not treat internships as temporary engagements, but as recruitment and development pipelines.

The next cohort of interns who served for six months and transitioned to full-time employment—Decontee M. Karngar in November 2025 and Jocial F. Roberts in December 2025, further demonstrating how responsibility accelerates growth.

Decontee M. Karngar, who served as Program & Communications Intern, became a critical support system in day-to-day operations of the institution. She was officially employed as Administrative Assistant in June 2026 following her graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the United Methodist University. Her role demands organization, communication, and problem-solving—skills that are foundational to any professional environment.

Jocial F. Roberts, who served as Executive Assistant Intern to the CEO and later became full-time employed as Executive Assistant, operates at a strategic level. Her exposure to executive decision-making, coordination, and institutional communication places her in a unique position to develop leadership and management competencies early in her career.

Their roles are not symbolic—they are functional and impactful. And that matters.

Because real empowerment is not about participation—it is about contribution.

Fast forward in April 2026, Gonet Academy deepened this commitment by onboarding four additional female interns across critical functions, Aritha M. Clarke – Student Engagement & Services, Christina G. Heah – Content & Visual Media, Lydia Amoslyn Mathews – Program Support, and Dieboi Jennifer Doegbee – Monitoring & Evaluation.

Each role reflects a strategic placement aligned with institutional priorities Student Engagement strengthens client experience and retention, Content & Media drives brand visibility and digital growth, Program Support ensures quality delivery of learning initiatives and Monitoring & Evaluation enhances data-driven decision-making.

That was not random deployment—it was capacity building aligned with organizational growth.

And after six months of a prolonged exercise, the internship has officially concluded.

At a modest closing ceremony organized by management, three of the interns, who were present at the event, narrated their experiences and lauded the Gonet Academy family for affording the opportunity and space to hone their talents and build their capability.

Officials of the management also lauded the interns for their contributions to the academy for the past six months, adding that their services have been very invaluable to the institution. 

 Lydia Amoslyn Mathews was not present as she’s embarking on another journey out of the country. 

 Empowering Young Women, Strengthening the Institution

What makes the GA-IP particularly effective is its dual impact which see the interns gain hands-on experience in real work environments, develop technical and soft skills simultaneously, build confidence, professional identity, and networks and transition from theory to practice—quickly, while Gonet Academy, as an institution on the other hand, benefits from fresh ideas and energy departments receive critical operational support, talent is groomed internally, reducing recruitment gaps, and the Academy builds a sustainable workforce pipeline .

In essence, while the interns are growing—and so is Gonet.

Gonet Academy’s approach to women’s empowerment is also intentional and measurable. With a current administrative composition of 40% female and 60% male, the institution is meeting its Gender Policy targets while actively working to expand female representation in strategic roles.

But beyond numbers, the real story is influence.

These young women are not just filling positions—they are shaping systems, supporting leadership, and contributing to institutional performance.

At many organizations, internships are observational. At Gonet Academy, they are transformational.

GA-IP stands out because it integrates structured learning, mentorship, performance evaluation, real responsibility and career transition opportunities.

This makes it a career-launch platform, not just a training program.

As Gonet Academy continues to expand its footprint in education and professional development, programs like GA-IP are becoming central to its brand identity.

This signals a clear message—Gonet does not just train students—it builds professionals.

And increasingly, those professionals are young women stepping confidently into roles that shape organizations, influence decisions, and drive impact.

In a context where youth unemployment and limited opportunities remain pressing challenges, Gonet Academy is offering a practical solution—a cohort of interns at a time.

By investing in structured internships, aligning roles with real institutional needs, and creating pathways into employment, the Academy is not only empowering young women—it is redefining how talent is developed in Liberia.

Because at Gonet, empowerment is not a concept. It is a system.