LG Electronics Continues 10-Year Support for Ethiopian Youth Vocational Training

LG Electronics is celebrating a decade of providing free vocational training to Ethiopian youth, aimed at fostering self-reliance and economic independence. The "LG-KOICA Hope Vocational Training School" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, held its 10th graduation ceremony on August 22.

Established through a partnership involving LG, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Ethiopian government, the school operates with support from LG Electronics and the international development NGO World Together. It offers specialized, tuition-free education in electrical, electronics, and IT fields. Students are selected annually through rigorous written exams and interviews.

Beyond technical skills, the program provides tangible career pathways. Outstanding graduates are offered internship opportunities with LG Electronics' Middle East and Africa service centers. For those aspiring to start their own businesses, the school's on-campus startup support center provides practical training and mentorship in areas such as legal matters, marketing, and business management.

This initiative has yielded impressive results. Including the 68 graduates from this year's ceremony, a total of 679 students have completed the program. Remarkably, the school boasts a 100% employment and entrepreneurship rate among its graduates. The program's success has not gone unnoticed; it was recognized by the Ethiopian government as an exemplary vocational training model in 2020 and was highlighted as a successful case of South Korea's Official Development Assistance (ODA) at the G7 Summit in Evian, France, in June.

"Through the LG-KOICA Hope Vocational Training School, we have provided opportunities for Ethiopian youth to become self-reliant for 10 years, achieving meaningful results," said Yoon Dae-sik, Executive Vice President of External Cooperation at LG Electronics. "We will continue to strive to help young people around the world nurture their dreams and achieve healthy independence." LG Electronics also operates similar vocational training schools in Cambodia since 2021.

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Through the LG-KOICA Hope Vocational Training School, we have provided opportunities for Ethiopian youth to become self-reliant for 10 years, achieving meaningful results. We will continue to strive to help young people around the world nurture their dreams and achieve healthy independence.