Our Mission: Partnering with Liberians to build pathways to sustainable futures.

Our Vision

Partnering with Liberians to build pathways to sustainable futures and transform communities through vocational training, education, and resource.

A student in a yellow and blue uniform sitting at a wooden desk, reading a notebook filled with handwritten notes, in a classroom with blue walls.
A man with short curly hair and a beard working at a computer in a room with blue and yellow walls.
A student in a yellow and blue school uniform sitting at a wooden desk, reading a notebook with handwritten notes in a classroom with a blue wall.

A vision of unity and prosperity.

Uniting Distant Stars Inc. History

Uniting Distant Stars (UDS) was formed in 2011 to expand opportunities for children and youth in Liberia through education, vocational training, and mentorship. What began as a small, community-driven effort quickly grew in response to the needs of young people seeking pathways to employment and self-sufficiency.

UDS became a registered nonprofit in 2013 and received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in 2014. In Liberia, it has been an registered NGO since 2015 and received its annual Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) permit starting in 2016, authorizing it to operate as a recognized training institute meeting national standards and providing practical, job-ready skills.

From its early days operating in a home-based space, UDS established a vocational training center in 2016. Today, the organization continues to empower youth with the skills, education, and support needed to build stronger futures for themselves and their communities.

UNderstanding the educational landscape in liberia

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  • There are several vital organizations addressing these needs, and Uniting Distant Stars is proud to be among the leading nonprofits focused on youth development and vocational education in Liberia. We specifically bridge the gap for youth who need marketable skills to enter the local workforce.

  • Yes, various international and local NGOs offer financial aid, as a lack of tuition is a major barrier to education. At Uniting Distant Stars, we actively provide scholarships and subsidized tuition for Liberian youth enrolled in our academic and trade programs, ensuring financial constraints don't halt their future.

  • While a few specialized international agencies operate in the capital, Uniting Distant Stars runs a fully equipped, dedicated vocational training center in Liberia. We offer hands-on courses in high-demand fields like technology, tailoring, mechanics, and more.

  • Supporting grassroots organizations with direct local ties is one of the most effective ways to create an impact West Africa. You can support these educational initiatives by donating to or volunteering with Uniting Distant Stars. Your support goes directly toward funding classrooms, supplies, and instructors in Liberia.

  • Volunteering with NGOs that have established, community-led training centers is one of the most impactful ways to share your expertise. At Uniting Distant Stars, we offer targeted opportunities for international and remote volunteers to support our vocational training programs in Liberia. Whether you have experience in computers, tailoring, mechanics, or entrepreneurship, you can help us equip young people with the marketable skills they need to thrive.

    To learn more about volunteering with Uniting Distant Stars, send us a message! https://www.unitingdistantstars.com/contact

Our Story (So Far)

Over the years, we’ve grown out of a passion to make the biggest impact to students and young people of Liberia who are eager to learn, grow, and change the community and world around them!

The explosive growth and outreach are listed below for you to explore…

2011 - The Journey Begins

UDS started with a simple act of kindness by Kelvin Fomba, evolving into an annual school supply drive for over 300 children and an academic scholarship program.

The program began with two students in 2011 and expanded to offer vocational training scholarships to young people, resulting in masonry and plumbing certificates for several individuals.

At our beginning, we launched:

  • With 2 Students

  • And Our Scholarship Program

People organizing school supplies, including manyboxes of Crayola crayons and notebooks, on a patterned floor in a room.

2013 - Making It Official

In September, a Minnesota non-profit organization conducted a Youth Leadership Workshop in Liberia. The workshop focused on fostering innovative and creative thinking among Liberian youth, with examples of African youth using recycled materials for innovative solutions. The organization, through the workshop, aimed to adapt and grow as an organization by incorporating the concepts learned from the event.

Making Ideas Become Opportunities with:

  • 20 Academy Students Attending School

  • A Youth Leadership Program

  • And Uniting Distant Stars Officially Becoming a Nonprofit Organization!

A young boy in a green checkered shirt holding a microphone while an adult man in a patterned shirt holds the microphone near him in a room with a corrugated metal roof.

2014 & 2015 - Facing Challenges

During the Ebola Crisis in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, youth reached out to Kelvin for skills training. Kelvin transformed his home into a learning center and initiated projects on auto mechanics, drivers education, and sewing with recycled materials.

After the crisis, the "Backpacks for Peace" program was launched, training youth to sew backpacks from recycled materials. The success of these programs attracted more youth seeking help, leading to a focus on addressing their needs and empowering them.

Forging Ahead in:

  • 15 Academic Scholarship Students

  • 20 students, opened learning center for student classes and library

  • Launching Our Backpacks for Peace Program

  • Participating in the 1st Nobel Peace Prize Youth Forum Virtual Exchange (MN)

  • And Forming Skills Training (Later to Grow into the Vocational School)

Two women working with sewing machines, one in a pink top and the other in a dark top, surrounded by fabric and sewing accessories.

2016 & 2017 - Growth and Expansion

In 2016, a youth-focused mission led to the establishment of a learning center at Kelvin's house, offering various educational programs including library access, study classes, and vocational training in auto mechanics, computers, and sewing.

Due to increasing demand, a larger building was needed, which was secured in May with the help of sustaining donors.

By October, the building was renovated, and by February 2017, a Vocational Training Center was opened offering hands-on training in trades. The accomplishment was made possible by global supporters and the dedicated team in Liberia!

Expanding with:

  • With 50 Vocational School Alumni

  • Obtained TVET Permit

  • Added free computer course to learning center. signed lease for new building

  • Launched Our Inaugural (Formal) Vocational Training Programs and a New Vocational Training Center Building!

A woman taking a selfie in front of a group of people gathered outside a building with a Liberia flag and emblem on the wall.

2018 & 2019 - Building Sustainability

UDS Academy opened a tuition-free school in 2018 to help families affected by Liberia's economic crisis. They secured parental support by selling uniforms and leveraged resources to create a dual-purpose building.

In 2019, facing increased challenges, they focused on sustainability, installing solar panels for energy needs. Initiatives included a rent-free shop obtained for vehicle repairs, now housing a hair salon as part of a three-year strategic plan.

Shining Bright in:

  • Participated in Permacultural Training

  • And Installed solar panels to operate Our Center.

Group of people gathered inside a structure with solar panels.

2020-2022 - Surviving Covid and a Worsening Economy

In 2020, supporters stepped up when we needed you to provide COVID-19 handwashing kits to Liberian Children and Youth. 

In 2021, Liberia faced challenges with the Delta Variant of COVID-19, leading to overcrowded hospitals and increased fatalities. Despite this, adherence to hygiene protocols helped keep students and staff safe. A generous donation of $50,000 was received, prompting the purchase of land for a future site and extending the lease. 

Plans for 2022 involved initiatives like small businesses, updating learning materials, and expanding solar panel usage. In the Fall, Heather Cannon, the US Co-Founder & Executive Director, revisited Liberia after nine years, witnessing the impact of donor support on Liberian Youth.

Grateful for:

  • A Generous Donation of $50,000

  • And Expanding the Number of Solar Panels Used to Power Our Center!

Two children, a boy and a girl, pose outdoors. The boy wears a red striped shirt and red shorts, holding a bag. The girl sits in a wooden chair, holding a bag, wearing a light pink shirt, jeans, and flip-flops. Another child is partially visible on the right, and there is a yellow container on the ground to the left.

2023 - Celebrating 10 Years: Our Resiliency Continues to Shine Bright!

In 2023, the UDS Vocational School added a driver’s education program, we achieved full solar energy capacity, and worked on a new campus in Brewerville, Liberia funded by a $50,000 donation. 

With much joy, Uniting Distant Stars celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2023. We could not make this possible without all of our supporters, volunteers, and board members. We want to thank everyone for all the generous support in educating and training Liberian children and youth as we shine bright into the future!

Celebrating Milestones with:

  • 370 Vocational School Alumni

  • And Celebrating 10 Years of Investing in Liberian Youth and Their Futures!

  • Three boys working on a window in a room, with one boy leaning out of the window using a tool, another boy standing beside him holding a wire, and a third boy bending down near the window.

    2024 and Beyond: A New UDS Campus

    Our new UDS campus being built in Brewerville, Liberia, will be the home of the Academy and Vocational School programs. Run completely with Solar Power, we’re eager to make our center the new base for our new, student-centered courses such as Drivers Ed, Cosmetology, and Electrician Training (where a new learning lab is waiting to shine)!

  • Three people inside a room with a colorful geometric wall. A woman is seated, laughing. A man stands behind her smiling. A young girl in a yellow shirt holding a puppet head of an Asian woman with black hair.

    2024 and Beyond: Modernizing Our Vocational Courses

    Continuing our mssion in listening to and partnering with the community, our students, and alumni, Uniting Distant Stars will continue to refine and modernize our vocational training courses. By listening to their needs and hopes for attaining marketable skills, our students will continue to build confidence, build their self worth and their futures!

  • A group of graduates in blue caps and gowns with yellow tassels, holding yellow certificates and gifts, posing for a picture outside a vocational training center in Liberia.

    2024 and Beyond: Welcoming formerly displaced people and refugees

    Once our new center is complete, we look forward to welcoming formerly displaced people and refugees at UDS.
    Our hope is to enrich communities in Liberia with unique perspectives, talents, and skills which will enhance the social and cultural fabric of the local Liberian and global community.