by heather-cstars | Apr 20, 2018 | Computer Course, Computer Lab, computer proficiency, Computers, education, fundraiser, Liberia, Thank You, Uniting Distant Stars, vocational training, youth development, Youth Empowerment
As a valued Star Supporter, you improve the learning environment for our ambitious students. In the last newsletter we shared the story of Adam Pederson’s Facebook Fundraiser for our computer lab. We combined the $2,020 raised from his two donors with the $180 from Florkime Paye’s Facebook Fundraiser (the remainder went towards the graduation) earlier this year to purchase additional computers.
Kelvin Fomba, Co-Founder and Director, negotiated a deal with a vendor to purchase:
- 12 used desktop computers loaded with Microsoft Software, Mavis Beacon Typing Application, and other software
- 12 combo chair desks
Photos (clockwise starting top left): 1) New computers 2) Dauda Dassin and Roseline Sonday setting up the computers 3) Kelvin Fomba arranging the desks
The final price is $2,800, and we are raising funds for the $600 balance. Thank you to all the Star Supporters for fulfilling this need! Because of you, our lab consists of 20 computers for the benefit of our students.
by heather-cstars | Apr 10, 2018 | Computer Course, Computer Lab, donate, donation, education, fundraiser, Liberia, Thank You, Uniting Distant Stars, vocational training, youth development, Youth Empowerment
A nice way to start your morning is to get a text message asking, “Hey! Have you checked out UDS’s Facebook today?” This is how Adam Pederson, UDS Board Secretary, contacted me on March 6th. I immediately went to our Facebook Page and noticed Adam created a fundraiser to raise $2,000 for our computer lab. Within in two days he raised $2,020 with two donors. Wow!!!
Facebook makes fundraising easy, and no longer charges a 5% processing fee on debit and credit card charges to 501(c)3 organizations. Adam used a simple tool and shared an article about a teacher in Ghana who had no computers to train his students. This teacher instead used a chalkboard and sketched how to use Microsoft Word.
Our Uniting Distant Stars Youth are fortunate to have a team of Classroom Heroes like you. Your support is what opened our computer lab in 2016, which has been the main attraction for our students ever since. And in 2017, you helped us move to our new center with a larger computer lab. The photo below shows how you expanded our computer lab!
Liberian youth are fully aware of the importance of computer training. Oneal Willie, a computer student, featured in our “Creating Opportunities for Youth in Liberia” video in 2017, said (starting at 3:44), “The world is advanced. Anything that you do now, you have to have a knowledge of computers. Without computer knowledge, you cannot do anything.”
You helped make this lab stand out among other training schools in Liberia. This course ensures each student has their own computer to work with during the class time. This term we have 35 students enrolled and assigned to one of three sections. If more students enroll in the next few weeks, we will add another section to accommodate their learning needs.
Later this month, our team will purchase additional computers for our lab from Adam’s fundraiser. Thank again to Adam and his two generous donors for making this possible!!!
by heather-cstars | Mar 20, 2018 | Africa, Auto Mechanics, catering, Computer Course, Computer Lab, cosmetology, education, Electricity, entepreneurship, fundraiser, Innovation, Leaders, Liberia, NGO, Plumbing, Scholarships, Skills training, Star Potential, Star Supporter, Stars, Students, tailoring, Teachers, Thank You, Treadle Sewing Machines, Uniting Distant Stars, vocational training, youth development, Youth Empowerment, Youth Leadership
Enoch Daniel Tarr wrote the song, “Education is Better Than Silver & Gold” for UDS.
One of our computer students, Enoch Daniel Tarr, from 2016 wrote a song to promote Uniting Distant Stars Vocational Training Center. Enoch is 16 years old and wanted to express his gratitude for our programs through music.
Our creative and talented board member, Anna Bertch, created a music video of Enoch’s song with photos of all our courses. Please enjoy listening to this uplifting song that will get you moving with the music.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb_5NsSsR_o[/embedyt]
by heather-cstars | Apr 27, 2016 | Africa, Computer Course, Computer Lab, computer proficiency, Liberia, UDS Learning Center
The computer may be an integral part of homes, schools, and companies in developed nations but for Africans, it is a distant dream. This could be one of the reasons why young Africans are incapable of competing in the global market. For those aspiring to learn computer technology, they need to enroll and pay tuition at computer training centers separate from their schools. When you add in the current economic and social barriers, it makes this training inaccessible when almost fifty percent of the African population live from hand to mouth.
Traditional schools and colleges in African nations have facilities for basic computer training, but tragically these can be outdated and unable to prepare graduates for competitive positions. Furthermore in Liberia, nearly 50% of the population is under the age of 15 when it is the right time for them to learn this technology.
Ironically in this information age, many graduates have never used a computer. Their inexperience drastically narrows job opportunities both at home and internationally. Technology is the mainstay in private and public sector companies, and jobs paying decent salaries demand computer proficiency. Currently, job applications are accepted as electronic forms only, thus depriving young Liberians of applying for entry-level vacancies due to insufficient computer knowledge as well as access to email and Internet facilities.
This is why Uniting Distant Stars (UDS) opened a Computer Lab in order to provide young Liberians with free training to become computer literate. UDS created an avenue for youth to develop basic computing skills and learn standard software applications. Students who complete this course will be better equipped to find and secure jobs in the future.
Written by Rodney Johnson, UDS Computer Trainer and Kelvin Fomba, UDS Co-Founder and Country Director
by heather-cstars | Mar 27, 2016 | Backpack for Peace, Computer Lab, Liberia, Study Classes, UDS Learning Center, vocational training
Liberian children and youth witnessed their wishes being answered in the past two weeks. Uniting Distant Stars (UDS) raised $2,042 (shy of our $2,500 goal) from our generous Star Supporters to upgrade our Learning Center in Congo Town, Liberia. Our Liberian team led by Kelvin Fomba, Co-Founder and Country Director, went the extra mile to check off the items on the students’ original wish list. In the last eight days another $360 was donated from new and existing benevolent supporters. Their gracious generosity will buy other items on the list such as fans to keep the center comfortable, additional books for the library, chalk board for instructors, and other crucial needs for its operations.
Like any good upgrade you need to have a release party. On Friday March 25, UDS Learning Center hosted two programs. The first one was organized by the UDS Youth Group. Since it was Good Friday, they focused on Easter. During this three-hour program they talked about the meaning of Easter, played some games, and also had a Bible quizzing contest between the boys and girls. They had two rounds with each having 20 questions and one question was worth 10 points. The boys and girls tied in the first round. However, in the second round the boys out scored the girls 120 to 80. Our Youth Group’s program was a resounding success and everyone had a great time.
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| Youth Groups Program |
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| UDS Youth Bible Quizzing Contest |
The second program followed soon after to introduce our youth to the new UDS Computer Lab. They have eagerly waited for this lab ever since we started the upgrade campaign last year. The original plan was to have four computers, but Kelvin reached out to his connections and helped secure six used PCs–four laptops and two desktops. He is still negotiating on adding one or two more computers. Our team also built computer desks and bought a stabilizer to protect the PCs from power surges and outages, because electricity is neither consistent nor reliable. Another stabilizer will be purchased with the recent donations to ensure the electrical load is distributed evenly.
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| UDS Computer Lab |
Our team expected 25 to 30 young Liberians to attend this three-hour program, but it attracted over 50. Computer training is in high demand with Liberian youth, but not everyone can afford to take courses at vocational training schools. This is why our team went all out in preparing the lab and its introduction program.
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| Kelvin Fomba introducing the computer lab. |
Kelvin opened with how the computer lab will operate and its corresponding rules. Next part was to determine who would be the first recipients of this training course. Kelvin and his volunteers devised a raffle drawing to select trainees since there was a ratio of approximately four students to one computer. Our youth anxiously waited to hear who were the lucky winners as each name was pulled. Soon twelve students were chosen to attend one of two classes, because we wanted to accommodate as many as possible.
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| Liberian Youth learning about the new UDS Computer Lab |
The students will learn about computer hardware, basic software and internet functions in this month-long course. Other students wanting to attend this course signed up on a list and will participate in computer theory classes as they wait their turn for the practical training. The training materials and curriculum for this program are being developed by our volunteers in Liberia and Minnesota.
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| UDS Youth learning about computers. |
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| First Students of the UDS Computer Lab |
Another part of the upgrade included expanding our library collection. On Monday March 14, two of our youth volunteers, Patrick and Princess, purchased 52 books from the list of requested titles and topics from our students. These books are required by their schools as part of the curriculum. Though our volunteers bought 80% of the books requested by the students, their list continues to grow. Eventually, we like to purchase additional copies of the main books to allow more than one student to use for their homework assignments.
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| Additional books purchased for the library |
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| UDS Youth appreciating the new books. |
The following day these new books were included in our studying classes. There are two objectives with these study classes as follows:
- Students are asked a series of questions about the subject(s) and topic(s) for their assignments and are then shown how to find books in the library and search for the information within the book.
- Students are given detailed instruction from one of volunteer teachers on a particular subject area that they are working on at school to help bolster their understanding and ability to apply it in their homework and exams.
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| Students receiving a tour of the UDS library. |
