Do you realize how much your support makes a difference? This crisis has brought some challenges but it also shows the best of humanity. In fact, your support as a Classroom Hero for Liberian Children & Youth gives them hope that things will be better soon. This is why we continue to Thank you so much for including UDS students in your charitable giving!
It is important to note that your primary and vocational training students are eager to get back to school. Last Saturday, your 2019/2020 vocational training students were set to graduate (April 25) but we had to postpone until further notice. This was disappointing for them because they are so ready to start their journey as tradespeople and to earn a living. We hope things will improve soon to reschedule their important day.
Now a quick update on COVID-19 in Liberia: 152 confirmed cases (up from 76 the last newsletter), 18 people who have died (up from 7), and 45 people recovered (up from 7). Sadly, the number of people dying has increased but the number that recovered has been much greater. We continue to hope and pray for all of Liberia as they mitigate the complexities of this virus.
With that being said, we are so grateful for you making a generous contribution to our COVID-19 Handwashing Package for UDS Families campaign. You have raised $1,522 (51%) of the $3,000 goal. Thank you! We sent $1,500 to buy the first half of the supplies in Liberia to store at the center. Help us reach our goal so we can buy the remaining supplies and distribute them to the UDS families.
As a dedicated and generous Classroom Hero, we ask for your help to keep UDS families safe by donating $10 to support one family with soap and bleach for hand-washing. Many of the families don’t have clean running water and rely on a bucket with a spigot. Your gift of a COVID-19 Hand-washing Package will save the lives of your students and families. The package will include two dozen packets of powdered soap and two liters of bleach.
Our goal is to raise $3,000 in the next week to meet this urgent need. Please help by donating today and sharing our campaign. We have raised $470 so far from Facebook, CashApp ($UDStars), and checks! Thank you!
Congrats! Your kindhearted generosity helped unlock the $600 matching grant. Also, you raised $1,300 for our Give to the Max Day Campaign! Your contribution to the vocational training of Liberian Youth provides the resources they need to succeed with their vocational training. Furthermore, your participation in this year’s campaign gave UDS a record year for the amount raised. Thank you for being a Classroom Hero and including UDS in your annual charitable giving!
Our heartfelt Thanks to our long-standing supporter, Julie B. from Oklahoma! She gave a generous donation of $500 during our Give to the Max Day and selected to purchase two computers from our Become a Classroom Hero donation page.
Earlier this month (January 2019), we purchased two new used desktops for our computer training lab. As a result of Julie’s generosity, our computer lab continues to benefit the Liberian Youth taking our most popular course.
Thank you so much, Julie, for these two beautiful computers!
Thank you to Tashie George of IfriMarketfor hosting and sponsoring a successful Dinner & Movie fundraiser on November 3. Thank you to our Classroom Heroes who raised $635 to support Liberian Youth in our training courses. Thank you to Taste of Africa for the second (or third) helpings of delicious food. And thank you to the cast and crew of the Out of My Hand movie!
Taste of Africa catered the food for this event which included cornbread, Jollof Rice, potato salad, hot pepper soup, and more. Photo by Boyd Morson
About 20 people gathered that day. They learned more about Uniting Distant Stars and how we are helping Liberia’s young men and women gain independence with trade careers. They networked with each other. They ate Jollof Rice, potato salad, corn bread, and much more (food table photo take by Boyd Morson). And they sat back and enjoyed an entertaining movie.
UDS U.S. Co-Founder & Executive Director sharing information about our programs and the 75 graduated students of March 2018. Photo taken by Florkime Paye.
Tashie is committed to holding this event each year, and we are grateful for her continued support!
Uniting Distant Stars made its debut in the Big Apple with the well-organized efforts of Adam Pederson, Board Secretary. He worked with a friend to host a fundraiser on October 19 from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM in Manhattan’s East Village. He found donated items such as African Art and modern abstract paintings for the silent auction. There was also a raffle draw for prizes of wine and champagne. The event offered free wine and hors d’oeuvres.
These photos show the various donated items for the silent auction. Photos by Adam Pederson
The goal of this fundraiser was $5,000 for our solar power initiative. Adam secured an anonymous $2,500 matching the gift to encourage people to donate and double their impact. This event was a huge success by raising $5,292…an exceeded goal! There were about 30 people who participated in this event and who brought more awareness to our vocational training program in Liberia.
We will continue working with solar professionals in both Liberia and Minnesota to coordinate the next steps. The goal is not only to install solar panels but to have our electrician students help with the installation. All of UDS is overjoyed with making this strategic goal a reality.
Many Thanks to our new and continued supporters that contributed to helping Liberian Youth obtain marketable and valuable skills in trade careers!!!
