Congrats to our UDS Student Council

Congrats to our UDS Student Council

When you invest in young people of any nation, you are developing the leaders of tomorrow. Your continued support provides leadership development with our youth. In July, the students elected their student council from a field of interested candidates. They planned an installment program for their new leaders and to celebrate their accomplishments in their given courses.

As they were planning their program, Jackson George (Consul General of the Minnesota Liberian Consulate) contacted us about visiting our center during his trip to Liberia. The original plan was to have him visit on July 30, but this became a holiday for the senatorial election, so the students decided to invite him to their program so he could endorse their leadership and be their guest speaker.

Jackson enjoyed being part of this program and meeting our students. When asked in an email if he had anything to share about his visit he responded, “I just want people to know about the great work you are doing to help the people of Liberia. It was a learning and exciting process for me.” Everyone is very grateful to Jackson for making this a successful and memorable program.

The program started with the students from the various courses showcasing what they have learned during the first third of their term.

Your students showcasing what they have learned (left to right, top to bottom): Catering, Computer, Cosmetology, Electrician, Plumbing, and Tailoring students

Next, Jackson shared motivational words with the students about the benefits of learning a trade and also how to use social media to share what they are learning and to connect with people.

Jackson George, Consul General of Minnesota Liberian Consulate, inspiring UDS students to achieve their goals and make a difference

Jackson followed his talk by endorsing our new Student Council who will be serving until they graduate next year.

Congrats to the 2018/2019 Uniting Distant Stars Student Council!

New Student Council (left to right):  Teddy Jr, Ngayenga (President), Caraton M. Mahn (Vice President), Sylvester T. Yeah Jr (Secretary-general), Emmanuel L. Tarr (Financially secretary), Abraham C. Morgan (advisor), Zawida Gaylee (Treasurer), & Aujustine Kouadio (Chaplain)

Tailoring Students Making Uniforms for Hotel Management Students

Tailoring Students Making Uniforms for Hotel Management Students

When the 2018 course year started on March 20, our hotel management course enrollment quadrupled compared to the previous year. Our beloved instructor Amed Saah Blama, who our students affectionately call “Hotel Papay,” brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. His 19 students pleaded with our co-founder and director Kelvin Fomba to have specially designed uniforms that were similar to the ones in the various hotels and resorts in the country. Our students will also be interning later in this course at neighboring hotels York Town Plaza and Kailando.

Hotel Management Students with Mr. Blama in the back center 

The hotel management students shared their ideas on how the mens’ and womens’ uniforms should look. Once they agreed on the final design, this project was assigned to our tailoring department. The material was purchased at the end of May for the 11 tailoring students to start sewing the hotel management uniforms. This assignment prepares our students for how to sew a custom uniform for any industry or school.

You make their practical learning possible!

Your investment in our tailoring students is giving them the chance to learn the highly demanded skill of making custom African clothes, along with school and work uniforms.

“Education is Better Than Silver & Gold”

“Education is Better Than Silver & Gold”

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]

Your Students are Hard at Work as Graduation Nears

Your Students are Hard at Work as Graduation Nears

“Uniting Distant Stars believes in practical experience. Our students are so happy when they can do their practicals daily. They know graduation is nearing and learning everything they need to know before they receive their diploma. Good Luck students, you have UDS blessing already.” by Kelvin Fomba, USD Co-Founder & Director.

Your cosmetology students continue to apply their knowledge like pedicures to volunteers.

Can you believe it has been a year since our students started their vocational training journey? As you have seen throughout the year, our students are showing up to class daily and working hard to polish their skills in the given they field they embarked on. You made this quality learning opportunity possible by being their Classroom Hero and supplying the practical learning materials needed for them to successfully complete their course. You have witnessed their commitment and dedication to changing their lives for the better.

Your plumbing students learn how to install a tub and commode in our learning lab. 

Is Spring Time Here?

Is Spring Time Here?

By Crystal Soderberg, Uniting Distant Stars Communication & Volunteer Coordinator

Not quite! However, our current students’ graduation is coming up March 3, which means we are now accepting new students for this spring! Not only do we have information sessions and aptitude tests ready to be scheduled, but we have a tremendous deal going on for tuition as well. Uniting Distant Stars is offering a 50% discount on tuition for students until we reach our goal of 300 students enrolled.

Co-Founder Kelvin Fomba addressing the new student recruits for our 2018 courses.

One of our main goals is to make our courses affordable while also providing as much money as possible towards costs such as teacher’s stipends, student study guides, and general operations. A portion goes back to the students with their uniforms and ID cards. Also, our students are driven to learn by investing in their education. The course costs are as follows:
  1. $200 ($100 with 50% scholarship) for 12-month programs: Auto Mechanics, Electricity, Masonry, and Plumbing.
  2. $150 ($75 with 50% scholarship) for 9-month programs: Catering, Computers, Cosmetology, Hotel Management, Interior Event Design, and Tailoring.

UDS Team on Radio Talk Show to Recruit Students. Left to right: Roseline, Godfrey & Kelvin (left photo) and Roseline & Godfrey (right photo).

UDS has come a long way from holding classes out of our co-founder, Kelvin Fomba’s home and hopes to continue to grow our graduating classes each class period in our new Training Center. Previous graduates have been able to provide for their families by running printing and copying services, repairing and servicing cars or generators, working for local tailors or working side jobs to do nails and hair for the community.

If you or someone you know may be interested in registering for classes or supporting these youth in pursuing an education please reach out to [email protected]. Classes are anticipated to begin the end of March or Beginning of April! Other ways to spread the news are by following us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.