On Saturday, August 1, 2020, 60 vocational training graduates arrived to receive their diplomas. Two others showed up that day to check-in and received their diplomas later in the week. Since the schools closed in March, some students left the city to spend time with their families in the interior. So, we could see additional graduates in the coming weeks or months.
During the months of June and July, students came to the center to take a photo in a cap and gown for their diplomas. We took these photos and arranged them their respective courses as shown below. Please join us in congratulating the 2019/2020 graduates in receiving their diplomas!
Meet your Catering Graduates who made all the delicious treats during the past year. Some interned at Kailando Hotel near our center.
Meet your Computer Graduates who have learned the components, typing, and Microsoft Suite. Graduate with *** took 3 courses and ** took 2 courses.
Meet your Cosmetology Graduates, who have learned how to style hair, give facials, and manicures/pedicures. Graduate with *** took 3 courses.
Meet your Electrician Graduates with our first female, Mayesa, who learned how to work and install electricity along with installing our second phase of solar.
Meet your Hotel Management Graduates, who learned the many different roles from the front desk to housekeeping. Some interned at Kailando Hotel near our center. Graduate with *** took 3 courses and ** took 2 courses.
Meet your Plumbing Graduates who learned how to install pipe and fixtures, and connect the waterline, and your Tailoring Graduate learned how to cut and sew any outfit you would like.
Our heartfelt THANKS for being part of their year-long learning journey! Your kindness and support helped them achieve this important milestone of graduating.
One of the best things about a new school year is connecting with new students. One of those new students, J Taryoungson Brandy, posted about his computer class on Facebook and talked about learning how to set up a desktop. Through a Messenger discussion, he shared that he is both a computer and hotel management student. He enrolled in our computer course because we offer the entire Microsoft Suite. He further explained that he attended another school and received a certificate in Microsoft Word, but they charged by the application and he could not afford to continue.
J Taryoungson Brandy (maroon shirt) setting up a desktop computer; another classmate taking a selfie with his classmates behind him.
He also appreciates the quality of teaching from our instructors. He ended our conversation by saying, “I will also be in the forefront to spread the good news and opportunities that you people are rendering to the Liberian people.” Your generous support makes it possible for Mr. Brandy to gain valuable marketable skills in two trades during the next year!
Your generous giving changes the lives of young men and women participating in our vocational training program. Marron Zor enrolled in our computer course one year ago with no prior experience. She first connected with me on Messenger in August 2018. The students were learning Microsoft Word at that time, and she explained how she enjoyed working with tables and inserting text. She then shared her excitement after passing the Microsoft word test and looked forward to the next section!
Now, fast forward to March 2019, and Marron messaged me to announce that she is graduating. She then said, “I want to appreciate all of you for giving Liberian youth vocational knowledge. I now know how to work with Excel, Access, Word, Publisher, and PowerPoint. I also thank Mr. Fomba (instructor) for his hard work. I hope to see myself in my own cafe or working at the bank.”
Your impact as a Classroom Hero gives students like Marron a chance to learn a valuable skill and gain the confidence to pursue a better future. Thank you for investing in Liberian Youth, because they are worth it!
UDS launched our student recruitment by participating in three radio talk shows: Radio Advent (93.7) on February 12, United Methodist Radio (98.7) on February 13, and Truth FM (96.1) on February 15. For each talk show, our team consisted of students and staff to explain our program and the benefits of enrolling as a student.
Radio Advent (93.7) – February 12
This station, located on the Old Road, is near our center. We developed a relationship with Radio Advent the first year we opened our center. Because of this relationship, they looked forward to putting our team on the air, including Kelvin Fomba (Co-Founder & Director), Godfrey Solomon (Administrator/Registrar), Boakai Dillion (2018 Graduate & Assistant Electrician Instructor), and Myrte Toe (Hotel Management Student).
Boakai Dillion (left) tells the listeners how his UDS experience is a blessing. He shared how he received contracts as an electrician before he graduated in March 2018. He returned as the assistant instructor to help with training our current students. (Godrey Solomon on top-right and Kelvin Fomba bottom-right)
Myrtle Doe (left) explained how her passion is to work in the hotel industry. She is grateful for UDS for offering this program. She shared her experience serving our guests from Sierra Leone Foundation for New Democracy-SLFND during the Permaculture training.
United Methodist Radio (98.7) – February 13
This station is in the neighboring suburb, Sinkor. We established a continued relationship with them since 2017. For this show, our team included Kelvin Fomba, Godfrey Solomon, Boakai Dillion, and Adjusting Kouadio (Computer Student).
Adjusting Kouadio (right) shared with the listeners how she used to feel like there was no hope but this changed for her when enrolling with the UDS computer course. She expressed her gratitude for how much she learned. She then encouraged the youth listening to come and learn at the UDS trade school. (Kelvin Fomba on left and Boakai Dillion at center).
Truth FM (96.1) – February 15
Friday, we went further away from our center to Duport Road in Paynesville, one of the largest suburbs of Monrovia. This talk show allowed listeners to call in and ask questions of our team: Kelvin Fomba, Godfrey Solomon, Amed Saah Blama (Hotel Management Instructor), and Abel Kabba (Plumbing Student).
Abel Kabba at right gave an inspiring talk about how his life transformed from living on the streets to learning a valuable trade at our vocational training center. He encouraged other youth in similar situations to know they have a choice for a better life by coming to UDS and learning a skill.
Your gracious and generous support inspires and motivates our students to succeed in their training. Please watch theses three short videos of Adjusting, Boakai, and Abel as they share their stories to the listeners. Thank you!
Adjusting Kouadio (UDS Computer Student), encourages youth to have hope and enroll in the UDS vocational training school.
Boakai Dillion, UDS 2018 Graduate & Assistant Electrician Instructor, shares how much UDS vocational training program transformed his life.
Abel Kabba (UDS Plumbing Student) shares his story how vocational training changed his life.
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!
