August 12, 2023, Virtual Tea Time Recap

We held our fourth Virtual Tea Time and enjoyed a wonderful conversation with three guests in Minnesota and four students, and one staff in Liberia. Our Virtual Tea Time is “Uniting Distant Stars” because everyone in attendance has their unique skills and talents to make this a better world. Please save the date for October 28, 2023, Virtual Tea Time.

We provided the names and photos of the UDS Liberians participants and summarized answers to our guests' questions.

Introductions

1. Kelvin S Fomba, UDS Co-Founder, Director, Academic Teacher & Vocational Training
2. Beckie Bishop was promoted to the 10th grade. UDS is home and helps children get educated.
3. Lawrence Freeman was promoted to the 6th grade; in 2021, his house burnt down near our center, and they lost everything. UDS helped him to stay in school as his family relocated.
4. Joshua Leamah was promoted to the 6th grade and sells coconuts and biscuits to pay school fees and care for his parents.
5. Myrtle Stoe, 2018/2019 Hotel Management graduate and became the UDS Business Manager, Registrar, and 2nd in Command
6. Janet G. Johnson, Cosmetology & Electricity Student.

Guest Questions

1. How much time is spent on practicals? UDS believes 85% practical. The theory is two hours, and the practical can go as long as students want to work.
2. What has the hotel management graduate, Myrtle Stoe, done since graduation? She feels that the skills are transferrable to her current UDS role.
3. What career do you want to go into?
   • Joshua wants to be a lawyer.
   • Lawrence wants to be a civil engineer.
   • Beckie wants to be a doctor.
4. What time do you show up for classes and practical experience? Vocational classes are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The center was renovated in 2021 with a fence, and we built additional classrooms for the academy. So there is no overlap between academic and vocational students. Also, the vocational students and instructors determine the schedule at the start of each term (one year).
5. How many students are in the academy, and how many grades? We started with ABC (preschool) to 6th grade. They then added junior high in 2021. The 9th graders don’t want to leave and go to another school. The students petitioned that UDS establishes a high school. The number of students for 2022/2023 was 225.
6. How many students are in academic and vocational training? Academy closed in early July with 225 students. The government said the academic year will start on September 4, 2023. Vocational training students are 50 but might only be 35 to 40 graduating because some follow politicians and do not attend class regularly.
7. Any initiation of providing food for children to help them pay attention in class? We made tuition affordable to help parents feed their children. We don’t have support to do a feeding program. If we start a feeding program, we will drive students away because we could not enroll the volume wanting to attend. No other school is offering such a program.
8. How much does it cost to educate a child? Myrtle clarified the rates: Kindergarten is about $45, elementary is $50, and junior high is $75. This includes registration and tuition.
9. What is your favorite subject?
   • Beckie answered geography.
   • Lawrence likes science.
   • Joshua said social studies.
10. Why did Janet decide on both cosmetology and electrician courses? Cosmetology is her passion. She chose to do an electrician because no woman seemed to have a passion for it and wanted to take on the challenge.

Staff & Students' Questions to Guests

1. Myrtle asked about their careers. Guests shared their careers.
2. Janet asked how do you get involved with the UDS family? Everyone shared their reason.