January 18, 2025, Virtual Tea Time Recap

Thanks to those who attended! We had some technical challenges In Liberia and Minnesota, but we made it work. Unfortunately, due to this issue, we forgot to record it. Fortunately, we used our new internet service (the monthly cost is covered by one of our Star Champion donors) and one of the Chromebooks donated last year.  

We had two guests—Donna Cannon and Paul Ostrow (also Star Champions), and 20 staff and students in Liberia. Our two co-founders—Kelvin Fomba and Heather Cannon—hosted the event.

We want to shine the spotlight on Ruth Simbah, our first-grade teacher, who used her Chromebook to download educational cartoons and play them with her students.

Virtual Tea Time Staff and Students. The 11th Grade Students are wearing the multi-color pants and skirts.

Introductions 

The event started with introductions with their name and affiliation with UDS, and an icebreaker, “What is your hope for 2025?” Three themes arose from their hopes as follows:

  1. Peace and unity.

  2. Opportunity for others.

  3. UDS growth and expansion.

The event featured 15 of the 40 recipients of the Ishmael Gabbidon Memorial Scholarship fund. The remaining recipients will be named at the January 19, PTA (Parent Teacher Association) meeting. Also, we had four staff and one alum. All participants are listed below.

  1. Everlyne Washington, 10th grade & age 18, Event Decoration

  2. Emmanual E. Nimely, 11th grade & age 18, Electrician

  3. Faith N. Sarway, 7th grade & age 13, Event Decoration

  4. Favor D. Morwu, 10th grade & age 16, Event Decoration

  5. Ensezer L. Somah, 11th grade & age 18, Cosmetology

  6. Jessica Parker, 11th grade & age 16, Computers

  7. Kadiatu Jalloh, 8th grade & age 17, Computers

  8. Wisdom Z. Jallah, 8th grade & age 13, Computers

  9. Abraham A. Yeah, 10th grade & age 18, Electrician

  10. Emmanuel K. Konneh, 7th grade & age 13, Computers

  11. Gabriel A. Johnson, 7th grade & age 17, Computers

  12. Marthaline Yarpah, 9th grade & age 17, COmputers

  13. Angel F. Wilson, 8th grade & age 15, Computers

  14. Aloysious Fahnbulleh, 9th grade & age 17, Computers

  15. Blessing Kangar, 9th grade & age 14, Cosmetology

  16. Ayo Dee Richardson, High School Teacher

  17. Ruth Simgbah, 1st Grade Teacher

  18. Emmanuel Duwah, Cosmetology Instructor

  19. Godfrey Solomon, Academic Vice Principal

  20. Janet Johnson, 2023 Cosmetology and Electrician Graduate

  21. Fred Gibson, Assistant Administrator

Guest questions

Paul asked two questions. First to the instructors, “What are your most important needs?” Emmanuel Duwah answered learning materials and listed examples for cosmetology such as dummy heads, hair dryers, manicure kits, and pedicure kits. Ayo Dee Richardson requested whiteboards with markers or projectors to replace the blackboards and chalk. He mentioned how the latter can be hazardous to their health and messy.

Paul’s second question was, “What do you do for fun outside of UDS?” Ayo said playing board games. Then others responded by playing video games, football (i.e. soccer), and other activities.

Students Questions

Ensezer L. Somah asked if the scholarships would continue. Heather answered yes because the Ishmael Gabbidon Memorial Scholarship to honor his legacy and help others.

Faith N. Sarway asked Heather about her recent UDS Liberia visit when she promoted learning physics. Heather responded with some ideas for online learning and creating a lab. She would research options.

The next Virtual Tea Time will be in April.


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Your 2024 Year-End Review - Thank You for Empowering Liberian Youth!