Thank you for giving the gift of learning in 2024 to Liberian Youth!

Top left to lower right: Cosmetology students practiced plaiting hair, UDS academic students learning computers, a female electrician student was at work on a field project, and event decoration students designing slippers (aka sandals).

In reviewing 2024, you helped more Liberian youth learn valuable trade skills and discover their worth. We continue to face economic challenges in Liberia that hinder our recruitment numbers compared to pre-pandemic cohorts. Our tuition is lower than other competent institutions and reducing it would diminish the training quality. We are grateful to everyone, who supports our programs and sponsors young people!

Additionally, we are grateful for the following:

Built a permanent electrician lab funded by one donor.
Welcomed three returned visitors—Judge Bill Littlejohn (Texas), Martina Gargard (North Carolina), and Heather Cannon (Minnesota), Co-Founder & Executive Director.
Held three Virtual Tea Times with co-founders, supporters, students, and staff.
Started the first group of UDS Academic Students to learn trade skills.
Launched our new website on Squarespace.
Interviewed and recorded eight alumni testimonials, who graduated from 2019 to 2023 in October.
Launched the Stars of Tomorrow Podcast.
Installed new internet service and one Star Champion covers the $75 monthly service.
Applauded five people for hosting Facebook Birthday Fundraisers.
Received 50 Chromebooks and assigned some to the staff.

Looking ahead to 2025, we will graduate the seventh cohort of vocational training students in January and welcome the eighth cohort in February. Some of our goals include:

UDS Board Development.
Solidifying sister school relationship.
Focus fundraising on increasing monthly donors, student scholarships, and course sponsorships.

Revenue

Your efforts raised $23,624.58 for Liberian Youth. We increased our Star Champions (Monthly Donors) to eight (8) and they provide 17% of this year’s revenue. Also, we increased in-kind donations and they represented 9% of total revenue. Here is the breakdown:

90% from businesses and individuals
9% received from corporate (includes employer matches) and foundation grants
1% earned interest from a high-yield account.

Expenses

Uniting Distant Stars allocated $16,569.08 to the programs and projects listed below. There was $6,363.75 carried over in 2023 donations.

Donors helped improve the Learning Environment with a permanent electrician lab, unlimited internet service, and training materials and supplies including 50 Chromebooks and over 6,000 e-books with $7,935.00 (48%).

Nine sponsors for 16 vocational training students (including 12 academic students) covered the tuition of $2,455.00 (15%).
Two sponsors supported four academic students with full 2024-2025 school year scholarships at $1,300 (8%) attending UDS Academy and other schools.
Replaced two solar batteries from 2019 for $700 (4%).
Administrative costs totaled $4,179.08 (25%).

Assets

As we close the books for 2024, our current assets are $23,666.52, of which 24% is allocated for programs, 26% for capital projects such as the new center construction and refresh of learning materials, 43% unrestricted funds for operational and program needs, and 7% set aside for reserves.

Donors

Thank you so much to all our supporters for your continued commitment to Liberian students receiving quality education! (*** represents Star Champions (Monthly Donors)).