what is operation classroom

OPERATION CLASSROOM

An opportunity to practice your faith and experience spiritual renewal

Through a mission to:

WHY LIBERIA and SIERRA LEONE

• Embodied both traditions of the United Methodist ChurchEUB – Sierra LeoneMethodist --Methodist

• Were both English Speaking

• Offered opportunities to meet our vision

THE VISION FOR OPERATION CLASSROOM:

1. To be a partnership mission program with the Liberia and Sierra Leone Conferences to upgrade the secondary education in selected United Methodist schools.

Upgrading the teachers

Our first college graduate

Providing school supplies

UPGRADING BUILDINGS

PROVIDING LIBRARIES

WORK-STUDY GRANTS

2. And to empower the laity to become more actively involved in mission embracing the concept of hands-on mission and thus assist in renewing the UM Church

IN SIERRA LEONE

The conference has over

300 primary schools and

30 high schools.

OC is in partnership with

12 schools and affiliated

with 2 other schools.

In Liberia

The Conference has 120+ elementary schools and18 + high schools. OC is in partnership with 7 schools.

The wars brought new needs. To help meet those needs we expanded our original mission

Although our primary focus is education

From one program area to five

Academic education is still a major focus in selected United Methodist Schools

OUR GOALS ARE:

To develop the school so it becomes self-supporting

To have the best educational system in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Vocational education and training is a high priority

OUR GOAL

To develop a program to train the youth in one more vocations that are related to their community.

To accomplish our goal we:

Assist in the development of a viable vocational education/training program

Assist in teacher training Assist in providing equipment and tools Supply other resources that are needed In some cases pay the vocational teachers until

the program becomes more self-sufficient

Operation Doctor – Medical

OPERATION DOCTOR and the UMC General Hospital at Kissy, SL

Assist in developing and upgrading specific medical programs (with an emphasis on community based health care)

Provide continuing education for the staff Provide salary support for medical director at Kissy Assist in renovating the hospital and constructing a

new mother and child hospital Assist in providing supplies and equipment Provide resources for specific programs – especially

the nutrition program Provide funds for the Samaritan Fund

OPERATION DOCTOR AND GANTA HOSPITAL, LIBERIA

Were more involved in the past than now. We Assisted in installing the water system Provided a short term administrator Sent volunteers Provided fuel for the generator Provided equipment and other supplies

OPERATION DOCTOR AND GANTA HOSPITAL NOW

Provides supplies and equipment Scholarships for the nurses school Provides some funding Assists in promotion Provides volunteers

GANTA IS CONSTRUCTING A NEW HOSPITAL

West Africa Trauma Teams (WATTS)

West Africa Trauma Teams (WATTS) OUR MISSION:

To train West African pastors, principals, selected church leaders, and teachers in a basic understanding of counseling, so that as they themselves experience healing, they are enabled to assist others in the healing process

To assist the conferences in providing trained counselors for the schools

To provide a counseling library in both Liberia and Sierra Leone To assist in developing and maintaining counseling centers in

Liberia and Sierra Leone To provide resources for programs to help the youth in conflict

resolution

Hands-on mission experiences

HANDS-ON MISSION EXPERIENCES

we have had over 600 people involved in workteams

We average over 350 persons involved in hands-on mission projects annually.

We have persons in Liberia and Sierra Leone also involved in hands-on mission projects.

THE CHALLENGE IS BEFORE US

2010 to 2015

GENERAL GOALS FOR EDUCATION

Provide college scholarships annually for 6 teachers Sierra Leone and Liberia to attend college locally

In-service training in science and reading Work-Study grants for students Make a greater emphasis on English grammar Provide the science lab equipment Provide school supplies, equipment, and textbooks Emphasize Spiritual life--Provide Bibles, commentary, devotional

books, UM doctrine, and other Christian literature to develop the moral and spiritual life of the teachers and students

Provide Sports equipment Have 5 schools become self supporting and become a partner

with 5 new schools Assist in the development of village schools in Liberia

A typical classroom scene

Some are classrooms are overcrowded

Chapel is held regularly

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Vocational classes will include: – Home Arts– Drafting– Agriculture– Business, Computer, Typing– Carpentry/Building trades– Masonry– Metal Working– Electronics– Soap making– Cosmetology

OPERATION DOCTOR/ Kissy

Provide in-service training for staff Provide salary support of Dr. Dennis Marke Assist GBGM and Kissy in the new Mother-child unit Assist in development of facilities -- including the urban

center Assist in development of and funding programs Assist in providing supplies, medication and equipment Help to establish a medical library Assist in the college training of nurses and other staff

OPERATION CLASSROOM/GANTA

Assist in providing books for the nursing school library Assist in providing supplies, medicine and equipment Assist in developing a more comprehensive health care

delivery system Assist in training of staff Continue to be a channel to send VIM medical persons Provide a channel for assisting in the funding of the hospital

WATTS

Continue training pastors, teachers and others in a basic understanding of counseling

Evaluate the Peal Center and assist in helping it to become basically conference funded or self-supporting

Assist in helping the schools to underwrite the salary of the counselors

Assist the Peal Center in providing Palaver Hut training for the youth and the “Children’s for Peace "program

HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES

Plan 4-6 teams each year Recruit special training teams for educational and medical staff Provide opportunities for individuals in Liberia and Sierra Leone Utilize skills of persons in program development Encourage local churches and individuals to participate in

hands-on projects Continue to have volunteers load containers Develop packing parties for each school

THE CHALLENGE IS REAL

With God all things are possible

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR OPERATION CLASSROOM THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE IT FOR HIS GLORY

WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN

We are only limited by our vision and resources