what is operation classroom
DESCRIPTION
Operation Classroom is a partnership mission with the United Methodist Church in Liberia and Sierra Leone to upgrade the education in UM schools and to provide a more comprehensive health care system.TRANSCRIPT
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