04/26/25 Virtual Tea Time Replay

On April 26, 2025, we had another delightful time uniting volunteers in the US with staff, students, and alumni in Liberia. The Liberian Team included returning vocational training alumni taking a new course, UDS academic teachers taking a course, and academic students taking a course.

UDS USA:

1. Heather Cannon, Co-Founder and Executive Director

2. Kevin Nah, Volunteer & Stars of Tomorrow Podcast Co-Host

UDS Liberia:

1. Kelvin Fomba, Co-Founder, Country Director, Computer Instructor, Senior High Academic Teacher

2. Odell M. Gbehngeh, UDS 2023 Catering Alum and 2025 Computer Student

3. John Randell, Academic Teacher and 2025 Computer Student

4. Marthaline Yarpah, UDS Ninth-Grade Student and Tailoring Student

5. Aloysious Fahnbulleh, UDS Ninth-Grade Student and Computer Student

6. Mohammed Kemokai, UDS Second Grade Teacher and 2025 Computer Student

7. Mustapha Haji Kanneh, UDS 2025 Electrician Student

8. Christopher Cooper, UDS Junior High Division Teacher and 8th Grade Sponsor, and 2025 Computer student

9. Junior Peabody, UDS Eighth-Grade Student and Quizzing Team Member

Left to right: John Randall, Kelvin Fomba, Odell M. Gbehngeh, Christopher Cooper, and Mustapha Haji Kanneh. The other attendees left before the photo was taken.

The icebreaker was "What inspires you?"

Then we opened questions to Kevin Nah, who asked three.

1. "I would like to know what drove you or any of you to choose your area of study or area of interest."

2. "What are some other courses or areas of study that you would like to see offered at UDS going forward, or other programs you think could be introduced?"

3. “Who has written a resume or CV before?”

Finally, we asked the staff and students three questions, and they slid in a fourth.

1. John Randall asked, "I'd like to know the historical background, how you people get connected with the institution of UDS?'

2. Mohammed Kemokai asked, "I want to know the aim you people have towards Librarians or with the students of this noble institution."

3. Mustapha Haji Kanneh asked, "I want to know the long term and short term goals of the institution. We also want to know what your plan is in helping the people in the interior, getting them to know you."

Our next Virtual Tea Time will be this summer.