The idea for using computer-based literacy curriculum arose from seeing it work at our Mission Center, Center of Grace, for high school completion. Since Liberia’s schools were inactive during the war due to the violence overwhelming the population, there is a generation of children who missed their chance at education – many of whom were forced to fight in a horribly inhumane war. Frido’s programs are helping approximately 250 children at a time to reclaim a future by learning a trade. There is some literacy training, but classes are large and geared for the whole, not the individual student. A+ Curriculum is a natural fit so that many can learn at a time and at a pace they set.
God provided the funding of over $28,000 through Grace members and Grace Extravaganza plus the help of our friends at Step-Up Diploma Program at Center of Grace. The curriculum was taken to Liberia on two small flash drives as well as loaded onto two new laptop servers purchased for this purpose. God provided the team members who could do the technical work as well in Aaron Norton and David Love. Thanks to their work and computers donated by Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services and sent in the container that arrived in 2010, plus four other refurbished computers from Dr. Nevin Waters, Frido’s dream is being fulfilled. As he quickly learned how to work the program and saw the possibilities it presented, he began to plan how to implement the education. First his teachers will all be asked to complete the 1-8 grades of reading, vocabulary, language arts and math; the students will be next. The future is opening up to these young people because of Grace UMC.
Contributed by Lois Waters
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