Testimonies of Transformation

The teachers were asked, “as a result of the Transformation Education Training what are the most significant changes you plan to make in your personal life, classroom, school and community?”

“In my classroom, I hope to use a classroom discipline plan to help shape the character of my children and bring them closer to Jesus Christ. In the school, I plan to work closely with other teachers and my head teacher, all that I have learned here to help build good character in all of the classrooms. In the community, I pray that as pupils of my school go through these changes, other children and people will copy them for a better life.” By James Donnie Manley

“I have learned about how I should handle my classroom to become a safe and enjoyable place to get an education. The heart transformation teaching actually changes my whole being and make me to realize how to treat my pupils and others. The Biblical Based Curriculum (BBC) and all the topics treated clearly changed my knowledge and have love for God.”

“As a teacher, I’ve learned that the heart first has to be transformed in order for you to be able to live a life that is of importance because when the heart is transformed, you will yield an abundance of fruit. When teaching, you need to have a personal relationship and concern for your children and also for their parents or guardians. You have really changed our whole mentality of teaching. We hope you will be coming to schools to check and make corrections.”
By Karim Mansary

TE NEEDS HELP with the Center for Transformation Education

CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION EDUCATION (TE) a place …to empower educators and Christian workers to create a society that transforms toward God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.

Rational for the Center of TE :

• Christian workers need Biblical resource access to help them teach the truth verses the many rampant heresies
• Educators need resources. There are not enough to give to everyone but they can come together to share and borrow. (books, teaching aids)
• We need a stationary, accessible training/workroom space (save on transporting workshop items from school to school.)
• Educators and Pastors have the desire but not the computer training which would help them in their ministry. (publishing, book keeping, networking)
• TE staff needs office space: Currently 4 TE staff are sharing one desk and 3 chairs in an overcrowded office, not enough room for a container full of computers, photo copy machine and books.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7

Center for Transformation Education Thanksgivings!!

• Staff united with same vision and desire
• Sierra Leone Educators and Christian workers are doing what they can to help the center to become reality (search for office space, advising)
• Church family and friends who have spent hours gathering, sorting and boxing the items that were sent. (Smith’s for storage space and coordinating packing efforts, First Christian Church members)
• Money for shipping raised by the TE Front Line team in Meadville with many contributors and EduNations strong support.
• Donated items given by many churches, schools and individuals in the US (computers, printers, books, photo copy machines, generators, chairs, file cabinets, clothes that cushion the computers, cell phones, videos and various teaching aids)

• Container Shipped: September 12^th thanks to Smith’s and EduNations coordination

YOU CAN HELP the needs are.

Donations will provide: Minimum (min.) figures

Rent a learning center space…………………………………..$5,000 min. / year

Furniture (computer tables, chairs, bookshelves, desks)…….. $2,000 min. start up

Staff Salaries

(qualified computer technician, librarian and manager)…….. .$1,800/month. Min.

Day to day operations

(water, electricity, generator, cleaning…)…………………… $500/month Min.

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS

TRANSFORAMTION EDUCATION STAFF

Staff member:
Top Left Gwen Smith, Top Right Ryanne Shafer
Bottom Left Prince Sama, Bottom Right Solomon Sogbeh

The New Girl in Town / Ryanne Shafer

Hello TE supporters! My name is Ryanne Shafer and I moved to Sierra Leone on August 29^th to volunteer with Transformation Education. Thank you for all you do to make this program happen! I am happy to be here in Freetown, and working with the teachers here. Here’s a little bit about me: Originally from Illinois, I moved to Sierra Leone from Alexandria, Virginia where I have lived for the past three years with my husband, Jon. I have my Master’s Degree in Education from Aurora University. For the past three years, I have been teaching first grade and loving it. About a year ago, my husband and I both felt God calling us to step out and volunteer. We came across World Hope International, and worked with them to find a fit for our backgrounds. Transformation Education was perfect! The more I found out about it and Gwen, the more excited I got to come and be a part of this work.

The first week I arrived in Sierra Leone, I got to conduct a part of the teacher workshop. Gwen and I are a natural team together, and compliment each other well. Since we were housemates for the first month, we found that we also have many of the same personal interests. It is such a blessing to be here, and be able to take part in what God is doing.

Gwen Joy Smith / Director of TE:

Gwen is praising God for the many blessings and prayerfully working toward the goals of introducing and spreading Biblically Based learning and management methods in Sierra Leone’s primary schools in order to improve the quality of education.

Gwen’s aim is as Paul stated Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I work hard with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Prince Sama / Co-Founder of TE:

Prince is resigning from Transformation Education so he can pursue his studies in Christian Education full time. It is hard to put in words the valuable contributions Prince has made in establishing Transformation Education here in Sierra Leone. With Christ as his source he has blessed many. We pray the Lord’s blessing on him as he takes time to “sharpen the saw” and further develop himself for ministry.

Volunteers Staff given a stipend:

Solomon Sogbeh /College Student Summer Intern

With a humble willing heart, appreciation and enthusiasm for teaching and learning Solomon was a valuable asset to TE’s team. He is now continuing Public Health studies in college.

Sahr Samuel Sam/ friend and former translator from Mercy Ship 2002-2004

Sam has started volunteering with TE. His computer skills, diploma and experience in development are positive assets to his contributions to TE.

Sam is married with two children 4 and 6 yrs old. He is looking for full time employment which TE is prayerfully considering.

TE Partner school Maikonko

Helpful hands off loading the rice World Food Program delivers for the student's lunch at EduNation's Light House Prep. Schools in Maikonko, Tonkolili District.
Character Development Sample Lesson: RESPECT
The students enjoy investigating the stranger, drawing in the dirt of the vehicle, and looking at their reflection from the vehicle.

Transformation Workshop with College's Distance Education Students

Freetown Teacher's College and TE's Coordinating and implenting team

Prince Sama, Mrs. Sarinna Sommer, Mr. Martin, Gwen Smith, Martyna Foday

Ben presenting his small group's Classroom Discipline Plan

Poster Paper needed to implement their new Classroom Discipline Plan

We are all special and loved...pass it on.

Transformation Butterfly Workshop Photo

"be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good pleasing and perfect will. " Rom. 12:2

School in Mayatta Need Secure Library Space

A village leader giving his blessing for Transformation Education Training at Light House Preperatory School in Mayata.

If they could build a secure storage room they would receive free new textbooks that were donated from the USA.

Terry Ortman author of Biblical Based Integrated Character Curriculum

Terry Ortman join Transformation Education in training teachers on Biblica Based Curriculum and modeling it at assemblies and in the classrooms.

Learn more at http://gwenjoy.blogspot.com/

For additional information about Transformation Educations see
http://gwenjoy.blogspot.com/

NEWSPAPER WRITEUP

Area woman to return to Africa to improve educationBy Jamie Musick 12/31/07 —

Gwen Smith is on her way to transforming a country’s education system one step at a time. What began as a vision is becoming a reality for the Meadville resident, who with the help of volunteers and several donations, is instilling inspiration in students and teachers in West Africa.

Through EduNations and World Hope International, two worldwide organizations providing relief, education and development to the poor, Smith spent about seven months from May to November in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, in West Africa, to improve the country’s education system — and now she returns Jan. 2 to continue that work.

Smith returns to the United States on a yearly basis during her five-year project, known as Transformation Education. In a country plagued by poverty and poor education facilities, Smith has trained teachers by offering classroom management techniques, character development and various learning styles. But it’s only the beginning, according to Smith.

“I really enjoy seeing the transformation and change of teachers and students where they apply the methods and see they’re valuable,” said Smith. “A lot of them are very enthusiastic about it. We’re just getting started.”

Her efforts, along with other volunteer teams, have already been a success in a country where very little money and resources are available to support school classrooms. According to Smith, a Christian elementary school opened mid-September near Freetown, serving nearly 50 students, while plans are underway for a secondary school in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. But there’s more to come.

“We’d like to open a learning center where people can access and learn how to use computers,” Smith said. “That’s a long-range goal.”

As Smith returns to Freetown, she’s taking three boxes full of books. Through donations from community members and area school districts, additional books, along with computers and even a tractor, will be shipped to the country.

Smith, a longtime Meadville resident and 1992 graduate of Meadville Area Senior High School, embraces the opportunity to help others and encourages community members to join in the effort. A 1996 alumni of Penn State University, Smith did student teaching in England in college and earned a degree in elementary education. She has also taught in North Carolina and Virginia schools.

“I think it’s important for people to know what’s going on in other countries,” Smith said. “I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve done.”

Smith’s involvement with Mercy Ships, a global charity providing hospital ships to developing countries, sparked her desire for the project in Sierra Leone. Smith had served as a receptionist for Mercy Ships in 2002 and worked extensively with Mercy Ships’ Child Development Project and Creative Arts education program, which she said started as a restoration effort for children to overcome trauma from Sierra Leone’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2001.

While the people of Sierra Leone are primarily Muslim, Smith is integrating a Christian world view within the classrooms to encourage them to value and love one another to tackle the nation’s struggle with poverty, hunger, AIDS and child trafficking.

“I do like how they (Sierra Leone natives) have a sense of wanting to improve, especially in the education system,” Smith said. “It’s a survival thing for them.”

YOU CAN HELP

Anyone interested in getting involved with the project or making a donation may contact First Christian Church in Meadville at (814) 336-3540 or World Hope International at (888) 466-4673.

http://www.sierraeye.net/Society/Area-woman-to-return-to-Africa-to-improve-education.html
or
http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/local_story_364223022.html