Transformation Education Ministry Info—Final information for 2007

July/August Training in Liberia
- With World Hope International—for one week Gwen joined a team of 6 Westerners to train 80 teachers.
- With Mercy Ship friends—for one week Gwen trained 20 teachers
- Gwen received training from Character Solutions International

Peaceful Presidential Election
Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to be in prayer for President Ernest Bai Koroma, inaugurated on November 15, 2007. The new President, a former insurance executive, aged 54, is the leader of All People Congress (APC). His main focus is to eliminate corruption and reduce poverty in Sierra Leone by effectively managing the nation's resources.

Prince Sama hired as Program Assistant
Prince Sama is a Christian brother who faithfully served with Mercy Ship’s Child Development Program from 2001-2004 and has diligently assisted in starting Transformation Education.

Teacher Training and follow-up observations in Sierra Leone
- Freetown Teachers College—Transformation Education trained 140 Education Majors who are now student teaching.
- Transformation Education trained 60 lecturers/supervisors so they could monitor the student teachers.
- Teacher In-Service Training—Transformation Education held 4 different training sessions for 153 teachers, from 17 schools.

Transformation Education Program Objective:

Program Aim: To improve the quality of education and increase the holistic development of children by introducing new learning and management methods to teachers in Sierra Leone.

Program Goal: Teacher training—The project aim will be achieved specifically through mentoring teachers in creating teaching environments with a Biblical worldview on:
1. classroom management
2. character development
3. learning styles and teaching methods


Character Development Goal:
Step 1: Help students and teachers understand that every person’s identity is related to
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Step 2: Help students and teachers develop Christian character by instilling, and
helping them form values that permit a better vision of the future that will allow them to love others as themselves.

Classroom Discipline Goal:
Teacher training—Help teachers understand and respond to Biblical discipline concepts, supported by the modern Assertive and Reality discipline methods.
Step 1: Maintain a loving “What would Jesus do?” philosophy.
Step 2: Prayerfully create and maintain a Bible-based classroom discipline plan that clearly states the classroom mission, rules, positive recognition plan and negative consequence hierarchy.
Step 3: Teach the Bible-based classroom discipline plan to the students, parents and school administrators.
Step 4: Consistently and faithfully maintain and reinforce the Bible-based classroom discipline plan.
Character/Moral Education in the National Curriculum
Our training sessions led to an invitation to meet with other organizations to assist in writing a new portion of the National Curriculum titled “Emerging Issues with Health, Democracy, Rights, and Gender.” Transformation Education proposed, and they agreed, to teach a corresponding character trait with each issue and sub-issue.

Transformation Education (TE) Resources
Most people in Sierra Leone do not have books, and teachers do not have curriculum to guide their teaching. Therefore, Transformation Education’s books have been serving as a resource for educators, pastors, and many others who enjoy sharing in the transformation process.
We have more resources that will be a blessing to Sierra Leone as soon as we raise funds to have them shipped. Books and computers have been donated and are being sorted and stored. The cost to ship a large container that will also include other large donated items, will be approx. $8,000.00. If you want to help provide educational resources to leaders in Sierra Leone either contact us (814) 547-4533 or send a donation through World Hope and make a note that it is to be used for shipment.

Gwen Smith, Program Director—Gwen has been in the USA since November 13, 2007 and will return to Sierra Leone on January 2, 2008. While in the United States, she has:
Attended a National Missionary Convention.
Informed people about Transformation Education in Sierra Leone.
Met with members to the Transformation Education Board of Directors.
Secured new resources.
Equipped herself with more resources on Christian Education.


Prince Sama, Program Assistant, has continued the work in Sierra Leone.
Monitoring teachers who are student teaching.
Collaborating with other education associations on the integration of Character Education in the National Curriculum and gathering resources.
Taking progressive steps toward equipping leaders with teaching tools.