Operation Classroom

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Operation Classroom It's not enough to just provide an education. We must provide the RIGHT education. Operation Classroom has its roots in Indiana.

The program took shape in 1987, led by John Shettle and Bob Bowman, newly-elected lay leaders of the Indiana Conferences of the United Methodist Church, to partner with UM Church in Liberia and Sierra Leone, with the mission of:

1. Upgrading UMC secondary education in Liberia and Sierra Leone
2. To be an avenue of renewal for the United Methodist Church
3. To provide hands-on mission experiences

for United Methodists

In 1989 a civil war erupted in Liberia, causing people to flee and schools to close. OC responded to the new challenges by opening refugee schools in Ivory Coast and in Guinea. In 1991 the war spilled over into Sierra Leone. OC continued to work in those schools that remained open and eventually opened a refugee school in Guinea. Surprisingly, despite the wars, OC was able to assist in the construction of four schools in Liberia and one in Sierra Leone

Thousands of persons were displaced or became refugees. Operation Classroom responded to the requests of the UM Bishops of both Liberia and Sierra Leone to provide clothing and basic supplies to assist those who were in desperate circumstances. The bishops also asked if we could assist in meeting the mounting medical crises brought on by the wars. OC responded by beginning a partnership with Ganta Hospital in Liberia and Kissy Clinic in Sierra Leone. In 1994 Operation Classroom was asked to help train West Africans to counsel those suffering from war trauma. Thus, WATTS (West Africa Trauma Training Seminars) was born. Since that time more than 150 Liberians and 75 Sierra Leoneans have received a basic understanding of counseling, and in the process have learned how to deal with their own trauma. Operation Classroom continued their partnership throughout the years of civil war, by shipping container loads of supplies, providing support for the schools and hospitals, and working with displaced, refugees, and ex-combatants. Following the war, OC continued its work with both schools and hospitals. Since then a number of other UM conferences have become partners with Ganta Hospital in Liberia, OC has put more focus on Sierra Leone’s Kissy Clinic (now “Kissy UMC General Hospital”). Changing times mean changing methods. Operation Classroom is in the process of restructuring and focusing a number of it's programs. It will remain committed to helping improve secondary education in Liberian and Sierra Leone by providing scholarships for deserving students who would otherwise be unable to attend school, by supporting a variety of school-related projects, and by shipping needed supplies to both countries. But the focus of OCI's mission now shifts to Career Education - partnering with the United Methodist Churches of Liberia and Sierra Leone to develop and implement innovative vocational education in a variety of areas - education that not only provides skills training, but equips students to escape the cycle of poverty.

Twenty -seven Core Science students in the Class of 2026. Wishing them the best on each exam day.
01/06/2026

Twenty -seven Core Science students in the Class of 2026. Wishing them the best on each exam day.

What a great way to end a fast week in Sierra Leone. Patti Napier is at the Lungi Airport and ready to fly home. Let’s ...
28/05/2026

What a great way to end a fast week in Sierra Leone. Patti Napier is at the Lungi Airport and ready to fly home. Let’s send prayers for a safe journey.

Rev Patti’s first 2 days on campus have been filled with worshipping at Calvary UMC, meeting with students in the Peace ...
25/05/2026

Rev Patti’s first 2 days on campus have been filled with worshipping at Calvary UMC, meeting with students in the Peace Hut, and meeting others on the campus.

Rev Patti arrived this afternoon at the campus of the Taiama Enterprise Academy . Have a great time!!! Thanks Ibrahim ...
23/05/2026

Rev Patti arrived this afternoon at the campus of the Taiama Enterprise Academy . Have a great time!!! Thanks Ibrahim for you special attention to the travel necessities with Rev. Patti.

ANSWERED PRAYERS... Patti's plane landed and Ibrahim has her in transit to Freetown. THANKS IB!!!
21/05/2026

ANSWERED PRAYERS...
Patti's plane landed and Ibrahim has her in transit to Freetown. THANKS IB!!!

Thanks for the prayers … Rev Patti’s plane is delayed in Washington DC due to a heavy storm. She has a 5 hour lay over ...
21/05/2026

Thanks for the prayers … Rev Patti’s plane is delayed in Washington DC due to a heavy storm. She has a 5 hour lay over in Ghana … so maybe if the plane leaves soon, she won’t miss her connection and will arrive in Sierra Leone on time.
She would probably rather be in the rice field instead of waiting in Washington DC.

Let us pray for Rev. Patti Napier as she departs the Indianapolis Airport bound for Sierra Leone. She leaves today aro...
20/05/2026

Let us pray for Rev. Patti Napier as she departs the Indianapolis Airport bound for Sierra Leone. She leaves today around noon and will be in Freetown on Thursday afternoon. Send her greetings and well wishes as she visits Sierra Leone Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and then Saturday she goes to be on the Taiama Enterprise Academy -T.E.A campus.

This week the Core Science year 3 students begin the high stakes WASSCE, the exam results that move them forward. Plea...
09/05/2026

This week the Core Science year 3 students begin the high stakes WASSCE, the exam results that move them forward. Please pray for these students will be successful in doing their best on each part of the exam. Let's give them words of encouragment.
Food is an important part of being ready for exams. Thanks to all donors of Operation Classroom.
https://www.operationclassroom.org/

Winners of the Academic Competitions last weekend at the Taiama Enterprise Academy -T.E.A Please help put names in pho...
07/05/2026

Winners of the Academic Competitions last weekend at the Taiama Enterprise Academy -T.E.A Please help put names in photo comments of the student being given the award and the person who is giving the award. Congratulations to all.

A splash of color... makes the room inviting. Thanks to the Student Union at TEA for putting all the pieces of this pu...
20/04/2026

A splash of color... makes the room inviting. Thanks to the Student Union at TEA for putting all the pieces of this puzzle together for the enjoyment of all.
Thanks for the final piece in the puzzle...The table cover project is all but completed. Rebecca Sesay, Student Union President and Ibrahim Senesi, the "uncle to all", Land Cruiser driver extraordinaire, and support of all student activities worked on Saturday...I'm sure that very soon all tables will have the covers.

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