Meet our New Partner: Action Faith Institute

STC is passionate about serving the children and families of Liberia by partnering with local leaders who understand how to best serve their own communities. We are excited to introduce our newest partner, Action Faith Institute (AFI) in Paynesville Liberia! The school began in 2001 with elementary grades and now provides Nursery through 12th grade on two campuses, graduating 30 to 40 students every year. Our goal is to help AFI grow their small computer lab into a larger program.
 
AFI’s Objectives for the Computer Program

With STC’s partnership we believe can achieve these goals:

1. Improve classroom learning for students and teachers
2. Help our students learn how to use the Internet for research purposes
3. Improve the overall learning program of the school to fit in the demands of the 21^st century
4. Help create jobs for students after graduation from high school
5. Prepare a generation of young people skilled in information technology to help empower their own lives, families, communities, and the nation at large
6. Help empower community members who are interested in computer education for self-sustainability

 LITTLE KORMASSA’S STORY, Told by an AFI Staff Member
 
There are several children in the AFI school who have lost one or both parents and are no longer hopeful. Some children have not lost parents, but their parents cannot afford to send them to school or afford a daily meal for their kids. For them, survival is the order of the day with no plan to educate their children. Every year there are several children with very sad stories at the school. This is the reality unfolding in Liberia today. 
 
Little Kormassa lost both her parents and lives with her aunt along with her two sisters and her brother. Her aunt cannot afford to send them to school. She sells fish in the market just to feed them every day. The aunt heard about Action Faith Institute and decided to take a step of faith to bring all of the kids to the school. She begged us to have them come to learn how to read and write. Since she has been enrolled at AFI, Little Kormassa has been lively and hopeful for a better tomorrow. This shows in her performance in her K-1 class and how she relates to her friends. We strongly believe that helping Little Kormassa and her siblings means bringing heaven down to them.
 
Thank you for partnering with STC to help make a difference for children like Little Kormassa across the world.
 
New Sponsorship Coordinator
 
A big thank you to Celina, for all her hard work on sponsorship! She was a joy to work with and a huge asset to the STC team. We wish her all the best.
 
Meet Our New Sponsorship Coordinator, Tina Sidorko
 
First and foremost, I’m a devoted disciple of Jesus committed to advancing the Kingdom of God through His love! I live in Tacoma with three fabulous roommates. We love community and providing a safe place for people to be seen, known and loved in our home. Serving as Hospitality Director at my church and caring for others there also brings me great joy. My passion and care for children and families started early. I was born in Belarus and moved to America as a small child with my family when we immigrated on refugee status because of religious persecution in Belarus.

I enjoy a great cup of coffee with a good book when it’s raining and a great cup of coffee and being out in nature when the weather permits. My life is full of the Lord’s goodness and grace! I am excited to work with Serve the Children because I believe in their mission to offer hope and a future through God’s love to underserved children and families. Before the pandemic, I was preparing to go to India with Doug Collier and a team in August of 2020. I have gone on mission trips with other organizations to Mexico and Uganda. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve been incredibly blessed to see God at work in those countries, telling His people they matter deeply. I’m also passionate about sponsorship because I know it is life changing for a child. I am thrilled to be part of the incredible work that God is doing through STC! If you have any questions about sponsorship, please email me at tina@servethechildren.com.