Concept of Operations
I, (association instigator and humble web master), spent 2 years in Sierra Leone working as a computer tech at the U.S. Embassy. I needed to get Microsoft Certification in order to obtain Special Incentive Pay (SIP Pay). The Embassy gave me a huge apartment that had been the Marine's social club, (the living room had a bar in it which we used as a classroom table by puting the bar stools inside the bar area facing the white board)-- this "bar" setup was from many years ago before the "blood diamonds" civil war that continued from 1992 until 2002. I was able to block off the back living area from the front classroom area of the apartment and turn the front area into a computer training classroom and lab.
Some of the people pictured above were not in the class. At the top is Thomas who was a banker that wanted to improve his marketability by self-studying the A+ course--it paid off, he is working for the U.N. now. Next over is Abraham, the Embassy's crack radio/telephone tech. He was in the original course and after the apartment course the Embassy sent him to Germany and he passed Security+, 2003 Server and Support and 2 other courses that I forgot the names of; all in row, smart guy(and his boy, little Abraham is smart as a whip too). The group photo has three of the Embassy mailroom guys in it. Khadi is the Embassy receptionist and she is the one that instigated this my going away party and made sure I got a really neat wall tapestry. Thanks Khadi.
Classroom Schedule
| Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thur |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
| 18:30-21:00 |
18:30-21:00 |
18:30-21:00 |
18:30-21:00 |
off |
off |
off |
This was our classroom schedule for the 70-291 Microsoft 2003 Server and Support class.
Voluntary Association
STGassociates are a group of individuals that have at one time or another expressed an interest in computer training or obtaining computer services from STGassociates.
Serving Others to Build a Progressive Nation
I met technicians in Freetown that were extremely motivated to impove thier lot in life and the lot of thier country. One fello was out to WiFi the whole city. A contractor I met floated around Freetown selling his services to various local businesses, (mostly banks), and was the certified microsoft instructor that held our Microsoft 2003 Server and Support Class.
Service to others is not a local tradition. The concept of helping others in order to help yourself is difficult to accept when just surviving is a struggle. Unemployment rates are difficult to estimate as Freetown serves as a magnet to young men living in the rest of the country, tempting them to come into town and try to make it in the big city. Most return to thier agrarian "roots" but the best and brightest stay and manage to find one of the scarce jobs that open up from time to time.
Service
Service to Others in order to serve oneself. Provide a valuable service and a living can be made.
The picture below succinctly epitomizes the prevailing attitude toward Service.
Inspiration for Prespiration
Oprah
I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint
- and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love
and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service,
working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.
--Oprah Winfrey
Being Stuck in Square One for 5 years...
Associate Ronald Johnson worked odd jobs and took computer classes for 5 years before he finally nailed a support job with local Freetown ISP LimeLine. Ron is looking to take the Cisco CCNA exams in two halves, first the ICND1 and then the ICND2. If anyone wants to lend him a hand by sharing your study materials (if you have taken the test) or maybe scheduling and paying for his test at the SiliconPro Prometrics Test Center (you can do this on the prometrics.com web site)--contact him on facebook by searching on his e-mail address: jongizron@yahoo.com
Is there anybody out there who
Is lost and hurt and lonely too
Are they bleeding all your colours into one?
and if you come undone
As if you've been run through
Some catapult it fired you
You wonder if your chance will ever come
Or if you're stuck in square one
--Cold Play
