BMI 2022

Developing BMI into a self-sustaining model Vocation school in West Africa is currently the main focus of VESA as we look at add additional supported schools in coming years! The Lord hand is strong at BMI and so much progress has been made in just a short time.

BMI’s teachers rely on your direct support and can be fully supported to include room, board, training, and salary for only $1850? Dollars a year! Please consider supporting one of these superb teachers with your family and join us in the work the Lord is doing at BMI!

Current Amount Raised___

To Go for 2022:___

Note* Any extra support a teacher is given a year will be accounted for and go into BMI’s general Teacher fund for 2022. Extra-giving beyond the $10,000??? will support additional BMI hiring in growing VocEd fields.

2022 Teachers

Charles Abraham Dargor

Growing up in Liberia: Charles grew up with his parents here in Liberia. After graduation from High School he enrolled in American Embassy Security Training where he learned about Security Systems. After five years working in this area, Charles had a desire to be involved with agriculture. He was trained by the Liberian Agency for Community Empowerment where he received certification as a master trainer of business management and received a diploma in practical agriculture.

Focus at BMI: He currently farms 40 acres of his own and for the past two years has been teaching Practical Agriculture at the Betty Memorial Institute. His goal is to “mold the minds of young students to help them become productive people in society”.

Charles is grateful for BMI and knows that together, they can address the food security issues in Africa, provide additional food for the school and help these young people be successful and responsible.

Spouse: Badiatu Kiawu Dargor

Number of children: Five

Favorite Food: Rice

Felicia Mentor Duo

Meet Felecia! She is a second-grade teacher at BMI and the Campus Nurse.

Felecia’s life has not been easy. She and her family had to flee during the Civil unrest when she was 10, which delayed her education. When her family returned to Liberia there were insufficient funds so her education was delayed again. But Felecia never gave up. Over her adult years, she not only managed to complete her high school education but also earned certificates in General Education (teacher), Cosmetology, and Nursing Assistant/Community Health. In 2017, she enrolled in a School of Nursing to earn her RN degree but had to drop out due to financial issues and family responsibilities.

“Currently, 2018 to present, I serve as a classroom teacher for second grade and campus nurse at Betty Memorial Institute. By the aid of VESA Training at BMI, I am one of the vocational instructors and teach the Core Competency Course-First Aid. I hope and depend on God Almighty with great confidence that I will continue my school someday. I wish to learn more about nursing to be able to teach the vocational school and serve BMI.” Felicia

Children: 4 children and is helping raise a 4-year-old grandson

Favorite Food: Pumpkin with Rice

Support Felicia!

David Butler

Age: 67

Years at BMI: 1

Vocational Discipline: Metal Working

Favorite food: Torgborgee

Focus at BMI: Betty Memorial Institute is a Christian Institution. It is important to train our brothers and sisters becoming industrial in fabricating different kinds of local agriculture machines in processing their crops. That they will also be able to train other brothers and sisters which could bring pride to us, Betty Memorial Institute, the community, and that of Grand Cape Mount County.

Growing up in Liberia: I went to school at Congo Public School Mano River, Grand Cape Mount County. From third grade to ninth grade, and came back to Monrovia and attended the William R. Tolbert High School in New Kru Town Bushrod Island that is now called D. Tineh High School where I had the privilege to enter the Klay Basic Craft that is now called The Liberian Opportunities Industrial Center (LOIC) where I graduated in the area as an auto mechanic/metal worker. Another opportunity came to me where I was trained by Indians and Ghanian Engineers at the Liberia Industrial Free Zone Authority (LIFZA) Bushrod Island Monrovia where I did manufacturing of agriculture machines for local farmers in processing their crops after harvest. sdf

I was born under the union of Mr. Manneh Konneh and Mrs. Binou Q. Konneh of Grand Cape Mount County. I am currently 67 years of age and have 8 children (5 boys and 3 girls) from my first marriage. I am a grandfather to 17!

Support David!

Daniel Koon

Growing up in Liberia:

Daniel was born in 1995 in the capital city of Monrovia. His father is a social worker (associate health worker) and an assistant Pastor at the Ark of Confidence Church. His mother was a business woman, but due to illness she had to quit working. Daniel grew up under the care of his Aunt Elizabeth. She is the one who cherished him and prayed for him his entire life. Therefore, he considers her his true mother. Aunt Elizabeth sent Daniel to school and encouraged him through all his schooling and growing years. In 2003, as his aunt passed away, she challenged Daniel by saying, “Son, always believe in God and your path will be forever clean. Love, Mom”

Focus at BMI: Daniel has been teaching Electricity at BMI for two years and shares the following desires for his students:

“I want to accomplish the best of vocational knowledge for students at BMI. I want to accomplish BMI’s dreams…From High School to semi-university, my goal is to see Liberian students at BMI into a better tomorrow. My desire is to transform BMI for the biggest picture. I am ready to serve VMI to the fullest!”

Support Daniel !

Venus Mathies

Growing up in Liberia: Venus was born in 1980. There were six children in the family and her father abandoned them was she was quite young. Life was very difficult for her mother so she also left, leaving Venus under her grandmother’s care. Venus shared that even though life was very hard, God was watching over her and she gives Him all the glory for the good things in her life. At 7 years old, a kind lady named Augustus took Venus to live with her parents, Mr and Mrs Diggs. They became her foster parents, sending her to school and giving her a loving home. There were many difficulties for Venus over the years. In 1990, the Liberian Civil war caused them to flee for their lives and her education came to a halt. When they finally returned to Liberia in 1997 she was too old for school, so she began night school. Once she earned her High School diploma she went on to study Catering. Since then she started her own catering business with food, cakes and breads for weddings and parties.

Family: She is married to Harrison and has 4 children. Two of the children (Famatta 9 years and Oliver 2 years) are their biological children and two children (Blessing 16 years and Oliver 12 years) are adopted. She shares that they are a very happy family together!

Focus at BMI: Why does Venus teach Culinary skills at BMI? “It is an honor for me to work with BMI to make a difference in Grand Cape Mount County, a Muslim dominated community. I wish the students will become self-supporting and be able to make money from their work of fixing food. Helping children, as a believer, is something I have always wanted to do. I want to help empower young people with skills that will sustain their lives.” Venus

Spouse: Harrison L. MATHIES

Number of Children: Four

Favorite Food: Rice and Cassava Leaves

Support VENUS

Cece Nonamou

Growing up in Liberia: Nonamou was born in 1987. He and his family moved to Guinea as refugees in 1990. In Jr. High, his mother passed away, making it very difficult for his father to care for he and his siblings. But his father worked hard to provide an education for Nonamou and he is so grateful. After his senior year of high school he was sent to live with his aunt to further his education. He attended University where he earned a degree in mining engineering.

Leading up to BMI: During his school years, he met and married Blessing Nullah and had two children, but he was lonely for his father and family back in Liberia. In 2016, he decided to return to Liberia to find his father and relatives. Once Nonamou and his family settled in Kakata, they became a part of Mission Chapel where he became part of the ministry team. His wife also started a ministry of teaching home economics to widows in their church. Nonamou got a position at a Christian school teaching computer for the next three years.

Unfortunately, COVID ended his job and he was struggling to provide for his family. That’s when God stepped in.

At BMI: In December of 2020, Rev. Varney Freeman called to offer him a job teaching computer at ‘Betty Memorial Institute’. In January, he came to Grand Cape Mount County to teach. His family remains at Kakata and it is sometimes several months between visits, but Cece Nonamou believes this is God’s plan for him. Please remember to pray for Nonamou and his family.

Spouse: Blessing Nullah

Number of children: Two (Ellen, age 14 and Joe, age 6)

How Long at BMI: Two Years

Favorite food: Pepper Soup

Support Cece!

Saye J. Somwarbi

Before BMI: Saye is married to Oretha and God has blessed them with five children; three girls and two boys. After he graduated from High School he enrolled in the University of Liberia. When the Liberian Civil war broke out he had to put his education on hold. He finally graduated in 2001 with a BBA degree in Management and a Minor in Economics. Saye has been teaching Entrepreneurship at Betty Memorial Institute for the past three years.

“At Betty Memorial Institute, I wish to train and transform the youth of Liberia with entrepreneur skills. In other words, to instill in the minds of learners or trainees the entrepreneurial skills required for self-sustainability. Moreover, to ensure that BMI becomes one of the vest vocational institutions in Liberia.”

Spouse: Oretha Y. Somwarbi