Imagine living in a remote African village of 250 people. There's little electricity, no vehicles,
and only three people can read or write. There's a mosque but no church. You dream of
teaching the children to read and to know Jesus, yet you can't afford teacher training.

That's the kind of need that the nonprofit Transformation Education, founded by Meadville
native Gwen Smith, is working to meet in Siena Leone, West Africa.

     Smith, a daughter of Melvin and Kathy Smith and a graduate of Calvary Baptist Elementary
School and Meadville Area Senior High, first moved to serve full time in Sierra Leone in
2007 after volunteering with Mercy Ships. What began as one teacher's step of faith has
grown into a network mentoring educators to bring literacy and the Gospel to unreached
communities.

     "Our mission is to help people know, love and live God's Word," Smith said.

The Sierra Leone team recently completed the sixth year of summer Bible and literacy

training. Now, during the school year, they mentor, evaluate and lead in-service trainings.

Here in the U.S., volunteers are supporting and praying for at least $30,000 in new annual funding to expand Sierra Leone staff and reach more schools.

     "Our vision is to help Christian educators reach thousands of children with both literacy and
the Gospel--especially in places where Christ is not known," Smith said.

Readers can learn more, pray or give at transformedsl.com.

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Note: You can donate to Transformation Education by clicking the "Donate Here" button above.