A Brief History of Christian Leadership Training International

The story of the Christian Leadership Training International (CLTI) is inextricably woven with the life of its founders, Sei and Yah Buor and their American friends. If you had to attach an actual time or place to when and where Christian Leadership Training International began, it would be 1997 when Sei enrolled at Loyola University Chicago to pursue a Ph. D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. At that time he felt compelled to step forward and answer God’s call to give back to his native land, war-torn Liberia, to serve God. That first step led to the founding the United Liberia Inland Church Associates and Friends (ULICAF) to assist Liberian refugees who had suffered first-hand the devastation during the 14-year Liberian civil war. As part of this effort Sei and Yah helped found the Liberia International Christian College (LICC) in Liberia’s second largest city of Ganta, in Nimba County, in 2009. The creation of ULICAF and LICC began a 17-year journey for Sei in God’s service first as an executive director, then as a President of Liberia International Christian College.

In July 2014, Sei and Yah transitioned from ULICAF and from the college. They were deeply troubled by the massive failure of high school students to pass the national university entrance exams, by the lack of basic support for women, and the lack of discipleship among students. Moved to help meet these needs of the people of Liberia, Christian Leadership Training International was established.

Christian Leadership Training International was established as a 501(c)(3) in 2015. Its establishment was the culmination of years of planning and visioning to create innovative education initiatives, leadership training, and an entrepreneurship program for Liberia. The goal is to effect transformation spiritually, socially, and economically in all areas of the community. Our mission is to provide short-term and lasting change to Liberia through three focuses: Education, Discipleship, and Entrepreneurship.

In the past year, CLTI responded to the cry of high school seniors, and worked alongside ten high schools to provide after school study program called Reaching for Academic Excellence (RAE). This program focused on preparing high school seniors for the West African Education Council (WAEC) exams in May 2017. These exams are required for all students seeking college or university admission.

This new project was our first outreach to high school students in the nation of Liberia. Why high school students you may ask? We are finding that an increasing number of high school students are failing the WAEC exams. From February through May this year, over 500 students from the city of Ganta participated in Reaching for Academic Excellence. This was done in collaboration with district education administrators, counselors, and teachers from over 10 area high schools. This joint commitment led to an 80% passing rate by those students who participated in the program for all 3 months; a feat previously unheard of in Ganta.

Currently, CLTI is responding to the desperate needs of high school students by developing a college preparatory high school in the city of Ganta.

This premier college preparatory high school will be our second major educational initiative in Liberia. The first was the development of Liberia International Christian College (LICC) that now offers degrees in theology, business management and accounting, agriculture, and education, and has graduated more than five hundred students.

It is critical that institutions of higher education have a robust pipeline of students well prepared for higher education in a nation where over 50% of its population is under the age of 18. Our goal is to provide a premier institution to equip the future leaders and developers of Liberia by providing a strong foundation of skills and knowledge to ensure the students’ success in higher education.

The years from 2015 to 2017 saw the expansion of Christian Leadership Training International’s work in Liberia to include an entrepreneurship program for women, and discipleship training among high school students.

Private donors, churches and foundations provide funding for these programs.

Dr. and Mrs. Buor travel between United States and Liberia to oversee and implement these projects along with local CLTI staff based in Liberia. Sei and Yah have been married for more than forty years, and are blessed with five children (three girls and two boys) and one grandchild.

Dr. Buor holds a Master of Divinity degree from Africa International University in Nairobi, Kenya; Master of Theology degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan; and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Buor is the author of two books: No More War: Rebuilding Liberia through Faith, Determination and Education and Vision, Valleys and Victories: Growing Liberia International Christian College.

Our Mission

Christian Leadership Training International (CLTI) exists to bring both short-term and lasting change to communities through creative education initiatives, leadership training, and innovative entrepreneurship programs.

Our Vision

CLTI’s vision is to effect transformation spiritually, socially, and economically in all areas of the communities in which we serve.

Our Threefold Focus

• Education: Provide coaching and study classes to improve students’ academic proficiency. Provide subsidy and scholarships to underprivileged and disadvantaged students. Construct a premier university preparatory high school.
  

  High school seniors participating in intensive study classes at 10 Ganta High Schools prior to college entrance exams. This after school program is sponsored by Christian Leadership Training International.

• Leadership Training: Coaching and drawing young men and women toward maturity in Christ, and ultimately change their lives.  (Matt. 28:18-20.)  Seek to increase opportunities for God’s Word to equip emerging Christian leaders and disciple new believers.

• Entrepreneurship: Support entrepreneurs by providing free, confidential, one-on-one consultation to their small businesses.  Provide “Seed Fund” for entrepreneurs who develop a good business plan to start initial business or enhance an existing business.

Our Values

Because of our faith in Christ we believe that God will use us in amazing ways.   – Eph. 3:20

• We honor and put Christ first in all we do.

• We believe in being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us

• We believe a true knowledge of God’s Word is the foundation for changing lives.

 

Board of Directors

Duane Schoenberger

Mark Oehler

CLTI Team (Liberia)

 

Arrington Ballah, Accountant and Finance

Abraham Bombo, Security

Walakwon Deanah, Security

Amelia Kpobile, Field Director for Entrepreneurship

Dickson Meah, Security

Chester Polay, Construction Project Manager

Jefferson Polay, Discipleship Training Coordinator

Henrietta Slemme, Property Maintenance

 

 

CLTI Team (U.S.A.)

Suliaman Dauda, Treasurer

Duane Schoenberger, Networking Coordinator