
Hear how the Ormsby School is Transforming the lives of children in Baiwalla, Sierra Leone
Join us to hear Pastor Judith Gaima, Director of the Ormsby School in Sierra Leone, as she shares how God has worked through her to develop a model school in the remote rural community of Baiwalla. Through captivating photos and stories, Pastor Judith will recount the school’s remarkable growth—from 120 students in the 7th and 8th grades to nearly 500 students across 12 grades in just 6 years. Discover what the school offers and hear what teachers and students have to say about their experiences. Be inspired by Pastor Judith’s journey and the vision that motivated her to create a school in her hometown.
Judith Gaima’s Background
Judith Gaima grew up in Baiwalla, Sierra Leone, a rural town dependent on subsistence farming. As the daughter of the local chief, Judith held status in the community, but her family still faced financial struggles. Food was scarce, and Judith often went hungry, sometimes having only one meal a day or going days without eating. These hardships affected her performance in school, and she occasionally fainted from hunger.
In the 6th grade, Judith’s older sister took her to the larger town of Bo, where she enrolled in a senior secondary boarding school—after passing the required entrance exam. For Judith, the school was a blessing. She had her own bed, three meals a day, and excellent teachers who introduced her to a loving God. Her grades improved dramatically, and she began to dream of attending college, though she knew she would need financial aid.

During her time at the boarding school, Judith made a promise to God: if she could earn a college degree, she would return to Baiwalla and establish a school like the one she attended in Bo—one with excellent facilities, caring teachers, and a nurturing environment. This teenage dream became the driving force behind her passion for developing the Ormsby School.
Judith did receive a scholarship to attend college in Sierra Leone. After graduating, she taught home economics for a year before taking on various roles within the United Methodist Church. In the early 1990s, as civil war loomed in Sierra Leone, Judith’s daughter, who was studying in the United States, urged her to leave the country. Judith moved to Minneapolis, where she joined Simpson UMC. Recognizing her potential, the pastor, along with several others, raised funds to send Judith to seminary.
After completing seminary, Judith was ordained as a United Methodist Pastor and served several churches in rural Minnesota. During her ministry, she shared her dream of establishing a school in Baiwalla with her District Superintendent, Rev. Rick Ormsby. He helped raise the funds needed for Judith to return to Sierra Leone to start a church in her hometown. A few years later, a generous donor provided the funds to build a secondary school, and the Ormsby School was completed over three years. It opened in the fall of 2019 and has continued to grow and flourish, fulfilling Judith’s promise to God and her lifelong dream of providing quality education in Baiwalla.