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On 6 March 1957, Ghana, under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, gained independence from British rule, ending decades of white minority dominance. Ghana played a central role in the decolonisation of Africa. The country’s independence was significant for the continent as it resembled the collective strength of the African spirit, and served as a precedent for many African countries to break free from the clutches of colonial rule.
Participants in Ghana: Developing Perspective will get a first hand look at how far this country has come.
A HUGE THANKS to our donors!!
Ghana Flag (below). The color red represents the blood of those who died in the country's struggle for independence: gold stands for the mineral wealth, while green symbolizes the rich forest. The star represents the lodestar of African freedom.
First, we would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to you who have donated. You’ve really helped to get the ball rolling! Please continue to share the message including this note from Sarah, who participated in our last trip:
Sarah Reagan
Ghana: Developing Perspective Statement (AKA Love Note)
While spending months seeing several other classmates picking and choosing their study abroad programs in Rome or Paris, I knew choosing a program in a place so comparable to the United States wouldn’t satisfy my desires for travelling during my time as a student. What I craved was my worldview to be challenged, exposure to different ways of living and honestly… a TON of personal growth. That’s when I knew a trip to Ghana was exactly what I was looking for.
If you look at Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand (the preferred destinations for the majority of students who study abroad), our similarities are much larger than our differences–we share a common heritage, level of development and our perspectives on the world are very similar.
Where cultural differences are greater and the challenges of working together more complex, then there is more opportunity for building those global competency and leadership skills. This is where Ghana comes in!
Ghana will expose students to traditional African art, sustainable development all while de-bunking every negative stereotype seen about African countries. Looking for colorful kente cloths, gold bangles, and artwork from out of this world? You’ll hit up the massive street markets like in Kumasi and in Accra. Passionate about African studies? Then get excited for the visit to the historic former slave trading castles in Cape Coast, it will definitely change your life. And get this- a few years back Forbes ranked Ghana as the friendliest African country and the eleventh most friendly in the world!
The experience is richer and the rewards greater if your study abroad experience pushes the limits of where you are comfortable. Learning to adapt to this environment was part of the fun!
It is harder to grow professionally and as a person if you stay entirely within your own comfort zone. The opportunity to study abroad in Ghana will no doubt spark a true love for Western Africa. This trip challenged my pace of life, showed me places that so few US students choose to see and ultimately, it served as a final catalyst in my decision to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Every contribution supports the next group of students who are striving to broaden their own horizons. Choose the level that's right for you.
(Below) A couple of Sarah's favorite photos from her experiential learning opportunity.
In Ghanaian culture, and across West Africa, Adinkra symbols are used extensively in fabric design, pottery, wood carvings, gold weights, building decorations, and more. Each symbol represents a concept or aphorism and conveys an aspect of traditional wisdom about life or the environment. There are many different symbols with distinct meanings, often linked with proverbs. One Adinkra that stands out today, Valentine’s Day, is “Akoma”, the heart. Unlike western culture where we say the heart simply means love, Akoma describes it in a bit more complex terms; Patience, Perseverance, Tolerance, and Hope.
Your donation today through March 11 will help to spread Akoma. Please feel free to share the message far and wide.
“It’s too expensive” or “I can’t afford it” are phrases we frequently hear from students about why they do not take advantage of study abroad programs. Yet a recent study that looked at Experiential learning in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University revealed some compelling reasons why students should:
But you don't need to take the academic's word for it. See what previous Ghana: Developing Perspective traveler, Brianna Monroe, Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration major has to say-
For me this trip meant new opportunities. Opportunities to grow, learn, and immerse myself in a new culture. I wanted this trip to give me the confidence to travel and push myself to branch out of my comfort zone. All of these things came true for me and I fell in love with it all. Enjoying the freedom of a new place, meeting the people there, learning the culture, and art. The artisans inspired me with their work ethic and talents that I would like to carry forward in my own art.
Other students should have this same opportunity because it provides an amazing opportunity to collaborate with other artisans, work under diverse conditions, and fall in love with another culture that can inspire their own artwork and show that art does make a difference in the world. This trip helped to inspire me to obtain a minor in anthropology and to apply to graduate programs in medical illustration that I am currently in the process of interviewing for. This trip was my single step in a journey of a thousand miles and can be for others too.
Your donation will help put Ghana: Developing Perspective within reach of more students. Please pick the level of giving that is right for you and make a long-term difference.
This is an expression students will see and hear numerous times on this journey. Ghana is known for the hospitality and friendliness of the people, something students will experience daily as they travel the country. Akwaaba! means ‘Welcome’! And it’s genuine.
One of the first ways we are often introduced to a new culture is through the food. It won’t take long after landing to discover which of the travelers have the most open and adventuresome spirits. Everyone will try something new. Everyone will be surprised by something that they like. And everyone will come home with an interesting culinary story to share. Fufu is a favorite dish for many Ghanaians.
Traditional crafts are integrally tied to Ghanaian culture and Kente, a cloth made of intricately woven strips, may be the most iconic. As students learn directly from artisans about their crafts such as Kente, bead making, brass casting, wood carving, fabric dyeing, etc., they’ll also be absorbing knowledge about the people and history of Ghana.
Our environment is fundamental to who we are and how we function. For a country about the size of Oregon, Ghana’s natural environment is very diverse. Between the sandy seashores of the south and the desert-like Sahel of the north, lies everything from tropical rain-forest to woodlands, and savanna. Students will have a chance to observe, explore, and experience these diverse ecosystems, including a stop at Mole National Park where a walking safari may give them an up close and personal view of African elephants in the wild. The shy Pangolin, (an endangered, scaly anteater), is more illusive.
"Fie" is Twi for house or home. Like the landscape, the architecture in Ghana varies greatly. Whether mud and thatch, brick and tin, or steel and concrete, ‘home’ is what we call the places where we live. Students will contemplate what we need to be happy and healthy, and what it means to live sustainably. They’ll also come to appreciate ‘home’ as being much more than any type of structure.
It seems very strange when you first hear this common Akan phrase cast in your direction, "Where are you going"?! But as you settle into the rhythm of the country, you come to realize that it’s a friendly, caring, gesture akin to “Hello, How are you”?, combined with “Can I help you find…”? Don’t be surprised if students who are able to go on this journey, return home with a more defined sense of life direction and the confidence to reach their destination.
There are different ways to travel. Often times we travel to spend time with friends or family. Sometimes we travel to escape and relax. Other times we’re seeking new knowledge, experiences, or ideas. While we hope that the students who are fortunate enough to be a part of this learning tour experience at least a little of all those things, the service-learning projects provide a unique situation for something deeper. A transformation often happens when working alongside peers and counterparts toward a common goal. When first arriving in Ghana it's common to be called "Obruni", which means white man/foreigner, but by the time comes to depart, many will be called "Adomfo" which means friend.