The student advisor turns and asks, “Madam President, why are you so stationed under the flag of Ghana?” At this question Regina, an 8th grade 4-H member begins to beam in her school issued yellow and blue dress uniform and brings her hands up to her chest as she begins her part of the 4-H […]
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Africa doesn’t matter…
I was sitting in the soil science lab grading papers when one of my Liberian colleagues struck up a conversation with me. It started out with him noticing that I was once again wearing a lappa outfit (lappa is the African fabric) and him teasing me and saying how much of a Liberian I have […]
Continue ReadingCelebrating Change
There was nothing but silent anticipation as I approached Korm. It had been 10 months since I left the place that became to be second my home, my family, and tribe. I sat in the front seat of the taxi unsure what to expect; would the 4-H club still be thriving, would the community still […]
Continue ReadingWhy
As a child my favorite question, like most children, was “Why?” I remember asking it repeatedly to anyone that would listen. Car rides with my parents were filled with questions like: “Why is the sky blue? Why is it called ‘lime light’?” or my favorite to ask, “Why did that person do that?” With my […]
Continue ReadingHanding Over
Recently, my 4-H Club held its Handing Over Ceremony to honor its past officers and induct the new ones. It was a brief ceremony and I kept it simple—it was the Friday of Sports Week, and I managed to secure a sliver of time between the morning footraces and the Friday prayers observed by Muslim […]
Continue ReadingThe Young Tomato Seller
As I walked down the dusty road towards the AgriCorps house I could hear the young children playing before I could see them. It was the first week back in school after the winter holidays and the students at the Tamale International School were running, swinging and catching up with their friends. Because this is […]
Continue ReadingA PICS Bag Half Full
She skips across the compound to a door hanging half off the hinges and motions for us to come over. Three women crowd through the narrow doorframe into a dimly lit room. The room is filled with corn cobs stripped of their golden kernels, pots, pans, gifts amassed from past visitors, but her eyes fix […]
Continue ReadingThe Ghana Network
They say ask and you shall receive. In Ghana, it’s more ask, then ask again, and again, then you shall receive. Recently, I found myself wandering through a market with the president of the Kumbungu 4-H club searching for a jerry can to convert into a nursery. If you don’t know, a jerry can is […]
Continue ReadingRice Fields
I’m a big fan of Humans of New York. Stories are incredible things. Brandon Stanton is one of those people who can create deep human connection with complete strangers. His ability to dig down to that structural piece of humanity that we try to bury so deep within ourselves is amazing. Sharing that is so […]
Continue ReadingEnough…
To anyone looking on, the day had been a series of utter failures….one hit after the other…the FFA meeting had only 2 members show up, the FFA movie night had to be cancelled, and the FFA officer induction ceremony (which I was really looking forward to) scheduled for the next day was forced to be […]
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