From Me to You: Ghana - Vol. 1
Written: 06/12/2018
I've written alot today, but I thought it was important to begin my Ghana journals before I arrive. I visited Ghana before in July 2015 for two weeks as part of a high school volunteer program, and I loved it so much that I knew I wanted to return there this summer even before I created my project. During my first trip, I spent most of my time in the mountain town of Akropong-Akuapem, with a weekend visit to Cape Coast - the city which is the site of Ghana's slave castles - and only a few hours spent in Accra itself.
This first visit, though extremely fulfilling for me at the time, is one that I've come to realize was marked by white saviorist attitudes from the program I was visiting with, my peers, and even myself. My college education and volunteer experiences since then have made me realize that in two weeks there was simply no way to make a real, lasting change in the community in which I was volunteering. While what I did there was most likely helpful for a short time, I did nothing to help solve the larger issues of the daycare and school that I visited daily while I was there, and to be honest, I don't know if that ever crossed my mind.
This realization played a huge role in the creation of this project. Not only did I decide that I should spend more time in the city to get a wider experience of the country, but I also decided not to volunteer and to instead visit and observe in an effort to gain an appreication and understanding for things - particularly educational structures - as they exist here. Without seeking to "change" anything, as Westerners often do when visiting other places, I hope to gain a clearer picture of this subject matter, and also to view the country in a new and more authentic light. I'm excited for this next three weeks and for everything I'll learn at schools, in the communities I'll visit, and from my host family, who already seems wonderful. Wish me luck!
I've written alot today, but I thought it was important to begin my Ghana journals before I arrive. I visited Ghana before in July 2015 for two weeks as part of a high school volunteer program, and I loved it so much that I knew I wanted to return there this summer even before I created my project. During my first trip, I spent most of my time in the mountain town of Akropong-Akuapem, with a weekend visit to Cape Coast - the city which is the site of Ghana's slave castles - and only a few hours spent in Accra itself.
This first visit, though extremely fulfilling for me at the time, is one that I've come to realize was marked by white saviorist attitudes from the program I was visiting with, my peers, and even myself. My college education and volunteer experiences since then have made me realize that in two weeks there was simply no way to make a real, lasting change in the community in which I was volunteering. While what I did there was most likely helpful for a short time, I did nothing to help solve the larger issues of the daycare and school that I visited daily while I was there, and to be honest, I don't know if that ever crossed my mind.
This realization played a huge role in the creation of this project. Not only did I decide that I should spend more time in the city to get a wider experience of the country, but I also decided not to volunteer and to instead visit and observe in an effort to gain an appreication and understanding for things - particularly educational structures - as they exist here. Without seeking to "change" anything, as Westerners often do when visiting other places, I hope to gain a clearer picture of this subject matter, and also to view the country in a new and more authentic light. I'm excited for this next three weeks and for everything I'll learn at schools, in the communities I'll visit, and from my host family, who already seems wonderful. Wish me luck!
From Me to You,
Sydney
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