Wisdom Academy - Ghana

In the spring of 2016, I was fortunate enough to travel to Ghana, West Africa on a sixteen day service-learning trip with a nonprofit organization called Project Wisdom. This program, Project Wisdom, strives to develop global awareness and leadership in the local school systems through international community building and service-learning. With this trip, valuable connections were made and vast amounts of knowledge was gained. Meeting with many different organizations and global partners allowed me to discover my passions, goals in life, and what I hope to achieve in the future. The 2016 trip ended in the same place that the Project Wisdom organization began nearly a decade ago - Kitase, Eastern Region - at Wisdom Academy. Our focus in Kitase was on education and reflection. Students, like myself, had the opportunity to visit classrooms and teach prepared lessons. I taught the Form 5, or 5th grade class, some complex algebra. I expected the students to be confused and bored, but I did not expect the level of intelligence these students had or their eagerness to learn. They were excited to try something new. These few days in the Eastern Region of Ghana were some of the most memorable days of my life. As Nelson Mandela states, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". This trip showed me how crucial education is to our world and how fragile education systems in countries such as Ghana really are. Change can happen, and the students of Form 5 sparked something in me that has not dimmed since my return.

Wisdom Academy is unique in many ways, as its teachers are known for teaching students to speak English very quickly. Students and teachers alike are devoted to their studies and seek more and more knowledge every day. However, student dues are adding up. Pages of names remain outside classrooms with dues rising more and more each month. Several of the exterior walls of the school grounds were torn down by a horrible storm and now animals roam free through the courtyard. They need help. They need our help.

This school means everything to me. There is not a day that goes by that I am not thinking about those kids and how much they love school. I have been in constant contact with my brother, Ken, who is the "principal" of Wisdom Academy. He tells me of their joys and he tells me of their sorrows. I believe that with this money raised, teachers, students, and their parents can all get a little more sleep at night knowing their outstanding dues have been paid for and the school can focus on real learning. Any donations will help, from $5 to $500. I hope you all take the time to consider what education has done for you in your life and your family's life. Often times, we take our schooling and education for granted. Wisdom Academy students pray every day that they will be able to make it another month in school. If you cannot give, pray. Pray that the grace of God and his healing power will look over Ghana, its people, and its educational system. Thank you.