Study Abroad to Ghana

Akwaaba!,

I’m Amarian Culpepper from Tacoma, Washington! I am a Student athlete who plays football and runs track. I'm about to finish my Sophomore year at the University of Puget Sound and I am majoring in Economics and minoring in Math.

I’m truly fortunate to announce that I was accepted into the African American Studies 311: African Roots: A Journey to Ghana study abroad program, which is a course I am currently taking on campus in preparation for our journey to Ghana this June! This is a faculty-led course and experiential learning-based travel program about the African Diaspora. If you’d like more information about this travel abroad course to Ghana, please check out this page created by the professor when she took the first group in 2019/2020.

I feel extremely lucky to be given such an opportunity. As an aspiring Economist, a study away course in West Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will contribute to my cross-cultural knowledge and perspective. In the long run, participant observation and reflection in a foreign country will enable me to understand how the economy is different internationally through experiencing it firsthand.

I created this GoFundMe page in hopes that my community -- friends, family, educators, and supporters -- can support me. At this time, my family and I are not able to cover all the costs for this 30-day experience in Ghana. And unfortunately, because it is a faculty-led trip, I cannot receive financial aid for it specifically. I am already very grateful for the way that African American Studies has been working to support many of us with cost concerns by navigating a reduction in the course fee for all of us, finding additional support for those of us with less financial means, and truly guiding us with all the numerous details related to international travel. Nonetheless, there are still costs I am unable to cover pre-trip, and those costs I’ll have during our 30 days there. Additionally, I usually work over the summer to save up for the fall and this amazing trip means I will not be able to work as I usually do. This trip is worth it!

These are the major costs of the trip: the course fee (~$1,500), airfare (~$1,900), meals & transportation (~$1000), vaccinations (~$375), and Visas (~$63). I am also a first-time international traveler so I acquired my first Passport for this trip which was (~$140). One really amazing piece of support for me has come from a local organization due to my being from the area, in which a good portion of my costs has been covered, but there is still some that has not been. I am trying to raise $2,000 of this approximately $5000 total. I am hoping that with your contribution, I will have the opportunity to embark on this journey to the Motherland. I have heard great things about the first group that went a few years ago, and I have already begun building a great community with my 9 other classmates going this June.

I want to thank you for reading my request, sharing it, and hopefully donating to it.

With tremendous gratitude and love,

Amarian