Ghandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Inspired by this idea, in June 2011, we teamed up with Amizade Global-Service Learning, as students at West Virginia University, to embark on a two week volunteer service program in the rural village of Jukwa, Ghana in Western Africa. This life-changing experience has instilled in us the need to continue the vital work initiated through Amizade, by traveling back to Ghana over our university holiday break in December. Since 1994, Amizade, a non-profit organization, has been empowering individuals and communities through worldwide service and learning programs. Over 4,500 individuals have served with Amizade in nine countries on four continents with eleven partnerships. From working with women and girls on clean water initiatives in Tanzania, to constructing schools and libraries in Jamaica and Ghana, Amizade volunteers have assisted many developing communities throughout the world.
A little over ten years ago, the village of Jukwa had no electricity or public water. While these problems still exist in areas throughout the community, with the efforts of Amizade volunteers, Jukwa is now developing comprehensive frameworks to address these pertinent issues. During our service in Ghana, we helped with the construction of a public library/community center and participated in a malaria community outreach program with the local clinic in Jukwa. This library project was started approximately eight years ago by the efforts of local community leaders and Amizade volunteers. In the earlier years of the project, funding for construction came from the Ghanaian government due to the fact that a Member of Parliament resided in Jukwa. A few years later, government funding was taken away because they did not view building a public library in a rural village as a priority. We feel this is a mistake, being that we have seen with our own eyes the positive effect that this library will have on the community’s future. Currently, all manual labor done at the site is strictly from volunteer efforts. Furthermore, the money for supplies and building materials comes solely from our volunteer program fee. For example, on our first trip to Ghana, the entire program fee covered the purchasing of the windows, doors, paint, paintbrushes, ladders, and other various supplies for the project. Our program fee also includes a donation directly to the community of Jukwa and the neighboring Me-We Orphanage. Through the clinic outreach program, we were able to work alongside medical professionals as we provided vital information to the community about malaria, particularly its causes, symptoms, and prevention.
When we tell people about our service learning experiences in Ghana, many ask the question, “Why would you want to pay to volunteer in a developing country?” Our answer to this is not only do we get to help create better lives for the people of Jukwa, we are also able to fully immerse ourselves in the culture and community that we serve. We thus gain a better appreciation for their way of life as well as our own. We feel that we gain just as much from the experience as the people gain from our volunteering.
When we take a step back and recollect on all the sights, sounds, and memories of our first volunteer trip to Ghana, the pictures etched in our minds are those of the endearing women and children. The history books and commentaries do not accurately reflect the contributions that African women have made in their communities and society. We see it entirely different. We see women walking for miles in the brutal heat of the day, carrying a small child on their back and a large basket full of food on their head, just to try and sell a few items at the market. We see pregnant women suffering from malaria, scared to death of losing their unborn child. We see women and children carrying buckets of dirty water from the river, hoping to get home with half of what they started with. We see little girls as young as ten working until dark in the family store after school. We see children laughing and playing with smiles on their faces, despite the fact they have holes in their clothes and no shoes on their feet.
This is why we are so compelled to return to Ghana in December to volunteer. If we can make even the smallest difference in the lives of the children and community members of Jukwa through our continued service efforts at the library and malaria outreach program with the clinic, then to us it has made all the difference.
For a college student, the price of this program along with plane ticket and other necessary fees is approximately $4,000. Without adequate financial support, this expense is a lot to bear. Therefore, we are asking for any monetary contributions that you are willing and able to provide. Amizade is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations for Amizade volunteers and programs ARE tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. With your generosity, together we have the ability to make essential developmental changes in Jukwa that will be seen for years to come.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DONATIONS!
In order for donations to be tax-deductible they must be payable directly to Amizade. All donations must be received no later than November 14th, 2011.
Options for donations:
Option 1: Check- A check can be sent directly to the Morgantown, West Virginia Amizade Office. The address for the office is:
West Virginia University Office
PO Box 6894
343 Stansbury Hall
Morgantown, WV 26506
The check must be made out to Amizade, with the recipient of the donation (Sara Wood) or (Bridget Boothe) noted on the memo line of the check in order to directly credit the donation towards the program fee.
Option 2: Donate online – You may make a donation online with a debit or credit card directly through the Amizade website. The URL is http://amizade.org/support/donate/ Once at the website you click on the “I’d like to donate a specific amount to Amizade Today” button. This will then prompt you to make a monetary donation in specified quantities or you may click other, which will allow you to specify your own quantity. If you wish to specify your own quantity after you choose this option, the “your shopping cart page” will open. You then specify the amount you wish to donate in the “quantity” box and then click the “check out” button. You will then be prompted to enter your information and your payment information. In the comments box below simply type “Sara Wood – Ghana" or "Bridget Boothe - Ghana.” This will ensure that your donation is credited directly to my program fee! Lastly, click “submit order” and remember come tax season that this is tax-deductible!
