Sankofa at Ashesi

Since returning from Ghana at the end of September, I've been working on a chapter for a book on educational achievement in Sub-Saharan Africa.  My chapter, if all goes as planned and hoped, will be on how Ashesi University incorporates African as well as Western motifs.  The Akan Sankofa bird, pictured here, turns back to the past to pick up selected traditions to use in the present.  I argue that Ashesi does the same thing, that although it uses elements from the liberal arts tradition of the U.S. that its founder, Dr. Patrick Awuah, picked up at Swarthmore College, it also embodies African ideas about social and religious commitments--though it is a secular institution, I should add.

Doing the research for this piece was a lot of fun, as it mostly entailed interviewing students and faculty at Ashesi, and they are an exceptional group of people who share a strong sense of mission, a commitment to transforming Africa through raising a new generation of innovative and ethical leaders.  I think my favorite quotation on what education is for comes from a young student who, like a lot of Ashesi students, spends much of her free time helping impoverished Ghanaians: "you have to give back, you have to give back, you have to give back."

At a time when so much of college life in the U.S. has devolved into narrow specializations and the cultivation of what Swarthmore's James Kurth terms "the imperial self," this sort of earnestness is refreshing and inspiring.

Big Moment In Peter's Life

Saturday was a big day in our young son's life, as he played right back the entire game in Central Catholic's 3-0 win in the state championship game and,  as you can see, was first into the stands after the game.

Peter started playing soccer year round in second grade, ten years ago.  So it's been a decade of 6:00 a.m. indoor soccer games and wet, late-night practices.  I think what he's most enjoyed about soccer is his teammates.  Whenever a choice came along as to which team to play on, he always chose to play where most of his buddies were, and I've always appreciated what a good leader he was on the field in terms of encouraging teammates or breaking up fights before they got started or endeavoring to enlighten referees who had wronged a teammate--at least in his view.

He's also not been afraid to fail.  He'll jump in to take a penalty kick, volunteer to play keeper or center back despite having no experience, and keep playing hard even when a game seems out of reach--all good life lessons for his overly cautious father.


One of Peter's other strengths is that he knows how to have fun.  As Coach Sean put it many years ago: "he has the biggest smile when we win and the biggest frown when we lose."  Saturday it was time to smile, and no one had a bigger one.


Peter's a senior, nearing the end of a transition from a life of play to one of work.  Saturday provided a wonderful exclamation point and will be a benchmark that he'll always look back to fondly.

We are so thankful to the many people who donated their time and patience to help him over the years, a long list that includes Coaches: Dave, Sean, Parke, Reggie, Erik, Mike, Adam, and Tim.

In Praise of Crazy Middle School Teachers

Mr. Essan Weah and I had the pleasure of spending today at Briggs Middle School in Springfield Oregon.  What a delightful place!

Essan taught for several years in Ghana before becoming the headmaster of Morle Junior High School, a Yo Ghana partner, and he has a wonderful rapport with students here in talking about what life is like in Ghana inside and outside of school.

Teaching in the U.S. is in some ways more difficult than teaching in Ghana.  There are, to be sure, lots of books and often computers, and many other learning aids. But our children are often scarred by modern life, and by middle school it is considered uncool, in most early adolescent circles, to express enthusiasm for learning.

How blessed we are, then, to have so many teachers like the ones at Briggs, people who both exude and command respect, who so manifestly care so deeply about the children we entrust to their care, teachers who when faced with the unworkable demands of the modern classroom say "yes" to additional challenges and opportunities.

Thank you.

Four Principles of Yo Ghana!

Yo Ghana! is always thinking about how to define its mission more precisely.  Here is the
most recent version:

Exchanges for Transformation

We believe that becoming friends with and learning from students across the globe transforms lives by breaking open new possibilities and opportunities.

Partnership

Schools in the U.S. are not above schools in Ghana.  Each set of schools has its own strengths and challenges.  We work together, as equal partners, to learn from and help each other.

Local Initiative

Yo Ghana! does not simply give money away, and we don’t want any buildings named after us.  But if your school has started a project—from a library or computer lab to visiting your partner school—we would be honored to help.

                         

Service

We believe that everyone is in a position to help someone.  Yo Ghana! students encourage and educate each other.  Yo Ghana! projects offer people on both sides of the world an opportunity to improve the lives of others.