Franklin & Marshall College

Photos from 2012 Ghana Alternative Winter Break.

Read the article about the Ghana Alternative Winter Break in My Diplomat.

Program Dates:
December 28, 2011-January 15, 2012
 

Program Cost: $3,000*

Cost Includes: Airfare, multiple Entry Visa fee (required), four-day road trip to Mole National Park, meals, housing, drivers and transportation in Ghana, which includes planned weekend excursions, and trip insurance.
Out of pocket expenses may include: inoculations, vaccines, medications required for this trip, pre- and post departure travel to/from point of departure, additional Snacks & food not included in program cost such as during travel to/from airport, cell phone minutes card, and spending money.

No scholarship funds are available for this program.

CPS Marshall Scholars can apply to use funds for this trip. A completed proposal to use funds is due by November 1.

Please contact  for more information regarding program cost or information details about the Ghana alternative winter break.

Who Can Apply: 

Open to current first-years, sophomores, juniors and seniors; those with an interest in African studies will find this trip particularly interesting.

The Program

The Ware Institute for Civic Engagement is pleased to offer this alternative winter break community-based learning trip. This is a joint project between Franklin & Marshall College and the Heritage Academy in Ghana, West Africa. Through this program F&M students will gain exposure to global issues while helping the Heritage Academy students to find solutions to some local problems.

Kwesi Koomson ‘97, a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, dreamed of starting a school near his home village of Essiam in Ghana, West Africa. In 2004 he returned to Essiam and founded Heritage Academy (PK-9) in a small church starting with 32 students. Melissa Schoerke Koomson is the wife and philanthropic partner of Kwesi Koomson. In 2006 Melissa founded the Schoerke Foundation, which supports the Heritage Academy. The Academy is a licensed and registered private educational institution in Ghana. Since 2004, the school has grown to over 1000 students on two campuses and consistently scored 100% pass on the national exams in a district where the average pass rate is 42%. In the fall of 2011, Heritage Academy has plans to expand to include a secondary school (10-12).

Kwesi and Melissa currently teach at The Westtown School, a Quaker school near West Chester, PA.

Program Leaders

Kwesi Koomson ’97 has lead twelve trips to the Heritage Academy over the last six years. He will coordinate with the Ware Institute to prepare trip participants for their teaching assignments, get plane tickets and visas.

When students arrive at Heritage Academy, they will be directed by Mr. Oduro Koomson, Kweisi’s brother, and Heritage Academy headmaster, Mr. DeGraft Tawiah.

Inoculations & Medications

You are required to complete a travel clinic by November 28 to determine inoculations, medications, or other vaccines that are required or that you might need. You should check www.cdc.gov for a country-specific list of required inoculations, vaccines or medications.

There are three options for your travel clinic:

• Your family physician
• Appel Health Travel Clinic
• A travel clinic such as Maxim Healthcare

A Yellow Fever immunization card is required and anti-malarial medications are recommended; however depending upon your individual health issues you must consult your travel physician. Many medications need to be started weeks in advance of your departure.
The deadline to complete your travel clinic is November 28, 2011.

Travel & Logistics

Students are required to provide a copy of their passport that is valid through July, 2012, with your completed application. Students must know their visa requirements. More information about passports and visas can be found at: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html Students are required to arrive at the airport no less than two hours prior to departure.

Students must make their own pre- and post-travel arrangements for travel to and from the point of departure in the U.S. at their own expense.

The group will leave from JFK* or Dulles* on Wednesday December 28 and arrive in Accra. Upon arrival, you will walk through immigration where your visa will be checked along with inoculation information. Pick up your luggage and walk through customs. When you exit the airport look for Heritage Academy staff holding a "Heritage Academy" sign. They will be wearing a blue Heritage Academy batik shirts.

The Heritage Academy staff will provide students with drivers and transportation in Ghana. The group will  be taken to lodgings in Accra. On December 29 the group will leave on a four-day trip across Ghana to Mole National park and other points of interest.

Students will arrive at the Heritage Academy to teach, participate in service projects, and visit local sites on the weekends. Academy staff will transport the group to the airport for their flight home.

Accomodations

While teaching at the Heritage Academy, the group will live together in a house owned by the Academy. Students will be supplied with all meals while teaching at the Academy. Access to laundry facilities is available. The Academy will provide transportation for students to school and other places of interest such as the open market in Mankessim and the internet café in Cape Coast. Students will also have 3G wireless access to internet. from the Heritage Academy guest house.

Key Dates*

October 12 - Ghana info session in Booth Ferris North at 4:45 pm. Trip details, cost, itinerary and other information will be discussed.

October 27: Ghana info session #2 at Joseph International Center, 12:35 pm with Kweisi Koomson ’97 (after Common Hour)
No scholarships are available for this program.
CPS Marshall Scholars can use funds for this program. A completed CPS Marshall Proposal is due before November 1, 2011.

November 11:

• Application Deadline
• $1,200 deposit due. (Please make checks payable to Franklin & Marshall college.)
• Trip expenses finalized
• Travel details, vaccines and inoculation requirements and visas and passport information should be finalized.

November 28:

• $1,800 balance payment is due.
• Travel clinic must be completed and copy of Yellow Fever immunization card due.

December 9:

• Pre-departure info session at 3:30 pm in the Armstrong room, second floor in Steinman College center.
• Final trip details discussed.
• Insurance cards handed out.

January 17

• Spring semester begins at F&M

January 31

• Post-trip evaluation meeting at F&M

Sample Itinerary*

December 28:
Depart from JFK or Dulles. You will be met at the Accra airport by Heritage Academy staff.
December 29-January 2:
The group will travel across Ghana for a 4-day visit to Mole National park.
January 3-14:**
Teaching at Heritage Academy
January 15:
Depart from Accra, Ghana and return to JFK or Dulles
January 17:
Spring semester begins at F&M

**Weekends on this trip will be spent visiting historical and cultural sites such as the former slave castles in Cape Coast and Elmina, the hanging bridges in Kakum National Forest, Coconut Grove beach, and the W.E.B Du Bois Museum in Accra.

In the spirit of community solidarity and engaged learning, Ware Institute programs have a strict conduct policy and are drug free.

*= Information is To Be Confirmed

Ghana Fliers, Forms, Application

2012 Ghana Program FLIER

2012 Ghana Alternative Winter Break Application Period is now CLOSED.

Student Release Form for Ware Institute Travel Programs

Emergency Contact Form for Ware Institute Travel Programs

F&M Ghana Student Code of Conduct Form

F&M Ghana Visa application Form

In the spirit of community solidarity and engaged learning, Ware Institute programs have a strict conduct policy and are drug free.

Contact at 717-291-4164 if you have questions about this alternative spring break.

*Information about this trip is subject to change.