Franklin & Marshall College

Alternative Break Info Sessions

Consider taking a service-oriented break that will be an unforgettable experience!  Alternative service breaks provide experiential educational opportunities for groups of students traveling during their school vacations to work with community initiatives that address global and local social justice, health and economic issues.

Ghana Alternative Winter Break
 

SEPTEMBER 11-OCTOBER 15, 2012: Application Period Has Closed.

NOVEMBER 1, 2012: Trip Acceptance Notification

DECEMBER 27- JANUARY 13, 2013: Program Dates

PROGRAM COST:  $3,200*

Cost Includes: Airfare, multiple Entry Visa fee (required), three-day road trip to northern Ghana, meals, housing, drivers and transportation in Ghana, which includes planned weekend excursions, trip insurance and limited phone and internet access.

Out of pocket expenses: inoculations, vaccines, medications required for this trip, pre- and post departure travel to/from point of departure, additionalsnacks & food not included in program cost such as during travel to/from airport, and spending money.

Who Can Apply:  Open to current first-years, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

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 October 5.

Download Detailed Budget Sheet. 

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

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 1200 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 expanded 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

'11, post-graduate fellow for human rights and social justice, the Ware Institute, will acompany students on this trip. 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, and time in Ghana.

When students arrive at Heritage Academy, they will be directed by Mr. Oduro Koomson, Kwesi’s brother, Heritage Academy headmaster, Mr. DeGraft Tawiahand and student supervisor, Lilah Thompson '11.

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 two options for your travel clinic:

• Your family physician
• 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.

Download Detailed Travel Health Information. 

The deadline to complete your travel clinic is November 15, 2012.

Travel & Itinerary

Students are required to provide a copy of their passport that is valid through July, 2013, 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 the U.S. on Thursday, December 27 and arrive in Accra, Ghana December 28. Upon arrival, you go through immigration where your visa will be checked along with inoculation information. Next, you will pick up your luggage and go through customs. When you exit the airport a Heritage Academy staff driver will be there to meet the group.

The Heritage Academy staff provides all drivers and transportation in Ghana. The group will  be taken to lodgings in Accra. On December 29 the group will leave on a three-day trip to northern Ghana. 

On January 1, 2013, students will arrive at the Heritage Academy to teach, learn, participate in service projects, and visit local sites on the weekends. On January 13 the group will return to the airport for their flight home.

Download Detailed Itinerary for the Ghana Trip. 

Accomodations

Ghana Fliers, Forms, Application

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.