Sarah Duesterhaus, Health Science Major, Gives Study Abroad Summary from Fall 2011

While studying abroad at the University of Ghana, I was able to volunteer with Mawuvio (God’s children in the tribal language) Outreach Program. The program gives orphans and children in disadvantaged families that can’t afford the cost of school in Ghana an education. Prior to the establishment of Mawuvio’s Outreach Program, many of these children were working on street corners and in markets selling food/provisions to help their families meet basic needs. Most haveĀ  never sat in a classroom and could not make use of letters or numbers. MOP believes that it is the lack of education keeping poverty alive. The NGO is dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty. I taught classes, depending on what was needed by the school. I also had small groups where we worked on individual problems like ABC recognition, counting, and such. It was incredible working with the kids; they were all very excited to learn, and constantly asked me to assign homework.