Every morning, I wake up, quickly get ready, and then get in my car for the five-minute drive to school. When I think of my daily routine, I see it as dull and rather average for a teenager. But in reality, being able to wake up and go to school so close to my home is a dream that many are not fortunate to have. But, dreams are becoming a reality as online learning becomes increasingly available to African students.
On July 22, 2024, I received an acceptance letter to undertake my internship at SOLON Capital Partners in Accra, Ghana. Traveling from Kigali, Rwanda, to Accra on July 29, 2024, I embarked on this professional journey with excitement and a bit of apprehension.
After completing my first degree in Sierra Leone, I embarked on an academic journey to Accra, Ghana, filled with anticipation and excitement. The prospect of immersing myself in Ghana’s vibrant culture, rich history, and renowned hospitality was exhilarating. Yet, I knew that adapting to a new linguistic environment would be one of my most significant challenges. I didn’t anticipate how deeply my experience with language barriers and the beauty of multilingualism would shape my stay in this incredible city.
“If I win, you have to make me a promise, ok?” Abiola earnestly says to me as we sit on
the playground playing tic-tac-toe.
“It depends on the promise,” I respond with a smile.
“If I win, you have to promise to be my friend forever,” she says.
Imagine going through school never touching a computer. Those of us who are of a certain age can imagine this. Maybe we used a manual or electric typewriter, then graduated to a word processor, wondering at how the machine could store our report and allow us to make edits without retyping whole pages. But for a millennial, the thought of going through school – through high school – without using a computer is unimaginable.
On our trip to Sierra Leone (see previous blog post), my wife and I had the opportunity to briefly visit the village of Kamawornie, tour the local primary and secondary schools, and meet with teachers, students, and parents. Our short stay in the village opened our eyes though to not only the desperate requirement for basic educational resources, but also to the fact that for a few dollars we could meaningfully address this need.
The barrier
College degree, college degree, the dream of every African parent to see their children become educated. Most African parents will give 100% support to their children to become successful, educationally! African parents' wildest taught are” education is the key to success” and “education is better than silver and gold”.
I went back home after 3 years of studying in the States. I wasn’t sure about what to expect. A part of me was excited to see my family and catch up with my friends and another part was a little scared. I have heard a lot of international students like myself say they feel like don’t fit anywhere- “too foreign for home and too foreign away from home”. That was scary to think about. When I got home, I was quite impressed with the improvement in infrastructure. The main roads were good and there was 24-hour electricity for the full two months I was at home.
Families in Sierra Leone face unprecedented challenges due to rising costs. Inflation makes it difficult for them to afford basic food staples such as rice, cooking oil, and onions.
Extending a helping hand can alleviate a significant burden and provide essential relief to the less fortunate.
Help provide relief by donating today!
