I am inviting you to come with me to Ghana this October.
Yes, that’s right … Africa … this October! (Itinerary below.) I would like you to join me on a trip that has a purpose, as well as one that will be a lot of fun. But don’t just take my word for it, take it from board member Alan Campbell who, along with his wife Pam Helling, joined me on a Framework 2019 trip to Ghana.
Alan first got involved with Framework in 2017, when he was the chair of the International Service Committee for the Lake Oswego Rotary. Alan and his committee appointed Framework International as one of their recipients of their annual Lobster Feed fundraiser. Funds raised from this annual event allowed Framework to build a primary school in Piitanga. But Alan didn’t stop there, he harnessed the support of other rotaries so we could build another primary school in Kwaman.
To follow up on their rotary commitment, Alan and Pam joined me on the Kwaman Primary School commissioning trip. How was that commissioning for Alan? “If you’ve never been a rockstar, a school commissioning gives you a feeling of what that’s like,” he said.
A rockstar? Yes! “I don’t celebrate often,” Alan said, but “people are cheering! It is really neat, because you can see that the community really cares about their children.” And the entire community is there, to celebrate!
What starts out as a city hall meeting with the town elders turns into a parade as everyone walks to a courtyard where the commissioning ceremony is being held. “The street is lined with people and when we got to the courtyard, that’s where the place erupted like we were rock stars! Singing, dancing, music, and speeches,” said Alan.
Alan learned that going to Ghana is an experience unlike any other. It “probably isn’t for everybody, if you’re looking for a luxury trip, you’re not going to get it. But, the countryside is beautiful and the people are wonderful. If you like traveling and being exposed to foreign things, Ghana should be on your bucket list.”
As a supporter of building or renovating schools in Ghana, you are a rockstar to us. But come to Ghana with us in October, and feel like a rockstar as you experience, firsthand, how the village of Edukuma has been transformed by your generosity in building them a school.
We’ve got it all worked out – check out the itinerary below!
Day 0 - 10/17: Depart PDX for Ghana
Day 1 - 10/18: Arrive in Accra, check into the hotel
Day 2 - 10/19: Travel to Agona Swedru, check into the hotel. On the way, spend a few hours visiting Framework schools: Small London Primary and Jr High
Day 3 - 10/20: Travel to Edukuma school project. Tour project, meet with staff and students, and meet with the village chief and elders. Attend the official sword cutting ceremony. Drive to Cape Coast
Day 4 - 10/21: Visit Kakum National Park, hike and canopy walk. Visit Elmina Slave Castle and explore Cape Coast
Day 5 - 10/22: Travel day. Back to Accra and catch a flight to Tamale and drive to Mole National Park
Day 6 - 10/23: Enjoy the pool and explore the park on a walking or driving safari tour
Day 7 - 10/24: After breakfast, travel to Bolgatanga, home of the famous African baskets. Visit the open air market
Day 8 - 0/25: Meet with local school district officials and area elders and bishops then visit the potential next school project site
Day 9 - 10/2: Visit Piitanga and Jack Beu primary schools
Day 10 - 10/27: Pack up and fly back to Accra. Evening flight to PDX
Alan joined the board of Framework because he was so “impressed with how much we are able to do with, relatively speaking, little money. For less than what it costs to redo a single classroom in the States, we can build an entire schoolhouse in Ghana. That’s really impressive. When you get there and realize there is so little money in that area [in the rural villages where we build]; there isn't a wealth base for local communities to build schools. Framework is making a real difference.”
I would be honored if you would join me and board members Dave, Alan, and Jonathan as we go to Edkuma in celebration of your gift to this village. If you’re interested in joining us – and I hope you are – please send me an email to learn more.
