The annual Ghana Youth Peace Program recently had its panel interviews, in which six Sacramento State students presented their experiences from the thirty-day Summer 2000 Ghana Trip.

“It was the most inspirational trip that I have ever been on and the most informational,” said Liberal Studies graduate LaKesha Thompson. “I can?t wait to go back.”

“It was a wonderful 30 days,” said Denise Kludjeson, a senior majoring in public health and safety studies. “I am looking forward to going back.”

The first stop was New York to tour the United Nations for presentations on Conflict Resolution in Africa and Global Economic Development.

Once in Ghana, the group visited judicial courts in Accra, witnessed court hearings, visited a high school, local homes, an orphanage, and slept in mud huts without electricity.

“It was a culture shock for everyone,” said Hanh Le, a graduate student from Sac State. “We expected worse but it wasn?t that bad.”

“There were elephants walking around near the schools and chimpanzees next to villages,” Wasi said.

“We visited the parliament, held debates, participated in a walking safari, and we also saw a play in a village called ?The Stolen Bride?,” Kludjeson said.

“You take so many things for granted living here,” said Rahim Wasi, a Sac State senior who has visited Ghana before.

Pre-trip activities included biweekly assignments comparing HIV statistics, youth violence, education and environmental issues in the U.S. and Africa, the African family, civil rights, UN human rights provisions, slavery and biographies of notable African and American peacemakers.

“We select issues before we go and then we help to prepare the high school students,” Wasi said.

“The people are wonderful; we learned their language and their customs,” Kludjeson said. “Everyone is super kind,” Wasi said.

“There is a clear distinction between rich and poor,” Le said. “They really value education over there. Public education is not free; only a certain percentage of people can go.”

“Education is really looked upon as a vehicle. They do more with less. It seems like we do less with more,” Wasi said.

“Education is thought of as a way to get out of poverty,” Thompson said. “It?s a big thing, students are really focused.”

“Although the country is very poor, the feeling and the way that you are treated makes you overlook all of that said Kludjeson, a mother of six who hopes to graduate soon from Sac State.

“I came home more humble,” Le said.

Thompson?s favorite part of the trip was staying with a host family. “You really see how they live. I made friendships that will last a lifetime.”

“It?s hard to explain the whole experience; you just have to go and see for yourself,” Le said. “I would go again.”

The Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution is accepting applications for the Summer 2001. The deadline to turn in your application is Nov. 10, 2000.

Applications can be obtained online at www.csus.edu/org/capcr or at Alpine Hall, Room 211. Return applications to Prof. Ernest Uwazie, CAPCR, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA 95819-6085.

Sac State students attend as student-mentors. Criteria for selection as a student-mentor are the ability to provide the mentee with support, advice, friendship, and reinforcement of program mission/objectives.

Student-mentors must be available to attend all of the orientations and post-trip activities, according to Uwazie.