By Jessica Ma ‘28, Features Desk Editor
On July 8, while most students were enjoying the sun, Adriana Wenneker-N. ‘28 hopped on a flight to Legon, Ghana, marking the start of a three-week journey: participating in the Leadership and Service in Children’s Education program.
Sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), the three-week summer program offers chapters all across the world, allowing students to build leadership skills through service and experience life in a different country. Hoping to travel far and learn about different cultures, Wenneker-N. chose Ghana.
“Originally when I applied, I just really wanted to go to a country in Africa,” Wenneker-N. said. “I’d never been there, and I had gone to Asia–China–the summer before. I love traveling, and I want to go to as many places as I can, especially more remote areas where I can really get to meet the people.”
In addition to her passion for traveling, participating in the program in Ghana fit particularly well for her work in Academy Scholars.
“Ghana seemed the most interesting to me because my project is writing a book about different cultures and the daily life of students–specifically younger kids,” Wenneker-N. said. “I feel like being in the schools and getting to know the kids is one of the best ways to really experience other cultures and how other people live.”
During the program, Wenneker-N., along with six other roommates, stayed with a host family across the capital. During the day, they taught students at a school, which in Ghana, typically ends for summer break during late July to early August.
“In the morning we’d go to the school and we’d usually be there for four hours. We could pick which grades we wanted to do, so I was with the B1 level, where they were six, seven and eight year-olds,” Wenneker-N. said. “Basically, we were helping them study for final exams, reviewing all their subjects, grading their work, everything like that.”
However, program participants’ responsibilities were not limited to academic education–instead, the groups often did collective social activities, forging bonds over the weeks.
“We did a language class in Twi (the main spoken language), one day we made chocolate and we had workshops on values and empathy,” Wenneker-N. said. “There were over 30 kids in that class, and by the end, we actually knew everybody by name. It just made us feel more connected to the kids.”
Life beyond the classroom also offered many adventures, from kayaking in waterfalls to hiking in the Volta mountains. However, some of Wenneker-N.’s most significant memories came simply from daily interactions and meeting new people.
“Me and one of my roommates really wanted to experience a Ghanaian church,” Wenneker-N. said. “When we walked in, they were singing so much, and everyone was so nice and welcoming–they gave us a microphone and made us introduce ourselves in front of the whole church. Then, after the service, all the people came up to us and remembered our names. It was so much fun.”
That warmth continued throughout Wenneker-N.’s time in Legon. Even the simplest daily interactions were meaningful–in fact, her biggest surprises did not always come from volunteering or school, but instead the community around her.
“We would go on these really long walks, and we accidentally ended up in people’s backyards sometimes,” Wenneker-N. said. “But they were all super nice and we would practice the Twi that we learned with them. All the kids at the school were so, so friendly and welcoming, and I wasn’t expecting that. We were obviously foreigners, and I feel like when people come to the U.S., not all Americans are that friendly, but everyone was just so, so kind.”
Overall, for Wenneker-N., the program was more than just a summer trip.
“It has really helped me become more independent,” Wenneker-N. said. “It reinforced how much I want to learn about other cultures and experience life in other places.”