I had the opportunity this month to go to the West African country of Ghana. Ghana is a county where multiple projects are taking place associated with our mission.As you hear what is happening here, you will understand our club is serious about taking real action that will lead to the eradication of human slavery.
I had two objectives for this very short trip. I wanted to see first-hand what was happening at the Theodora Africa Project, and I wanted share in the kick-off of our Economic Development Initiative’s Pilot Project with the Rotary Club of Tamale.
I wanted to see how the lessons learned at Theodora are influencing the plans for EDI. (Full disclosure, the head of these projects is my Father, and I’ve been a part of his thinking for years, even sitting on the Board of the non-profit which is a partner of Theodora Africa.) But, hearing things from afar is one thing. Experiencing them directly is another. Michael has talked about the transformational effect economic opportunity has on the attitudes of those either prone to or subject to human slavery. I was particularly interested in getting a hands-on feel for that.
During my four days, I met with Theodora program participants, women who’ve gone from sex work to gainful employment as virtual administrative assistants in the United States. I met with the Rotary members in Accra, and other significant volunteers who helped make the program happen. I met with the leadership of the Rotary Club of Tamale in the north of Ghana where we signed our preliminary Memorandum of Understanding and built out our initial implementation plan steps. And I met with villagers of a community identified by our RC Tamale colleagues as prone to trafficking where they would like to conduct the Pilot Project. Talk about seeing our club in action!
After such a trip, I could write so much more about the opportunities and challenges we at RCEHT are going to be facing taking on EDI but I’m in an airport getting ready to return to the United States. I will find a time on our speaker’s schedule to give a much more in-depth report on my experiences. However, remember this. We Are A Club of Action. We Are Doing Things.
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