Research & Study Abroad in Ghana

As many of you know Chels and I have been volunteering and living at Okomfo Anokye Senior High School for almost six months now. Basically, we teach a couple of classes per term and they hook us up with a new flat with all the (Ghanaian) bells and whistles. It has been an amazing experience thus far with some notable ups and downs. We're now working with the school to get more volunteer teachers here. Below is an email I'm sending out next week calling for applicants interested in research and/or study abroad opportunities at the school. Feel free to apply or forward it to anyone who might be interested.

Also, below the original email text I've posted some ADDITIONAL INFORMATION that applicants have inquired about. Just scroll down and take a look.

Ghanaian high school in search of PROFESSORS, university DEPARTMENTS, and independent STUDENTS interested in research and/or study abroad opportunities near Kumasi—one of West Africa’s cultural capitals.

Throughout its storied 40 year history Okomfo Anokye Senior High School has hosted international volunteers and scholars from the Peace Corps and academic entities like Boston University, Boston College, and Brigham Young University. The school is eager to continue this tradition by fostering LONG TERM working relationships with professors and university departments interested in a wide range of research opportunities and/or developing unique study abroad programs. The school is also interested in housing independent students in search of a distinctive study abroad experience.

Okomfo Anokye Senior High School is located in Wiamoase-Ashanti, a small town an hour outside of Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. Ghana is an African nation with a track record of peace (three consecutive democratically elected governments) and hospitality (the Ashanti are renown for their welcoming spirit). Because of its rural location, the school provides an authentic traditional Ashanti cultural experience. Researchers interested in rural education, boarding schools, cross-cultural education, art education, as well as non education focused fields like anthropology, linguistics, development, or medicine will find an abundance of research opportunities in the community. Students looking for more than a tourist’s snapshot of West Africa will not be disappointed.

In addition to its ideal location, the school is willing to provide FREE housing and food on campus, and transport throughout the Ashanti region, along with exclusive research opportunities for participants. The school boasts newly constructed, furnished flats with running water, electricity and mosquito nets, which it uses to host visiting scholars and students. In return, the school asks that all participants teach classes at the school. Course load is flexible and will be negotiated with the head master prior to arriving.

How to Apply:
PROFESSORS: For the Academic Year 2009-2010 please submit a CV and a 1 to 2 page letter of intent describing your project by March 15th to mike.strayer[a]gmail.com.

DEPARTMENTS: For the Academic Year 2009-2010 please submit a 1 to 2 page letter of intent
describing your project accompanied with the contact information of the principle investigator or study abroad coordinator by March 15th to mike.strayer[a]gmail.com.

STUDENTS: Please submit a 1 to 2 page letter of intent describing what classes you'd like to teach, any teaching experience you have, and any research or service projects you will engage in on campus to mike.strayer[a]gmail.com by February 15th for Summer 2009 or by May 15th for Fall 2009.

Please attach all application materials as MS Word documents. For more information please contact Mike Strayer at mike.strayer[a]gmail.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

TEACHING

• Fall term runs September through mid-December, Winter term January through mid-April, and Summer term May through July.
• Some teaching experience is preferred but not necessary.
• English writing and reading are huge needs. Math and "integrated science" (basic biology and chemistry) are other subjects taught on campus that would be helpful. Of course, social studies, accounting, and art are other possibilities.
• Teachers can stay for as many terms as they would like, as long as they are complete terms.
• The "project" to be described in the letter of intent refers to what classes you'd like to teach at the school and what other activities, if any, you would engage in during your stay. Activities could include personal research or service projects.

ACCOMODATION

• The school has one flat designated for visiting scholars and volunteers. The flat has two large bedrooms that could accommodate 8 people comfortably. If a scholar needs separate accommodations then the head master of the school could make arrangements.
• The school can host 1 to 10 people comfortably.
• The school is offering free housing in the aforementioned flat. Free food at the school's dinning hall (think traditional Ghanaian dishes like fufu and banku -- whatever the boarders are eating -- served 3 times a day). And free transport in and around the Ashanti region which includes Wiamoase, Mampong, and Kumasi (including the airport). All other costs will be the responsibility of the program and/or student.
• Free transport does not refer to travel to and from Ghana.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Give to Ghana is only FACILITATING connections between prospective volunteer teachers and the high school. Once the connection has been made then the school and the participant will work out the details. As such, it is recommended that applicants be very independent as Give to Ghana and Okomfo Anokye will NOT help you with details like getting a Visa or purchasing a plane ticket etc. We don't get paid or charge applicants and therefore don't perform the normal functions of a study abroad program.
  

If you have additional questions please leave it as a comment below and I'll answer it ASAP.