IFESH Training Days 6-8

The last days of training for the trip to Africa were very interesting. We had sessions on HIV/AIDS awareness, gender equity, best teaching practices, cultural sensitivity, and diseases spread in tropical areas. I learned so many great techniques and met so many amazing people. After a long day of training sessions I went out to downtown Tempe with a few people from the program. This picture is of my new friends- From left to right- Jessie (my roommate during training), Sonya (going to Guinea), Jennifer (going to Malawi), and Rose (going to Cote D'ivoire).



We had a great time. Then on Friday night we had a banquet. It was very nice to have speakers motive us and thank use for "taking a year out of our lives", but I don't think I am taking a year off, I think I am finally doing something extremely worthwhile. The following are pictures from our banquet.




I had a great trip to Arizona and I am really excited about my adventure. I signed my contract on Friday- so it official- I AM GOING TO GHANA!!! If you would like to visit- just email me. So far I have one visitor on my list- Kim McGee. I love the travel agent for IFESH- so if you want to come check out his site- www.tzell.com

I will write more when there is more to tell.

IFESH Training Days 1-5

For the past five days I have been in sunny Arizona at my IFESH training. IFESH stands for the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help. This is the program that is sending me to Ghana. The founder is the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan

To find out more about this amazing man please visit:
http://www.ifesh.org/content.php?info_id=138

who was a social change agent that worked against discrimination in America, apartheid in South Africa, and many other issues to better communities around the world. IFESH came out of his many trips to Sub Saharan Africa where he saw a need to for help in developing countries education systems.

The training has been really interesting. So far we have talked about our countries, learned how to track out progress, and discussed lesson planing ideas for topics of environmental, health issues, gender equity, and HIV/ AIDS awareness. Tomorrow we are going to learn more about Malaria which I am very passionate about due to the fact that one of my former teachers and mentors died from it.

The hotel we are staying in is very nice. I have included pictures from my balcony. There is also a comfy bed, warm pool, and great breakfast. I will write more when I find more time.

Homeless

I am currently without a home. I moved out of my house on August 1st and two really nice people moved in. They have two dogs and I think they are going to take really good care of my house while I am gone. Lola and I are bunked up at Aubry's house, and have already been to Tony & Jill's, and Blair & Jen's. We are having a blast on our tour of homes.

On Saturday I will be flying to Scottsdale, Arizona for my Teachers For Africa training. I will be gone until August 23. Once I return I hope to have much more information about my program. So far all I know is that September 24 I am off to Agogo, Ghana to become a teacher trainer. Crazy.