Daily Pioneer News

Kelly Smith; Lindsey Lepke; Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, professor of agribusiness at UWP; Emily Heath; Jamie Paulson; Brenda Dahm; and Katie Kearns pose with a stand owner and her daughter on a visit to a market on 37th street in Accra, Ghana.

PLATTEVILLE- Fourteen students and two faculty from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville got a taste of African culture during their trip to Ghana, Africa as part of a new winterim class.

The class, launched by Jennifer Mandel, assistant professor of social science and geography; Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, assistant professor of agribusiness; and Pat Foster, director of the Patricia A. Doyle Women’s Center, focuses on different aspects of agriculture, geography and women's livelihoods in Ghana.

"We want students to gain a global perspective of how agriculture is done and how women in Ghana make a living with the activities they do, whether farming or market trading. We wanted students to see how they manage their business and take care of the customer," said Kinwa-Muzinga.

Said Mandel, "I appreciate seeing students discover Africa and come to appreciate it."

The first stop was the city of Accra, where the students, Kinwa-Muzinga and Mandel visited an aquafarm, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the Makola Market, a bead making entrepreneur and the Aburi Botanical Gardens.

In Kumasi, the group visited the Kante Village, Military Museum, Ashantehene's Palace, the Kejetia Market, Kwame Nkrumah University and university farm, craft villages and the Adeugyama Project. At the university, students toured the university farm and met with faculty and students.

"The university was not much different in general from a large state university. Their professors were exceptionally knowledgeable and more than willing to help us", said Heidi Weber, a December 2007 graduate in communication technologies with music and agribusiness minors.

During their visit to Ashantehene's Palace, the students attended the witness festival. At the Adeugyama Project, a village of single mothers, students saw their farms and the kinds of fruits and vegetables they grew. Each woman was given one to two acres of land to farm on. After the visit, the students gave the women a donation of money and cloths.

"The women are working so hard to improve their living. They have the entrepreneur spirit. We saw in them the joy of doing something you love. They give the best of themselves and are proud to present what they have to people," said Kinwa-Muzinga.

The next stop was Cape Coast. There, students met repatriated Africans, who are African Americans who moved back to the land of their ancestors. They also visited Kakum National Park Rain Forest and USAID Ecotourism Project site, the Elimina Fish Market, Global Mamas, Elimina Castle and Cape Coast Castle. Students visited with women entrepreneurs at the Elimina Fish Market and learned how to drum and dance at Global Mamas. The Elimina Castle was once a slave trading center and the Cape Coast Castle served as military protection for Elimina Castle.

The students concluded the trip back in Accra where they visited a Liberian refugee camp, local high school, bank, health clinic and toured Harbour/Cargo-Point of Export for locally produced goods. At the refugee camp, students met with the people and made a donation. The class was the first group to visit the refugees.

"When we walked into the church at the camp, all of the women stood up and clapped for us as we entered. I had a great time dancing and rejoicing with them," said Nicole Kieler, a senior in business administration with an emphasis in applied management.

Throughout the trip, the students met many people and noticed how extremely welcoming and friendly they were.

"More than anything, what I carry from Ghana is to experience love. Love for many things, your county, your home, your work, your family. Ghanaians just love on each other no matter what because they know that without working together and coming together, things would fall apart," said Weber.

Said Emily Heath, a junior in animal science with a dairy emphasis, "Ghanaian people are so wealthy in love, family and relationships. Everywhere we went we felt welcomed ... I have a new value for life now in the way that I see things."

Kinwa-Muzinga plans to have another Ghana class next summer and is working on financing the next trip.

"It's important for our country for young people to learn about the world," said Kinwa-Muzinga. "Everyone should study abroad and make a trip to Africa. I can't wait to go back," said Heath.

Anyone interested in the Ghana trip or donating may contact Kinwa-Muzinga at (608) 342-1007 or kinwamua@uwplatt.edu or Mandel at (608) 342-1311 or mandelj@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, assistant professor, agribusiness, (608) 342-1007, kinwamua@uwplatt.edu; Jennifer Mandel, assistant professor of social science and geography, (608) 342-1311, mandelj@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu