Three years ago, I started on my first journey to Ghana. During that trip, I met some amazing humans with a passion for change and creating a better community around them. They showed us their homes, their families, their communities, and the areas that needed help. They showed us compassion, joy, love, friendship, and perseverance. It was from this trip that we have created fruitful partnerships with Challenging Heights, ISHEW, and Holy Cross Hospital. During our conversations over the years with each of these partners, one topic has remained forefront in the conversations: women. Women are the glue that binds communities together. They are caregivers, providers, disciplinarians, friends, wives, mothers, workers... The list is extensive. Challenging Heights sees the value in educating and providing vocational training for women, which is why they started the Senya Women's Vocational School. When women are educated, they can critically think and provide for their families. When women have vocational skills, they can break the cycle of poverty. Families who have money, aren't enticed by slave master's money. Families with money don't give up their children to slave masters that they can't provide for. When women can work in their communities, they can keep an eye on the children who are at risk for slavery. When women have knowledge and skills, they have the power to change their communities. This really spoke to me as a woman in America, where I have taken my education and upbringing for granted. 

I have seen the power of change in the communities that put a focus on women's education and health over my past visits to Ghana. I hope to see more change this year. But I understand that with current strain on Ghanaian government finances, this push for education needs our support. My goal is to raise $1,000 in support of the vocational school in addition to collecting donations for the women in this school. Donations can include tools (screwdrivers, hammers, etc), cooking supplies (pots, pans, utensils, etc), and classroom supplies (pens, paper, backpacks, etc). Please contact me if you are interested in donating supplies, and I can send you a more specific list. 

Thank you for your continued support! 

-Kelsey Parisi