I can’t believe I’ll step foot on Mother Africa’s soil this Wednesday. It’s an overwhelming feeling, quite surreal.
One of my goals this year was to give more of my time freely through volunteer works. A friend told me of Youth Challenge International in Canada. Simply put, I applied, interviewed and received the YES Call. There was crazy glue on my jaws for minutes while I listened! I jumped around like a mad woman and squealed like the green monkeys in my neighbourhood.
It was my first year of Law exams and I was worried I may not have enough time to fund-raise. But my God is more than awesome. The support of family and friends floored me. Everyone came in with full action. I must point out the big support from the Growing Corporates (aka, small businesses) in Barbados. E.J Design Arts, DEEPROOT Clothing, The Barbados Experience, Innovative Media, EVOLVE and Tara Wilkinson Communications.
Whoever said that community support for young people is dead, is dead wrong. After making a presentation to The Rotary Club of Barbados West, they decided to throw their support behind the Ghana initiative. Thanks to them, I’m Flyin like a flyin fish in the face of ordinary with Virgin Atlantic tomorrow. The Rotary Club made my dream a reality and I am ever so grateful to them.
In Ghana I’ll set up a Monitoring and Evaluation system for the staff and awesome student leader representatives of ENACTUS. The community and local businesses benefit greatly from their support and the workshops will help participants effectively use M&E for development results.
Akwaaba to a new Chapter. I will take you with me on this journey through pictures, words and videos.
Have you received your YES Call? Share it with other Growers below.
I’m so very proud of you Shalisha! This is great…take it all in… 🙂
Oh wow… Congrats please take pics so I can live this experience through your eyes.
Good luck on your journey and grow well!
Mmmm. Nice to see that you are finally on your way. Enjoy the tastes, smells and sun and keep us posted on your journey.
All the very best!
This is an unbelievable accomplishment and I am so very proud and happy for you I will definitely be following you on your journey so that I feel as though I too share in the excitement of visiting the mother land.
I am soooo proud of you Shalisha! You are living your dream. Can’t wait to read about all your adventures!
As you embark on your sojourn to the Motherland be aware and learn from your ancestors… but also remember as you teach that you can learn from those whom you yearn to teach. I think kahlil Gibran say it better…
“On Teaching
Then said a teacher, “Speak to us of Teaching.”
And he said:
No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of our knowledge.
The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness.
If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.
The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding.
The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it.
And he who is versed in the science of numbers can tell of the regions of weight and measure, but he cannot conduct you thither.
For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.
And even as each one of you stands alone in God’s knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth. ”
The Prophet by kahlil Gibran
Travel Well my Friend….
I find the Dokunnu and Konkey (kenkey) quite interesting. In St. Lucia, we call it Pemie (pronounced “Pay me”). It would be interesting to see whether there is a link. But I enjoyed your description. You write very well and I can imagine the experiences from your descriptions. Walk Good! Shalisha!
I know you will embrace and be enriched by this wonderful experience.
So happy for you enjoy the experience.