Longitude’s Cross-Cultural Teacher Collaboration Initiative
THE STORY
This summer, Longitude will be sending its first, of what hopefully will be many, teachers to Ghana. The goal is to develop a thoughtful, cross-cultural collaboration among US teachers and Ghanaian teachers that will help improve the education of West Africans both here in the United States and in Ghana.
The impetus for designing this new and creative program is two-fold. First, we see a problem in the way many international volunteer teaching placements occur. Typically the western teacher comes, replaces the local teacher, teaches, and leaves. Very little collaboration takes place. Second, West Africans are a growing population in secondary urban settings, and teachers are struggling to adequately educate them. The difficulties teachers face are rooted in a lack of understanding of West African culture, society, and education.
Judah Lakin, a Hope High School teacher in Providence, RI, who works closely with many West Africans, has eagerly volunteered to pilot this program along with a secondary school teacher in Ghana named Kwevie. Together these teachers will plan lessons, share best practices, and open an international dialogue around teaching that will continue even after Judah has returned to the States. Upon returning, Judah will run professional development seminars for Providence teachers on best practices surrounding West African students, as well as stay in contact via email and phone with Kwevie to continue collaborations.
In partnering skilled and motivated US and Ghanaian teachers, and allowing Judah to immerse himself in Ghanaian culture, we hope ideas sowed this summer will grow into useful and lasting classroom practices for both teachers involved.
Please support Longitude in its efforts to send Judah to Ghana for this vital endeavor.
Judah has a wonderful and meaningful relationship with his West African students, but realizes he is still missing a profound knowledge of their culture and background—one that can only be attained through full cultural immersion.
THE GOAL
Longitude’s goal is to fund raise Judah’s plane flight to Ghana to help offset the rising costs that would otherwise prohibit this meaningful exchange from taking place. Plane fares this month have skyrocketed to $2,000 from New York to Accra. Judah has volunteered to travel to Ghana to help Longitude get this valuable initiative off the ground and our goal is to help him get there.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We need your help to raise enough money to purchase as much of Judah’s plane fare as possible. Please give online through our secure Google Checkout payment option, or send a check directly to Longitude. Your gift is 100% tax deductible, and you will know that you have helped to connect two teachers eager to learn from each other’s experience.
THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL DONORS
Donor Name
Donna and Harley Frank
Daniel Herzlinger
John and Michelle Lavall
Rick and Faith Landau
Stephen Lehrer
Doug Emmanuel
Brian Wildeman
Cauley Greene
Longitude Featured in Providence Monthly
