beyond boundaries

building lasting and just relationships across cultural and class boundaries

 

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Upcoming Events

ANNUAL PICNIC

Saturday

September 27, 2008

3:00 pm

 

340 Midland Avenue

(Aggie Lane’s house)

 

All Are Welcome

Please bring a dish to share and a lawn chair, RSVP to Aggie

at 315-478-4571

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BB Booth at Westcott Street Cultural Fair

 

Sunday

September 21, 2008

11 am – 7pm

 

Westcott Street,

University area, Syracuse

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Come to

BB’s FIRST MEETING

To get information on our 2008-2009 Project

 

Sunday

October 19, 2008

4 – 6pm

 

 Brady Faith Center

404 South Ave, Syracuse

 

View our full 2008 - 2009 Calendar here.

 

2005-2006 Cultural Awareness Project
Ghana, West Africa

 

Beyond Boundaries members on the 2006 Cultural Awareness trip to Ghana had an opportunity to learn, first hand, about the vast number of grassroots efforts providing educational support for both youth and adults in the different locations.

In Bolgatanga, CENSUDI's staff and co-founders Margaret Mary Issaka and Franciska Issaka hosted our group for discussions about the expanded focus of their organization. We were pleased to note that one of the new staff members is a former scholarship recipient giving back to her community.

 

At the Buduburam refugee camp, home to nearly 42,000 displaced Liberians, Rev. Pricilla Legey-Jaiah and her support staff gave us a

lesson on the roles that determination and commitment have played in the development of a local school and other community projects. 

Derrick Dankwa facilitated a visit to the Okyeame Dankwa Memorial Community Library in Worawora where we met with community leaders and library staff to hear about the ongoing efforts to develop programming at that neighborhood resource.

I thank all of our hosts for providing opportunities for Beyond Boundaries members to build relationships within the global community. A special thank you to Gordon Akon-Yamga whose co-leadership of this trip was invaluable to its success.

 

 ...my first trip to Africa...

My favorite parts of the trip were around the situations that included meeting the people of Ghana and being in the smaller communities. I was impressed by all the grassroots organizing for health education and support, community needs and the arts. The land is incredibly beautiful-the savannahs up north, the coastline and the wonderful mountains of the east. The images I bring back are of people walking and biking, babies on backs and parcels, of all types carried on heads and those gorgeous fabrics worn by the women! On a daily basis, I find myself traveling back in my mind...  -- Stephanie Cross

This trip to Ghana reintroduced me to the sense of being in the moment and the people were warm and receptive. The landscape was varied and very beautiful-the many large trees with contours and roots so visually interesting that I think I took too many pictures of them. The arts and crafts were amazing-leatherwork, pottery, basket weaving, wood carving, beautiful cloth and of course beads! Seeing the elephants was worth the 2 hour dirt road trip, headache and sour stomach. I would do it again if I knew something like that was waiting down the road for me!  -- Barbara Floch 

One of the things I enjoyed most on my trip to Ghana was visiting a small family compound in Kantia. While there, I played follow the leader with a group of kids. I would hop, they would hop. I would do the disco, they would do the disco. Everything I did, they would try to imitate.  -- Alex Sherman-Cross (Age 13)

The trip to Ghana was a lifelong dream come true for me. Returning to the continent of my ancestors after generations of separation through enslavement was an important symbolic victory for me and my family, as well as a tangible reconnection with the people, the culture I come from and the overwhelming challenges we still face as a people to this day. The spirit, beauty and smiles of the Ghanaians; the beautiful baobab trees, the animals and the vast night skies full of stars are just some of the memories etched into my mind and spirit forever.  -- Jacque Thomas

African Awareness Trip

- in Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana