We are staff, students and teachers at a village middle school in Ghana in West Africa. Ask us anything.

When you aren't in school, what do you enjoy doing?

Sharifa: I like to watch movies and read, and helping my mother. Georgina: I like to watch telenovelas (they are very popular here.)

Telenovelas, as in Mexican soap operas?

Yep, extremely popular

Sharifa, do you have a favorite book?

Yes, No Sweetness Here

How difficult is it having to work with low-IQ students?

Many of the students don't have low-IQ. It is more they do not have access to the same learning resources that area easily available in European and US schools.

Hello from Illinois in the U.S.! What do you aspire to do in the future? What are your dreams?

Emmanuel: I want to be a journalist Sharifa: I want to be a nurse Georgina: I want to be a musician Joseph: I want to be a doctor Charles: I want to be a lawyer

I'm happy to know that! What are the biggest challenges that you face in your lives?

Emmanuel: Financial problems. Paying for school fees is difficult many times.

Joseph: I sometimes come to school with an empty stomach. It makes it hard to learn.

Georgina: My parents are farmers and we don't have much money for myself and my siblings

If you become a nurse, will you stay in Africa or go abroad?

Sharifa: I want to stay in Ghana

How's the food in Ghana?

Emmanuel: It is very delicious and tasty too.

What's your favorite food?

Charles:Rice balls and groundnut soup

Emmanuel: It is very delicious and tasty too.

I work in a University cafeteria in the USA and we are serving rice Jollof this coming semester. What are some other foods that are staples in Ghana that we could serve. Here is a picture of our dining room. Thank you!

You can serve fufu or waakye (http://ghanaculturepolitics.com/videogallery/how-to-prepare-waakye-ghana-ricebeans280839384/)

What do you most enjoy learning about?

Also, how's your internet?

Emmanuel: I like to learn about math. Joseph: math Sharifa: Economics Georgina: English

Taylor: Currently we have power and the internet is okay for now! Hopefully it stays that way.

Any specific type of math that you two enjoy?

What do you like about economics, Sharifa? Are you more of a micro or macro?

Georgina (and I suppose all), who's your favorite author?

Joseph: I like to learn about fractions Emmanuel: I like to learn about simulations equations

Georgina: David Dontoh (A Ghanaian writer and actor)

Emmanuel, what is your favorite hockey team?

Wisconsin Badgers. A volunteer was from Wisconsin and showed me a match

As a Minnesota Gophers fan (big rivalry), tell him I will show him all the clips of hockey games his heart desires if he agrees to switch over to our team.

he laughed and said he will see

What sports are your favorite to partake in?

Georgina: volleyball Joseph: football Sharifa: basketball Emmanuel: Hockey (in joking, but he says he played once in Accra)

You think you're funny or something, Emmanuel? HMM?

He just smiled and said "sometimes"

Classic Emmanuel

Can we have a picture of Emmanuel and put this caption on it

And thus, a new meme has been born.

When I see him at his program I may try and take a picture with the caption. I'll see what I can do

Dumb question - football there is soccer in America, right? Or do you mean American football?

Yes, football = soccer in Ghana.

I know this isn't a question but I just wanted to let you know that your fundraising page is showing an error. I'd like to donate, do you have a link that works?

Thank you for telling me. The new link should be up, but it is here as well:

https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/exponential-education-help-us-reach-new-students--2

Just donated...tried to share link on Twitter and Facebook, but it didn't let me.

Thank you so much for your support! Maybe you can just share Expo's facebook or twitter page?

Hello from Sydney, Australia! Nice to meet you :) Two questions:

1)What languages do you guys speak, inside or outside of school?

2) What does your typical school day look like?

Question 1: In school: We are supposed to speak English (or French in the French class)

Outside: Twi (The local language)

Question 2: From Gergina: I wake up at 5am and shower and do household chores (sweeping). I get to school at 730 (she walks from a neighboring village that is 30 minutes away). I will be in school till 3pm. When I get home I will help cook food and serve my family food. I will then help with the cleaning and do homework. I will then go to sleep at nine pm.

is the school urban or rural? does the school have animals/pets? do any of the kids at home?

The school is rural. Antoa is a small village outside of Kumasi.

The school does not have pets, but animals (dogs, goats, cats, chickens) do wander into the classroom sometimes.

Emmanuel: I have a cat Sharifa: I have goats Georgina: A cat Joseph: I have a dog

Do the students have any opportunity to travel? How many have been to Accra? How many have been to a foreign country?

Students usually don't get to travel too far. But they have all said they have been to Accra (Emmanuel lived there for 2 years) and no one has a passport. So no traveling to other countries.

They can go to ECOWAS countries without a passport. My students in Ho went to Togo often for funerals but few had been to Accra.

Ah okay, I didn't realize (Taylor) but they still haven't traveled.

I am a science teacher in Europe. I was wondering if I could help in any way by sharing my own notes and digital resources. Would this be useful at all?

If you would like to PM I can ask the science teachers I know if they would like them!

Hi everyone!

Which person from Ghana do you admire the most?

Emmanuel : John Mahama (the current president of Ghana) Joseph: The late Atta Mills (the late president and professor) Georgina: Nana Addo (the main NPP, canidate to run for president)

who are the non political heroes, just curious?

Charles: football players are seen as heroes, but a lot are political in nature

What do you learn about other countries?

Charles: We learn about other countries culture mostly.

How do they feel about American culture?

They think it is pretty cool and fun :)

How are the Black Stars doing this season?

Sharifa: they are doing well and they have qualified for the African Cup 2017!

I'm Ghanian and my dad played for the Black Stars (a loooong time ago)! His name is Fredua Agyeman Prempeh. Glad to hear you guys are fans of soccer!

Charles says he doesn't know the name but he loves Black Stars so loves him then!

What is your textbook situation like? Do you have any? What is there condition?

Emmanuel: We have to pay for the textbooks ourselves. They can be 40 ceids for one book. We purchase them new since the school doesn't have any. Joseph: We sometimes get the textbook from the school, but usually we have to pay for them. Our textbooks are usually 25 cedis. We buy them new

Taylor: Many schools do not get new textbooks and they use ones that haven't been updated in 10 years. Because the students buy their own books there are no used books, they are just full of old information sometimes.

Just a tip for teachers- my students in Ho couldn't afford English lit books to work on English skills and I couldn't afford to import them, so I found PDF books online (through Library Genesis but there are others since that was shut down) and printed my own copies for them at a local printing stand at about $4 USD / 10 cedi per book. They gave a deal of like 5 pesewas per page because I was printing in bulk.

Do you a link to maybe other sites? I would love to share with some of my teachers.

40 cedi = $10.15 USD

Yes, this is correct. To give more context, in one day if your mother or father is a trader (sells an item) they can make a profit of 10 cedis (they sell items in town) a day , and if lucky 100 cedis (if they own their own shop).

From this amount they will buy more items to sell or food for their families. So at the end they may have less.

Did you hear about openstax.org?

No?

For the teach:

Mrs. Chust, how did you get involved in such a project and what inspired you to do so?

for the students:

You all have listed what you want to be (professionally) what/who is your inspiration for those paths?

Taylor: I have a degree in international relations and a minor in educational policy. I have worked for a long time domestically in the US (as a certified math teacher in Englewood in Chicago) and in Boston and Baton Rouge. I was never able to work abroad due to having to pay for college (had to earn that money for myself). After working a few years I decided to take the risk and see if I wanted to continue to work in education domestically or internationally. I have loved working in Ghana and luckily have been able to have my work have a crossover with domestic and international education

Emmanuel: I want to be a journalist because I want to give information to the people about what is happening in the world.;

Sharifa: I want to be a nurse because my little brother always gets sick and it worries me. We always had to go to a far away place to get help. I want to be a nurse so I can provide help locally in my community.

Joseph: I want to be a doctor because I want to save the people in my community from disease. Many people get sick and they have to travel far for help. I want to help locally.

Georgina: I want to be a musician so I can be famous and praise God

Taylor, Baton Rouge native, where did you teach? And are you related to a Tim Chustz?

There are 2 Chustz clans in Baton Rouge and I think he is part of the other one. I worked with St Joseph's Academy

Can you tell us about your school building and how it fits your needs? Do you find it's generally useful when American or western mission/philanthropy groups come to Ghana and build schools or do you find it patronizing?

Georgina: We like it because in the end we get the buildings we need for free.

Sharifa: At the SHS we sometimes have 54 students in a room. We share desks and it is very small.

Joseph: We have have 17 students in a room sometimes, but we have no power and the chalk boards are falling apart.

Why the focus on teaching English? And if you got the chance to expand your program, what else might you want to teach besides math and English?

English is a core subject in Ghana education. Since it is sometimes the students second (or even third language) we try to reinforce their learning.

We also offer separate programs in the STEM topics. In this classes we train local teachers to teach a curriculum from a company called Level Up Village. It is free to teachers and students.

In expanding we hope to offer more tutoring services, and in turn STEM classes to students.

What languages are spoken in Ghana?

Charles: There are 17 local languages in Ghana but the most spoken language is Twi

17 languages? Wow! So do signs in public have a bunch of translations written on them? Or do most people know one main language?

Twi is the most common language so you see a combination of Twi and English on signs. But it really depends on what area you are in

What is the biggest challenge you have to overcome for your schooling? Is there a lack of infrastructure or supplies?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

On another note, education is the key that opens so many doors later in life. It's the best thing you can do for yourself and your community. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

Emmanuel: lack of qualified teachers - I want to be journalist Sharifa: lack of facilities - I want to be a nurse Joseph: We have no libraries - I want to be a doctor Georgina: lack of supplies, like textbooks.- I want to be a musician

Would ereaders and tablets be a practical solution for the lack of textbooks and libraries? What about internet access where you are?

Joseph: Yes Charles: Yes, but it would be difficult for the schools to manage the ownership of the devices I think.

Hello from Belgium! I live not far from Brussels which has a population of 1 million people. I prefer to live in the countryside away from the city.

Kumasi is bigger than Brussels - do you prefer city life or the countryside?

Emmanuel: I want to live in the city and visit the country side

Random question, completely unrelated to your amazing cause (which by the way it really is).

My brother actually owns some property in Ghana, a bar he called "Game" I'm curious if anyone has been and if it's a good place.

My brother disowned me years ago, but I'd like to know if he's doing well and this seems as good a way as any.

Related question, how do you gauge who is outstanding and who is struggling? What is done about the kids that bridge the divide?

Do you know where the bar is located? Ghana is kind of big, but if you know where (village, town) I can ask around.

For the JHS students we administer a baseline exam in English and math just to see where they stand. We also ask their English and math teachers so we can get an idea. After we know, we group the kids and the tutors teach them in the specific areas they are struggling in. Sometimes we also try to partner students who are struggling with better performing students.

Near Kumasi, I'm afraid that's all I know.

I really think you're doing good work :) keep it up :)

I asked the students and they do not know the place. But if I ever come by a place I will look into it.

Is there something you know you will need in your life but you also know school doesn't teach it?

Charles: access to computers. many times we only learn about the theory of using computers, but we don't know how to send emails or type.

It seems like you all have the same buzzcut - are there no distinction between the hairstyles of boys and girls? Is it part of the school uniform maybe?

What is the song used in the video? Seems like some of the kids are singing along?

Also what an awesome video it could have been so cringe but it was so great. Looks like a bunch of wonderful students :)

In Ghana, only adults are allowed to have long hair. It is seen as a sign of respect to elders. Also, the government wants to differentiate between the children and teachers in school. (Also they all kind of don't know specifically why, just that it is part of culture).

The song is by Bisa Kdie it is called Mansa

And thank you about the video:)

I have read on multiple occasions that child slavery is a common practice in the fishing industry on Lake Volta. As an educator in Ghana have you ever worked with another educator or student who has been affected by this practice? Have you ever witnessed evidence of this practice first-hand? How is this practice viewed by the local populace in Ghana: is it abhorred, mostly ignored, accepted, or something completely different?

I will be honest, I do not specifically know about cases like this because I am in the Ashanti Region (not near Volta). From talks with teachers, child slavery is supposedly some all Ashantis are completely against. But still it happens, as in the story you are saying. I would say it is abhorred, but I am not sure what people do to stop it sadly.

Where do you plan on attending university as you pursue your careers? Are there universities in Ghana that offer the courses you need or would you need to travel to a different country? Are there scholarships available to you?

Joseph: I want to travel to a different country for school to learn more. Sometimes if you get a degree in Ghana the government jobs will not pick you. But if you have a degree from another country, they will give you the job.

Why do you think it is that the government prefers someone that has education from a different country? Is the quality of education better than in Ghana at that level?

It is more just assumed. Most Ghanaians I know who receive a degree in Ghana say they have to get a masters to get a government job. It is more the perception that a foreign school is better than a local one.

Interesting. But must be discouraging :(

Yea, it can be :(

Hello from the UK!

Which country would you like to visit the most if you could, and why?

Sharifa: Belgium because one of my cousins is there and I want to visit

Emmanuel: The UK because I just want to go there and have fun

What would you say to the many students in the U.S. who sometimes take the opportunities to attend school for granted?

Charles: I would say that US students get schooling for free (at least in the public schools) and everyone is schooling so they don't understand the value and benefit of school because they don't pay for it. Many of us struggle to pay for school and sometimes our families take us out of school to help work on farms and pay for general bills (light, fetching water). Schooling is important because it can get you out of poverty and we should never forget that.

Hello, I'm from Panamá. How hot is there? It's hot every day of the year?

It isn't hot every day. We have a dry season at the end and start of the year. Currently it is the rainy season so it is cool after a rain but very humid waiting for it

One of my professors just spent a year on Ghana and she had amazing things to say about the people, the food, the culture, and the universities.

If you could pick one thing about Ghana to share with the rest of the world, what would you pick? What do you have that is so awesome that makes you think the rest of us are missing out?

Charles: I think we would share what is friendship. Ghanaians are very friendly and accepting. I would want to share that about our culture.

Do you have music classes and if you do, what are they like?

Not specific music classes, but they have what are known as culture classes where the students learn traditional drumming and dancing.

Do schools there have terrible discipline problems (disobedience, fighting, guns, drugs) like so many schools in the US?

Charles: Compared in America, it is different. WE have our own ways of being respectful to teachers and we are disciplined (physically) more in school than America. We fight with each other, but not with guns just words.

but not with guns

Are they well informed about American gun culture or just using it as an example?

They know about gun culture mostly from me since I worked in inner cities and talked to them about it

Georgina, Sharifa, Emmanuel, Joseph, Charles - Who is/was your first crush?

They all laughed when I read the question and are shy.

What types of jobs will be typically available after graduation?

From the SHS tutors. If we just graduate from SHS and don't get a degree we can teach in the private schools or sell items in town.

What is the most surprising or disturbing stereotype you've heard about your country?

Joseph: I haven't heard anything negative. Usually people say we are very friendly.

How common is corporal punishment in Ghanaian schools?

At the SHS it isn't common, but at the JHS it is common (can happen every day)

How did you become a volunteer?

I saw a posting on idealist.org while working in the US. I always wanted to work abroad but I had to pay for my housing and schooling so I always worked. I was able to save up some before I took the position and now I am in Ghana.

How do you watch football? On phones, computers, or TV's? Do you think you will watch anything from this year's Olympic's?

We watch on a TV.

If there is no TV, or local TV playing, then we can't watch the Olympics. Many bars or local areas play sports events

Does the water situation cause problems sometimes?

Sometimes. For example most people do not have running water in Antoa and we get water from pumps. When the power is out the pumps don't work and we have no water.

Washing hands is a big issue though. There are a lot of programs to help bring about washing hands to prevent the spread of disease.

Hello, I teach middle school science in the United States. I'd really like to know what students want to achieve in life?

Joseph; i would to have my own hospital one day and a family. Charles: I want to have a family and own a school, I want to have scholarship programs for students from my village. Emmanuel: I want to travel the world.

Hey there Taylor, thanks for doing this!

Looking from the outside in, it seems that there is very little progress made in Africa in general.

What would you consider to be the biggest hurdle for education and general progress in Ghana or Africa in general? Is it about money, politics, religion, energy, war? What would you change if you could?

For me, I think it is a multi faced issue. Definitely money is an issue, but this comes into play when you look at jobs. There are not many formal jobs available in Ghana, so most families are traders (sellers) who work in the informal market. That makes it very difficult for the government to collect taxes which can support public infrastructure and goods.

In Ghana war is not an issue. Politics does play a big role in when schools get more funding or less funding. I personally think what will be the bog game changer is when local Africans develop their own businesses and models of change. It creates local investment and jobs for the communities. There is a lot of development potential in Ghana, and it will be either foreign initiatives will exploit it or local Africans can innovate and grow for their communities.

I hope this answered your question?

Are things improving overall in these countries?

Charles: Yes. We have new schools, roads being built, and better payment and infrastructure systems for schools. The government is trying more to invest in education.

How do you feel about Brexit and Trump?

Charles: I think the Britexit will make it difficult for students who want to go to school in the UK and could have also consequences to the economy locally and internationally. I don't like Trump. He says horrible things about people and seems to have many insecurities about himself. I think in Ghana, we would not respect him because of the things he says

Is there any danger ?

There is danger everywhere in the world. In Antoa, not really. Just tripping mostly when the power goes out and I can't see where I am walking But Ghana, compared to many countries in West Africa, is very safe.

What, and how many, languages do people in Ghana speak? As an American I am fascinated by multilingual societies.

Charles: there are 17 languages in Ghana and many people speak more than one. Usually sometimes 3 or more

Who is/are your favorite musician(s) from Ghana?

Sharifa and Georgina: stone boy and bisa kdei

To the teacher :I am a high school teacher in the US if I wanted to come teach at your school how would I go about doing that?

To the students: what is your favorite thing about school, what is the hardest part about school?

It depends on how long you want to teach and what. There are a variety of volunteer teaching programs in Ghana and Africa.

Joseph: favorite thing is that I get to learn and get solutions to questions. The hardest thing is waking up very early....

Hello from Houston, USA! If a student fails in school, would some join the military? Or is that more looked down upon compared to our culture? Thanks again!

You have to pass your WASCE (SHS exit exams) to go into the military.

What kind of music do you like? What music is popular in your area?

There is a type of music called high-life in Ghana. It is very popular with the young people. Many people also listen to praise music

Outside of education, what do you think the most important thing that, as a nation, Ghana can focus on in order to increase the overall well-being of the citizens?

Sharifa: Entrepreneurship and technology innovation

What's your favorite dance?

Azonto!

If you all could travel to anywhere in the world where would you want to go?

Sharifa, I want to go to Belgium to visit my cousin because I miss her

What is the highest level of math that both the JHS and SHS teach? Do the SHS students feel prepared for college?

At the SHS Calculus is the highest level you can take. The SHS students said they feel prepared for college if they can attend

Hey. What effects do you think Nkrumah's socialism had on Ghana?

Charles: The first thing we always think of is that he brought independence to Ghana. So never forget. He believed in schooling and educating people, the idea of free education to JHS and SHS. Of course that isn't fully in practice, but it is something we still strive for.

To Taylor: Have you spent much time in any of the cities and suburbs, and if so how similar/different are they from cities and suburbs in the US? How different are they from the rural area you're currently in, in terms of the lifestyle/opportunities/facilities etc for the residents?

To the students: What do you like the most and least about Ghana?

Yes, I live in Antoa (the village) but I have been fortunate to travel to the other areas of Ghana and the surrounding countries. I am from rural Louisiana so sometimes it is surprising how similar the rural communities are to rural communities in Louisiana and Mississippi. Depending on the city, development is different. Accra is a very modern and European like city (at least to me)

Charles: least- the fact that the power goes in and out without warning. the best- the people.

What kind of music do you guys enjoy? •ᴗ•

R and B, high life, praise music, and hip hop

Joseph, who are your favorite footballers?

Massi, Xavi (Spain), and Iniesta

Do you know Abdul Majeed aka "Godzilla"?

No

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Georgina: musician, Joseph: doctor, Charles: lawyer, Emmanuel: journalist

Is there a religious component in your school? Given the spread of HIV via Catholicism, & the spread of jihad via Islam, do these religions give you any pause in Africa?

The students attend government schools so they are not affiliated with a specific religion, but on Wednesday the JHS and SHS have what is known as worship. At worship they listen to a pastor or read from the bible.

Ghana is a very religious community and there are many people who believe in Islam, Christianity, and traditional African religions. As a volunteer from the US, I have found the level of tolerance for other religions very enlightening and positive here.

I don't know if I really answered your question though.

Why are there so many scammers over there?

Joseph: Everyone is trying to make something in this day in age. People are trying to find any money any way they can.

Sharifa: People want to be famous and be worldly people. So they make fake identities to get there.

Cual es el promedio de vida en gahanna y Cón cuanto sobrevive un habitante?

Cual es el promedio de vida en gahanna y Cón cuanto sobrevive un habitante?

Charles: maybe 75

Wo ho te s3n?

Aye!

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Expo does a variety of fundraising initiatives including grant writing, sponsorship from local organizations in Kumasi and Ghana (government sponsorship and private organizations), planning events, and other efforts. This method is used to spread word about the organization and work. If individuals feel inclined to support in small ways then we are allowing an avenue for them.

So a simple answer, yes we have sponsorship in Africa. We are just seeing who else would like to support us and our students.