Bringing Ghana to Local Students at Scranton
The University of Scranton hosted nearly 100 students from Prescott Elementary School, The Lutheran Academy and North Pocono Elementary and Middle School, who came to campus in November to hear Ekow Aikins, a MBA student at the University and a native of Ghana, talk about his country. The program was part of an International Education Week at the University. From left are: Nathan Graham, Scranton, a fourth-grade student at The Lutheran Academy; Aurora Lefever, Moscow, an eighth grade student at North Pocono Middle School; Treb Cacao, Scranton, a fifth-grade student at Prescott Elementary School; Aikins: and Huey Shi Chew, director of international students and scholar services at the University.Students from local elementary and middle schools learned about Ghana’s culture and language during an
International Education Week event held at The University of Scranton.
Nearly 100 students from Prescott Elementary School, The Lutheran Academy and North Pocono Elementary and Middle School came to the University in November to hear international student Ekow Aikins, a MBA student at the University and a native of Ghana, talk about his country.
Aikins began the lecture by explaining the symbolism and meaning of the colors represented in Ghana’s flag. The red symbolizes the blood of those who died in Ghana’s struggle for independence from Great Britain; the gold represents the mineral wealth of the country; green represents the country’s lush fields and forests; and the black star is the symbol of African emancipation.
Aikins also talked about Ghana’s traditional dress, food, tribes and regions. He also showed images of places that signify Ghana’s independence in a slideshow. He told the elementary school students how most Ghanaian people name their children by the days of the week they were born. For example, Ghanaian male children born on Wednesday could possibly be named Kwaku and female children born on Friday could possibly be named Afua.
The lecture ended with a question and answer session. The local students then had the chance to taste a sampling of traditional Ghanaian food.
The lecture was sponsored by the University’s Office of International Programs and Services and was part of International Education Week, which is a joint operation by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. Its purpose is to commend the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.
Students from Prescott Elementary School, The Lutheran Academy and North Pocono Elementary and Middle School learned about Ghana’s culture and language during an International Education Week event held at The University of Scranton in November.
