From the field: practicum reflections from Ghana
By Barbara Bucheli
As an International Development Studies student with over half of my four-year degree completed, I was both very excited and daunted by the prospect of finding an international practicum placement with a credible non-governmental organization with a mission where I could contribute my skills and experiences. I learned about Facilitating Learning of Women in Emerging Regions (FLOWER) through Ruth Tarrono, the Practicum Director at Menno Simons College. Located in the small rural city of Asamankese in the Eastern Region of Ghana, FLOWER’s mission is to encourage young women to complete their education and to promote health in their municipality of West Akyem. FLOWER supplements the efforts of the Ghanaian education system by organizing Girls’ Clubs in Primary and Junior High Schools and occasionally arranging programming in Senior High Schools, aimed to encourage and support female students to complete their schooling, as many do not complete their education, most commonly due to a lack of support from their families and early pregnancies. FLOWER also educates the local communities on prevention strategies for disease and infection, especially in deterring cases of Cholera, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
Photo courtesy Barbara Bucheli
I forged a connection with FLOWER in February, for I had confidence in FLOWER’s mission and felt I could offer valuable skills. I secured a practicum placement as the Girls’ Club Assistant where I would be expected to create and facilitate three rounds of educational workshops with the various Girls’ Clubs, create an HIV/AIDS workshop for the local Senior High Schools, as well as apply for funding and complete other writing assignments. With these expectations in mind, I traveled to Ghana in mid-May and began my work with FLOWER, living with most accommodating and supportive Helen Attah, who is FLOWER’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and her wonderful family. I was introduced to FLOWER’s work in a wonderful fashion—I was able to assist FLOWER in hosting the first Girls’ Education Week festivities in the region. I then began my first rotation of traveling to the local schools with co-facilitator, Obenewaa Joyce, visiting one to two schools a day. I was very surprised at the amount of girls we would find waiting in the classroom, ranging from 28 to 138 and each having varying levels of English comprehension, my Canadian accent adding an extra level of difficulty. This variety would require great flexibility and improvisation on my part on how to present the material and activities, such as spontaneously taking the girls outdoors and creating self-representative theatrical skits instead of writing about themselves in class.
Photo courtesy Barbara Bucheli
Developing and facilitating these workshops has been both a challenge and a joy, because each workshop becomes unique and accommodates the needs of the specific group of girls. I have greatly enjoyed getting to know these young women, discussing, singing, dancing, playing, laughing, and learning with them. With half of my three month practicum completed, I have worked with over one thousand girls thus far and greatly look forward continuing to my work here, building relationships, and my skill and knowledge base in the development field.
Barbara Bucheli is pursuing a 4-year International Development Studies degree
Click here to learn more about MSC’s practicum program
Faculty: In Their Own Words
Karen Ridd, Teaching Associate Professor, Conflict Resolution Studies
Dr. Jonathan Sears, Associate Professor of International Development Studies
Dr. Jodi Dueck-Read, Assistant Professor of Conflict Resolution Studies
Dr. Jerry Buckland, Professor of International Development Studies
