Exploring practicum opportunities in Ghana
A two-week trip to Ghana resulted in five new practicum opportunities for conflict resolution and international development students at Menno Simons College (MSC).
Ruth Taronno, MSC’s Director of Practicum and Alumni Relations, travelled to Ghana in late April to develop relationships and investigate possible practicum placements with 10 organizations.
MSC’s practicum program is designed to provide students with “hands-on skills training [that] is extremely important in the work-force,” says Taronno.
The trip developed out of MSC’s desire to provide recommendations of placement organizations to students. Visiting the organizations in Ghana provided Taronno with the opportunity to ask questions about the scope of work, types of living conditions, and the support networks available to students.
A number of the organizations Taronno visited focus on education. “Everybody knows that it’s all about education,” she says. “There’s lots of talk about education for women and girls but there are a lot of challenges.”
One of the organizations Taronno visited is FLOWER, which stands for “facilitating learning of women in emerging regions.” FLOWER works to help young women realize their full potential and feel empowered to make decisions about their future. The organization’s activities are rooted in the belief that when women and girls are supported, the whole community can live better.
While visiting FLOWER, Taronno stayed with a family in the community to gain a sense of what the living arrangements would be like for students. She met with staff and board members to discuss the type of assignments students might have, which include “working in the schools, in the communities or out in the fields.”
MSC alumna, Erin Anderson, who graduated with a conflict resolution and international development double major, completed her practicum with FLOWER in 2007/2008. The timing of her practicum occurred while FLOWER’s Executive Director Helen Attah was creating the organization. Anderson has continued to be involved with FLOWER in the areas of volunteer coordination, grant writing, and has assisted with strategic planning.
Students who complete their practicum with FLOWER will “be involved with a really welcoming organization,” says Anderson. “People will be made to feel comfortable, be put in a position to use the skills they already have, and to be stretched in new ways,” she says.
Anderson’s positive experience during her practicum as well as her ongoing connection with the organization is one of the reasons Taronno decided to explore further practicum opportunities in Ghana. There haven’t been many practicum placements in Ghana in the past, says Taronno, but the country’s stability and English language mean it’s a viable option for students.
MSC’s practicum program is a required course for students completing a four-year degree in CRS or IDS and is an option for those completing a three-year degree. To date, practicum students have volunteered in 56 countries.
“Our hope is that the practicum experience is positive, for students and the organizations and communities they interact with,” says Taronno. “Practicum experiences allow students to put the theories they learn into practice and to broaden and deepen their knowledge of conflict resolution and international development.”
Ellen Paulley is the Writer and Social Media Coordinator for Menno Simons College
Click here to learn more about the new practicum opportunities in Ghana
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
