A Visit to Parliament

My name is Kasey Haas and I’m a student at Brown University. After working with Longitude for one and a half years, I have finally been able to travel to Ghana and work with PROFESA and Meshach Bondzie to create a self-sustainability plan for the school. Over the past two weeks I have been able to tour the school, speak to the students and staff, and get to know the community. I have been helping in preparations for graduation this Saturday as well as doing some initial surveys of the businesses and organizations in the area.

On Monday, Meshach and I delivered a graduation invitation to the local Member of Parliament and she in turn invited us to come with her to see parliament and get a behind the scenes tour. So yesterday we drove with the Honorable Elizabeth Sackey to Parliament where she showed us some offices, the rest area for the parliamentarians, and explained how everything works in Ghana's government.

Then we watched as Parliament got under way. At moments it was very routine, but it got quite entertaining as the politicians began to really get into the debate. The parties shouted and tempers flared as various members argued with each other across the great hall. After the proceedings we had a private lunch with Mrs. Sackey and chatted about a wide range of topics, from politics to education to soccer - Ghana's favorite sport. It was fascinating to get a look at government in action in Ghana!

This week we have also been in full swing preparing for graduation. As the big day draws near, everyone is buzzing with excitement. Exams have come to a close and students and staff members alike are looking forward to the event with pride. After wrapping up a career counseling session during which the teachers and I gave the students pointers on interviews, writing a resume, and conducting a job search I talked to some of the students about the big day. One student told me, “I am very excited. It’s not everyone that gets to have a graduation, that gets to have a diploma. ” Another student said, “I’m very proud. Graduation is a big day. A day you will never forget in your life.” After two years of hard work and studying, the students are looking forward to the acknowledgement and celebration of their accomplishments.

Not only is it PROFESA’s first graduation, it’s many of the students’ first as well. The venue will be at a nearby university conference hall and many distinguished members of the community will be present, including the Member of Parliament for the area and representatives of potential employers for the students. Everything is pointing toward this being a spectacular day and we are all ready for it to come!