My husband, Kevin, best told the story in a Facebook post, which I've copied below.
Marcey and I just returned from our second trip to Ghana, and just like our trip two years ago, this one was a whirlwind of experiences and emotions. Ghana is a place of extremes: unsightliness and beauty, poverty and affluence, anguish and joy, despair and hope. While there, we visited the small village of Akyremade, where we attended the dedication ceremony for the middle school we are helping to build through the NC-based Work Meaningful Foundation. In this village, over 200-300 children cannot attend school because they cannot afford the $30/year fee required for a uniform. While this may seem like an easily surmountable problem, another problem must be solved first: the need for teaching space to house this many more students. So far, we have finished the first floor of the new middle school, but more resources are needed to finish the second floor.
While in Akyremade, we were thrilled to get once again a chance to meet many of the children who currently attend school there. Perhaps the most touching encounter was reconnecting with a little girl named Millicent, the star of a dance group we had seen in 2022. She was small, maybe 5 or 6 years old at that time. She was particularly enamored with a member of our group named Don. Millicent had never seen such a tall man (Don is around 6' 5" ) and shyly asked him if she could take a photo with him. During this year's ceremony, Marcey spotted a girl she was sure was Millicent. She was dancing as part of the entertainment group. My eyes welled with tears, and I knew I had to meet her. After the ceremony, crowds of children surrounded us, saying hello, offering high fives and fist bumps, and asking for photos. I saw the girl in a large group of children, got her attention, and motioned for her to come forward. Kneeling, I showed her a photo I had taken in 2022 of Don and the little girl who was so taken with him. I pointed to the picture and asked, "Is this you"? Her eyes widened as she said, "Yes". I asked, do you remember? Again, "yes". I asked if I could have a photo with her, to which she happily agreed as some of the other children gleefully crowded in alongside us. I thanked her and, walking away, I could no longer contain the tears, which I did my best to hide from the children. Seeing me struggling to hold it together, Marcey asked what was wrong, to which I said, "Nothing is wrong; it's her." Marcey immediately approached the group, wanting to meet Millicent herself. Upon seeing Marcey, Millicent lit up and came out of the crowd with arms open wide for a hug. Marcey was crying, and I am sure this little girl had no idea why. I am still astonished that she remembered us and will cherish this experience.
I tell this story because, while it is great to do good for the sake of doing good, I find it important to have a "why" to keep me focused and on track. Millicent and the hundreds of children like her are my why. In Ghana, education is the best hope for these kids, and I am proud to be a part of helping make that happen. Work Meaningful Foundation needs to raise another $20,000 to complete middle school so that we can help get these kids the education that they want and deserve.
Will you help a young student in Ghana?
