African Child Cultural Exchange Program (ACCEP)

My name is Aiyana and I am the founder of ACCEP. Our mission is to globally connect high school students from underserved communities for international cultural exchange experiences. Our three components are cultural exchange, entrepreneurial exploration, and tourism. 

 

As a lifelong educator, it has been my life’s goal and dream to support students from the USA with traveling to Africa (and vice versa). I taught high school for 8 years in the most vulnerable communities in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. My students were considered “at-risk” and/or “high needs”. To me, my students were brilliant young adults who lacked access and exposure. Oftentimes when I hosted field trips around the city, my students would light up and be free; an indescribable sight to see. I noticed when my students left their neighborhoods they were able to understand the works around them just a little bit more. Imagine if they were offered a FREE trip to the Motherland! The impact will be priceless!!

 

For the past two years I have been traveling to Ghana making connections at local schools. Every time I volunteer and meet students, I let them know that I teach students in America who look just like them. They get excited in song and dance in anticipation of visiting the US and meeting American students abroad.

 

Background:

Students from underserved communities face many challenges and lack resources. When enrichment opportunities such as study abroad and cultural exchanges are available the aforementioned demographic is unable to participate because their families and communities lack the financial means.

As a result, students are misinformed about Africa due to lack of quality education and the false and negative narrative the media portray.

 

Students from underserved communities are underrepresented in study abroad and cultural exchange program. ACCEP will act as a catalyst to bridge the gap between students from underserved communities in the USA and Ghana, West Africa.

 

Impact: By July 2023, ACCEP will sponsor five students and two chaperones from an underserved school in Washington, DC for a 2-week cultural exchange experience in various regions of Ghana.

 

We need:

Flights

Passports

Yellow Fever Vaccinations

Visas

Transportation

Meals

Lodging

Field trips and activities

Workshops

And more!

 

This GoFundMe will help ACCEP with future sponsorship. I am relying on friends and family to help this mission come to fruition for our next generation of leaders. If you can donate to support, it shows you believe in me and our youth!

 

Medaase (thank you in Twi)