Support Lucas Metz's Study Abroad Journey

Hello!

I am Lucas Metz, I am an undergraduate student at Portland State University. I am majoring in political science with a focus on human rights and I am going to be studying abroad in Ghana for my fall semester this year. I have been working and earning scholarships but I was unable to gather all the money I needed for my program. To help bridge the gaps between my funding, I have started this GoFundMe! For donors who make a donation of $28 or more, I will send a hand pressed t-shirt that I designed and made myself. New designs and travel updates will be posted on Instagram at @lucasstudiesabroad. Any donation is greatly appreciated as it gets me closer to my goal!

In Ghana, I will be studying at the University of Ghana (UG). At UG, I will be taking classes, interning with a local human rights non-profit, and occasionally going on excursions out of the city to explore the beautiful country and its vibrant cultures. Most of my time in Ghana will be spent around the UG campus where I will be focusing on taking classes about human rights, international relations, and national development.

I will be studying abroad in Ghana through the organization CIEE from September 2024 to January 2025. I will live in the city of Legon; a newer part of Ghana's capital city Accra. The city is built by the Atlantic Ocean and on a rainy savanna, letting Accra enjoy warm weather and green tropical flora year round.

My t-shirt design is hand printed onto 100% cotton shirts. The design was personally drawn and the stamp was hand carved. The print features a baobab tree, also known as “The Tree of Life” in many parts of Africa due to the tree’s bountiful and nutritious fruit alongside the water reservoirs that the tree contains in its trunk. The baobab tree is a common sight in Ghana and they are revered in many of the traditional religions in the region. The pattern around the design is a famous Ghanaian pattern that represents adaptability and is often used in clothing around Ghana.

Any given funds will go towards paying my program fees and visa application fees.