GWF's mission is "to improve educational opportunities for students in both America and Ghana, while also creating a sense of global community and cultural appreciation." To achieve this mission, GWF has put a major emphasis on service-learning.

Browse this page to learn more about service-learning with GWF.

Click here to see GWF's service-learning opportunities.

In 2000, the National Commission on Service-Learning was established in order to research the new teaching method and to make it and its benefits available to all American classrooms. The Chairman of that commission, Senator John Glenn, said this about service-learning

"By its very definition, civic responsibility means taking a healthy role in the life of one's community, state, and nation. That means that classroom lessons should be complemented by work outside the classroom. Service-learning does just that, tying community service to academic lessons."

Today, GWF is taking that definition and expanding it. Today, we encourage America's students and educators to expand their definition of community to include the world around them, to expand their idea of a neighbor to include all of mankind.

What is service-learning? Service-learning combines core curriculum material, social awareness, and character building skills. It allows students to use their brains to create better social situations for themselves and their communities. Many schools, districts, and states are now requiring students to participate in service-learning projects as part of their curriculum. Learn more about service-learning by visiting the links on this page.

How does GWF service-learning work? The concept is remarkably simple and effective. Many schools in Ghana need serious help. Many schools in America (and worldwide) are adding service-learning into their curriculum. By combining these two facts, GWF is able to create numerous service learning opportunities for American students that aim to help Ghanaian students. In the end, the educational opportunities for all are improved.

Participating in GWF service learning projects requires three simple steps:

1. Students learn about Ghana in general and, in particular, the developmental issues that the country faces as it tries to climb out of poverty. Students should also learn about the concepts of global community and social awareness/responsibility. GWF is able to provide a substantial list of on-line resources to help in the learning process. See below for the list of learning resources.

2. Using core curriculum knowledge, students work with GWF to improve the education at a particular school or to improve the services offered by GWF. Some past service-learning ideas are available on this page.

3. Classes participating in service-learning projects will be informed about the school they are helping, reemphasizing the concepts of social awareness and global community. Communication, in the form of pen pals, between the schools is usually an option. GWF is also able to facilitate reciprocal service-learning projects between American and Ghanaian classrooms.

What about internships? Internships are long term commitments that people make to our organization in return for a valuable learning experience. For that reason, we have included internships under our service-learning program. All internships can be done from home or school, but traveling to Ghana can also become a part of the experience for those with the funds and desire to do so. If you are interested about becoming an intern with GWF, e-mail info@ghanawisdom.org

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Below you will find numerous resources to get you acquainted with service-learning and how you can use it to help GWF and our schools in Ghana.

About Service-Learning:

Learn and Serve supports over a million students in service-learning programs. Click here to learn how you can include your classroom into the thousands who are already doing service-learning projects. An excellent web site for organizations, individuals, and classrooms.

About Ghana:

Ghana Home Page - The best web site for everything Ghana.

GWF Teacher Resources, Ghana - A list of internet resources provides teachers with information about and lessons on Ghana and related issues.

GWF Student Guide - A list of internet resources provides students with lessons, projects, pictures, and on-line activities about Ghana.

GWF Service-Learning Opportunities:

School Store - Teach business strategy to your students while promoting cultural studies and service-learning when you sign your class up to be a part of the GWF School Store. To learn more about this unique opportunity click on the icon above.

Project Wisdom - The ultimate service-learning experience. This three week program brings service-learning to life as American and Ghanaian students come together to learn about and help the developmental issues facing Ghana and other developing countries. This program is for high school students and takes place in Ghana.

GWF Publishing Co. - Rather than grading your students papers only to have them thrown away upon return, collect them, bind them and send them to GWF. They can and will be used as learning resources for students in Ghana. More advanced reciprocal learning projects can be arranged from this simple idea. Contact us if you are interested in sending your students work to Ghana.

Other ideas - Send us your ideas: info@ghanawisdom.org or Check out our Volunteer Hall of Fame to see what volunteers have done with service-learning projects and internships.