Abena reading with children in her community in the Volta Region, Ghana. See more photos below.
For many people of African descent, repatriating to Africa is the stuff of legend and fantasy. For one young woman and her son, however, the dream has become reality and they are making big strides within their new home village. Orisa CDC affiliate Abena Feliciano and her son, Kofi, repatriated to Ghana holding the belief that repatriation is about helping to strengthen and support their brothers and sisters who are in need and, since their arrival almost two years ago, they have done just that. In keeping with the mission of the CDC, they have been dedicated to delivering educational and empowerment workshops, and the community in Volta Region where the mother and son chose to settle has welcomed them and the programs they have undertaken – which include computer and math classes, educational film screenings and teacher trainings – with open arms.
In order to better facilitate future programs, they are working to incorporate as a Ghanaian non-governmental organization. Dubbed Agbeti Community Center – agbeti means “tree of life” in Ewe language, which is widely spoken in Volta Region – the NGO will serve as the Orisa CDC’s Ghana chapter and will work to assist communities to implement positive change. Future programs will include Afro-Puerto Rican bomba dance classes, family health and healing workshops, entrepreneurial workshops, traditional African storytelling, classes on the slave trade and the African Diaspora – scarcely explored topics in Ghanaian classrooms – training with making sound educational and career choices, and much more.
The Orisa CDC & Agbeti welcome your involvement! For Agbeti’s upcoming grand opening, we have prepared a wish list which includes the following items: new or used desktop or laptop computers, monitors (flat screen only, please), keyboards and mice, educational and cultural books for all ages, traditional African stories, educational and cultural DVDs for all ages, educational posters, color printer and ink, crayons and art supplies, school supplies (notebooks, pens, pencils), office supplies, asthma nebulizer, digital blood pressure machine, power drill, saw, and gardening hoses. Please no clothes or toys.
Items may be in new or used condition and may be dropped off at the following locations from now until May 31, 2013. Please call your nearest location to arrange drop-off:
Manhattan:
East 28th street
(646) 730-5404
Brooklyn:
Broadway Southside
(917) 379-0762
Philadelphia:
Empowered CDC
Located withing Francis Meyer Recreation Center
5801 Kingsessing Avenue
(267) 353-5495
Questions? contact us at info@OrisaCDC.org.
Abena reading history with children
Abena conducting a computer workshop
Abena working with a computer student
Students learning science in Volta Region, Ghana
An earring beading workshop in Volta Region
