ITVglobalITVghana Youth Trip Fact Sheet

Thank you for your consideration in applying to ITVghana! You have taken the first step to becoming a more globally aware citizen.

OUR MISSIONITVghana facilitates a cross-cultural exchange of knowledge and ideas between students and professionals in the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. ITVghana acts as a portal for American high school students to participate in service learning and cultural engagement trips with the goal of promoting the educational opportunities of students in Montana and Ghana.

Our StoryITVghana began as a senior project for a Hellgate High School student in 2010 after returning from a semester abroad in Ghana. In the seven years since, Hellgate seniors have stepped forward to lead the team of students over their spring break. We are dedicated to both the educational opportunities of Missoula high school students and students in Ekumfi Attakwa; through this unique cultural exchange program over 60 Missoula high school students have worked side-by-side with Ghanaians on critical development programs and 15 Ghanaian students have attended high school through our scholarship program. ITVglobal has now expanded to include University trips from Portland to Uganda focusing on mental health education.

About the Trip:ITVghana, part of the ITVglobal network, is a Missoula-based non-profit organization that facilitates cross-cultural learning opportunities for Missoula high school students. Our model focuses on student leadership development, and each year we have two high school ITV Fellows that work directly with the Board of Directors to plan and organize every aspect of the trip. 2016 will be our 6th trip to Ghana, This year we will be transitioning away from the community service model of past years toward a more comprehensive cross-cultural learning experience that will bring a higher level of intellectual rigor to the program. The students will explore stereotypes and media coverage of the African continent, West African art and music, identity and politics. The exact focus will be adapted to fit the needs of the student participants, and workshops will be carried out by various Ghanaian and expatriate speakers. The students spend the majority of their time in Ekumfi Attakwa and Accra. In Ekumfi Attakwa the students stay in the ITV house in the village, allowing them to interact with the community on a more personal level. In Accra the students stay with our long-time host family, the Amponsah-baas.

ITVghana is a small, student-driven organization, and because of this we do require a large time commitment from our students.

Why?ITVghana provides a unique opportunity for Missoula high school students to broaden their horizons and challenge themselves both intellectually and culturally through personal exploration of West African culture. Unlike other short-term study abroad programs, our participants are expected to take an active role in planning, fundraising, and in creating individual projects to be carried out while in Ghana. Because of ITV’s expectation of students’ pro-activity, we believe this trip provides an exceptional and unique foundation for future leadership opportunities.

Cost Estimations Based on Past Trips: Total estimated Program Fee: $2,000-2,500 depending on vaccinations and your spending habits while in Ghana

Airfare $1,600 Transportation, food and lodging $500 Misc. $100

Additional costs: -Shots and malaria prophylaxis $300*

*All shots need to be updated, talk with travel nurse at Missoula County Health Department about requirements; these will vary based on your personal medical history

Airfare payments need to be made by early November, 2015 ($1,600)

Scholarship AssitanceThrough our partnership with Xplorer Maps, ITVghana is now offering partial scholarships in the case of a student’s financial need. Please circle the appropriate spot on the attached application should you require a scholarship.

Trip Schedule: 12 day period within March 26th-April 10th 2016

Tentative schedule based on past years: Day One: Depart MissoulaDay Two: Arrive in Accra, tour of capital city, overnight at Amponsah-baa homeDay Three: Travel to Ekumfi Attakwa, overnight at ITVmontana house in Ekumfi AttakwaDays Four-Seven: Ekumfi Attakwa Day Eight: field tripDay Nine: field tripDay Ten: Travel to Accra

Day Eleven: Depart Ghana Day Twelve: Arrive in Missoula

Questions/more information:Parent Informational meeting Wednesday OCT 7TH 7PM.

BUTTERCUP 1221 Helen AveEmail: itvglobal00@gmail.com

Facebook: It Takes A VillageWebsite: Under Construction

*Please note this is not a Hellgate-sponsored trip.