AES's, NGO's and community leaders at PICS Training
PICS Training and demonstration
Monday, September 13, 2010
PICS Training pictures
AES's, NGO's and community leaders at PICS Training
PICS Training and demonstration
Crocs in Paga
PICS Training team in Bolga. Bro Yahama, George and Dr. Shaibu Seini
Petting crocodiles in Paga, Northern Ghana
Petting crocodiles in Paga, Northern Ghana
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Teaching and Learning in Ghana
As countdown to PICS Ghana draws to a close, I feel blessed to be part of a group of dedicated philanthropist, professors, program coordinators, educators, and others who have contributed to the ongoing success of the Purdue Improved Cowpea storage project in West and Central Africa. Influencing the use of non chemical hermitic methods and Purdue’s triple bagging technology to store cowpeas, enables greater economic activity, reduces starvation and improves quality of life. I am wholeheartedly committed to this project. It’s ironic how things happen when you set a clear intention. Around this time last year I met with my program leader, Sam Cordes to discuss professional development and advancement opportunities at Purdue. We discussed many possibilities and left the meeting convinced that I wanted to experience myself differently—by engaging in assignments that provide me a platform to exert my influence and change minds and thoughts in Africa.
Sam recommended that I meet with Dr. Jess Lowenberg-Deboer to express my international interests. I learned about the Purdue PICS program when I met Jess. I was not available to travel the first year to Nigeria, but told him that I would be delighted to serve when the Ghana opportunity came around in 2010. Well, things went quiet for months until I met my friend Jim Murren at a meeting in early spring. He asked me why I had not applied for the Ghana educator opportunity. Frankly, I am not sure what happens to my e-mail sometimes, but I completely missed that announcement. I asked Jim to send me the notice and I was able to submit my application before the deadline. The rest is history and I am grateful to all of the people who have played a role in getting me here, especially Chuck whose international perspective about the role of extension is impeccable, Ron who agreed that I have been looking for such an opportunity for a long time and Rick, who just said—George I think this is a great opportunity—Go for it!
I get goose bumps when I think of this opportunity. I envisioned it—and most people around me, made it happen. It is humbling to work for an organization that in addition to its local focus also has an international agenda to make a difference worldwide—especially in Africa. Ok, so you understand my excitement—but the juiciest part is that, I was born in Ghana and have a large family there. Now I am an American citizen with a US passport. I need a visa when I am going to Ghana. In Ghana, my folks say I am too America and when I come to Indiana—they say I am different and have an accent. Even when I tell people I am a die hard Pacers and Colts Hoosier—they look at me and laugh. That is the complexity and blessing of my life. Even so, I get to use my land grant university training to give back to Ghana. I am extremely excited and humbled at the same time.
I will be leaving for Ghana with my colleague Amanda this week. We will teach from the same script, but our experiences will be different. We will teach in Tamale, Wa and Bolgatanga (have never been there before) so the experience will be challenging but interesting. After two weeks we’ll be back in Accra and I will stay an extra week to visit with family and friends. I have also arranged an education session with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture staff to share my American Extension experience and learn from them.
I intend to represent Purdue well and hope to share the rest of the journey with constituents, colleagues and other interested parties. You can also follow me at http://picsgh2010.blogspot.com/. This afternoon, I work at the Extension hospitality room at the state fairgrounds and then roam around after 6pm and have my annual elephant ears snack in the evening. See you soon.
Sam recommended that I meet with Dr. Jess Lowenberg-Deboer to express my international interests. I learned about the Purdue PICS program when I met Jess. I was not available to travel the first year to Nigeria, but told him that I would be delighted to serve when the Ghana opportunity came around in 2010. Well, things went quiet for months until I met my friend Jim Murren at a meeting in early spring. He asked me why I had not applied for the Ghana educator opportunity. Frankly, I am not sure what happens to my e-mail sometimes, but I completely missed that announcement. I asked Jim to send me the notice and I was able to submit my application before the deadline. The rest is history and I am grateful to all of the people who have played a role in getting me here, especially Chuck whose international perspective about the role of extension is impeccable, Ron who agreed that I have been looking for such an opportunity for a long time and Rick, who just said—George I think this is a great opportunity—Go for it!
I get goose bumps when I think of this opportunity. I envisioned it—and most people around me, made it happen. It is humbling to work for an organization that in addition to its local focus also has an international agenda to make a difference worldwide—especially in Africa. Ok, so you understand my excitement—but the juiciest part is that, I was born in Ghana and have a large family there. Now I am an American citizen with a US passport. I need a visa when I am going to Ghana. In Ghana, my folks say I am too America and when I come to Indiana—they say I am different and have an accent. Even when I tell people I am a die hard Pacers and Colts Hoosier—they look at me and laugh. That is the complexity and blessing of my life. Even so, I get to use my land grant university training to give back to Ghana. I am extremely excited and humbled at the same time.
I will be leaving for Ghana with my colleague Amanda this week. We will teach from the same script, but our experiences will be different. We will teach in Tamale, Wa and Bolgatanga (have never been there before) so the experience will be challenging but interesting. After two weeks we’ll be back in Accra and I will stay an extra week to visit with family and friends. I have also arranged an education session with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture staff to share my American Extension experience and learn from them.
I intend to represent Purdue well and hope to share the rest of the journey with constituents, colleagues and other interested parties. You can also follow me at http://picsgh2010.blogspot.com/. This afternoon, I work at the Extension hospitality room at the state fairgrounds and then roam around after 6pm and have my annual elephant ears snack in the evening. See you soon.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Learning about Ghana. People, culture, economics and challenges
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The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa. The actual name of the Empire was Wagadugu. Ghana was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom. It was controlled by Sundiata in 1240 AD, and absorbed into the larger Mali Empire. (Mali Empire reached its peak of success under Mansa Musa around 1307.)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Purdue/World Vision Partner on PICS project in Ghana
Hello, Purdue Extension!
It is my honor to announce that Amanda Bailey and George Okantey will be participating in the PICS/Purdue Extension Train-the-Trainer program this August in northern Ghana. They will be working with PICS/Ghana partner, World Vision. Some 2000 villages in Ghana will receive trainings from the agents that Amanda and George will train during their two weeks in-country. We look forward to sharing Amanda and George’s experience with all of Extension, COA, and Purdue University upon their return.
Best of luck, Amanda and George!
Jim
James Murren
International Extension Program Coordinator
International Programs in Agriculture & Purdue Extension
Purdue University
Agricultural Administration Building, Room 26
615 West State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1168, USA
email: jmurren@purdue.edu
phone: 01.765.494.9831
fax: 01.765.494.9613
http://www.ag.purdue.edu/ipia/Pages/extension.aspx
It is my honor to announce that Amanda Bailey and George Okantey will be participating in the PICS/Purdue Extension Train-the-Trainer program this August in northern Ghana. They will be working with PICS/Ghana partner, World Vision. Some 2000 villages in Ghana will receive trainings from the agents that Amanda and George will train during their two weeks in-country. We look forward to sharing Amanda and George’s experience with all of Extension, COA, and Purdue University upon their return.
Best of luck, Amanda and George!
Jim
James Murren
International Extension Program Coordinator
International Programs in Agriculture & Purdue Extension
Purdue University
Agricultural Administration Building, Room 26
615 West State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1168, USA
email: jmurren@purdue.edu
phone: 01.765.494.9831
fax: 01.765.494.9613
http://www.ag.purdue.edu/ipia/Pages/extension.aspx
Purdue Improved Cowpea Project
The Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) is a five-year project to improve cowpea storage in West and Central Africa. The goal of the PICS project is to have 50% of cowpea in West and Central Africa stored with hermetic method by 2012. The project is being implemented in 10 different countries in West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, Benin, Togo and Chad. The PICS project plans to disseminate the triple-layer sack technology in 28,000 villages in West and Central Africa.
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