<p>As a senior D is finally able to take more electives and she is enrolled in the [Global</a> Tech Academy](<a href=“http://www.globalta.org/index.php]Global”>http://www.globalta.org/index.php), which teaches kids to refurbish computers and other hardware and then teach others to install and maintain them.</p>
<p>They must be pretty successful, one town in Ghana where they went two years ago and took 205 computers, still has 201 working.) I wonder if BestBuy can say the same thing?)</p>
<p>The program has gone on nearly 30 trips in 10 years to developing countries.
Their very first trip was to an orphanage in Colima Mexico, where children had to leave after 8th grade, to the streets or * marriage*.
One girl, after showing her newfound skills to a friend had a revelation. * This means we can leave Colima!* 
She now had valuable skills.</p>
<p>Another story was a GTA alum who was inspired to join the Peace Corps after college, she went to teach college in a Russian village.
They hoped that as an American she could get them one computer ( they hadn’t any). Soon after that she contacted GTA and 30 technicians came with 340 computers to install at the college.
The students sent up internet cafes at the college, so villagers could come and use them as well.</p>
<p>D will be on their 7th trip to Ghana, much farther than anyone in my family has ever gone. She applied for her passport yesterday. Now we have to find time to make sure she has all her shots :eek:!</p>
<p>My nephew was in a similar program- they went to Turkey earlier this year- (at least they tried to go to Turkey- they werent able to enter)</p>
<p>Are there programs in other states that are like this?</p>
<p>Im going to use reverse psychology re college-
Also at this info meeting- the director of the program mentioned several times that his daughter is attending Western Washington University, where other GTA/Garfield alumni are also attending, so many that they have a GTA club.</p>
<p>I think Western would be a great school for D- even before I heard that. It has the major she wants- great college town, close to 2010 Olympics, the price is right and academically it should be a good fit.
The worst thing about it- is that it is in Washington ( she would prefer 2000 miles away)
But now that I know of the GTA connection, I am just going to keep my mouth shut and hope that others are able to interest her in it.
Im so tricky ;)</p>
<p>Sounds like a great program. My senior D is in the process of finalzing plans for a two month volunteer position in Ghana as a Global Educator of sorts. It is with a very new program and she will be the only volunteer living in a village with one of the founders. I thought she was all set to do a program in Zambia that was more established and had more oversight in case of illness, security issues, etc. I understand why this opportunity is so appealing but I am still trying to satisfy myself about the lack of specifics. She arranged her high school years so she will finish in Jan and then head over. Where is your D going?</p>
<p>She is going to a village in the Dunkwa area.I really don’t know anything about it, other than the Nana ( chief) is a high school counselor at her school, he spends summers there and is very involved. I spoke to him last night at the college parents night & he was very excited about showing them the areas gold fields ( which makes the environmentalist in me back away)</p>
<p>They are going to be staying in families homes- which I have a lot of questions about- since D has several health concerns and they don’t really have cell phone access to keep tabs on her. They are having a big info meeting next week- which I will be forced to miss because I have a college class that is only once a week, and it was already canceled last week.
Im sending my H, but I am also going to ask a lot of questions of the organizers cause sending my baby to Africa ( or any place that is far far away with no internets!) is scary.:eek:</p>