‘Round The Girdled Earth…’

Yes, you can find Dartmouth affiliated folks literally around the globe, Ghana is no exception. Ghana has the world’s fastest growing economy and Dartmouth people are playing a key role. Here are just a few of those folks…

Selassie Atadika ‘98 left a career as a United Nations peacekeeper to pursue her passion of “preserving Africa’s culinary heritage.” Now an acclaimed chef trained in part at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Selassie curates nomadic pop-up dinners, hosts a television show promoting local food and farmers, and in her spare time created an artisanal handcrafted chocolate company, MIDUNU. A word in the Ewe language, Midunu means “Let’s Eat.” Although she did not have any dinners scheduled while I was in country, I was smart enough to purchase a 24-piece box of her chocolates. The way she blends chocolate with the flavors of Africa is astonishing. Each truffle carries a woman’s name and is infused with the essence of cultures throughout the continent. Among my favorites were Yaa, featuring a spicy ginger kick at the finish, the Moroccan spice Laila, Novisi with a passionfruit filling, and the coconut infused Imani. Learn more at http://www.midunuchocolates.com

Jay-Jay Segbefia, a 2014 YALI (Young African Leader’s Initiative) Mandela Fellow who completed his Fellowship at Dartmouth is the founder and CEO of Ghana’s only indigenous adventure tourism company – Braveheart Expeditions. Think hiking, canoeing, mountain-biking, and in my case rappelling down the side of a mountain in a Nature Preserve, In addition to hosting individuals and tour groups, Braveheart conducts corporate team building expeditions. Braveheart is working on building the longest zip line in the world across Lake Volta, the world’s second largest man-made lake . I am so glad I took Jay Jay up on his offer to do a 6-mile bike ride past baboons, zebras and an ostrich, followed by abseiling a rock face. Conquering my fear of heights was priceless. Taking a Braveheart expedition was exhilarating. For more information see http://www.braveheartsexpeditions.org

Made it to the bottom
In the beginning
What was I thinking???

Rev. Joshua Heikkila ‘94, has lived in Ghana for 10 years serving as the Regional Liaison to West Africa for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Seeking to learn from and partner with local communities, Josh is excited to work with local alums to develop the Dartmouth Club of Accra.

Observing a dearth of women in Tech, software developer and 2014 YALI Fellow Regina Agyare Honu, is the founder and CEO of Soronko Solutions, through which she runs the Tech Needs Girls mentoring program and the Soronko Academy – West Africa’s first coding and Human-centered design school, housed in a grand home where the classrooms bear messages of inspiration. Recognized by CNN, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the BBC among others, Regina is at the forefront of educating Ghana’s youth to take their rightful place in technology. Warm, brilliant, passionate and a visionary, this YALI woman is an amazing ambassador for Dartmouth. For more information check out http://www.soronkosolutions.com

Regina
Inspiration starts outside
A Tech Super S’Hero

Last, but not least, 2017 YALI Fellow Eyram Tawia, is THE MAN in the gaming space, putting the African Gaming Industry on the world map. Founder and CEO of LetiArts, Eyram has fused his long-time love of comic books and technology to create a world inhabited by African heroes both historical and modern. These Superheroes keep alive African folklore and history while sparking a love of programming among Ghana’s youth. My new favorite hero is Karmzah, a disabled heroine with cerebral palsy, whose crutches are her superpower. She proves that “Power belongs to all of us.” For more information on his comics, games and apps, check out http://www.letiarts.com and the Afrocomix: The African Comic Hub App.