Global Expeditions students organize Global Youth Service Day eight months prior to their trip. This day helps raise money for the organizations that the students will work with in Ghana.

Global Expeditions students are invited to UNC-CH's Global Orientation in preparation for their own trip oversees.

Global Expedition students organize BINGO Night to raise much needed funds for a Ghanaian partner school, Wisdom Academy.

BINGO Night! This night raises $1,500 for the partner school and provides a lasting partnership with a global partner in Ghana in preparation of their trip.

All Global Expeditions students are required to join the PW Club in order to practice leadership skills and engage in service-learning.

Global Expeditions students are recognized at a half-time ceremony during their high school's basketball game.

Global Expeditions students host a shooting contest to raise money for their trip.

GE students travel to the Duke REMEDY Center in Durham, NC. They learn about the after-life of medical supplies in the world of aid.

Students collect thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies to bring with them to Ghana.

As part of the trip's expectation, each student will be asked to fill one of their suitcases with medical supplies and other donations.

Global Expeditions students partner with a local NGO, Stop Hunger Now, to learn about food insecurities worldwide.

Global Expeditions students join Stop Hunger Now to package over 30,000 meals for developing countries prior to their trip.

Global Expeditions students organize and participate in their own hunger fast to raise awareness in their school about food insecurities and global poverty.

Global Expeditions students organize a clothing drive to raise money for their trip.

Over $1,000 is raised and thousands of clothes items are donated to local shelters and refugee organizations.

The first stop along the coast was the Cape Coast Castle, one of the largest slave trading posts in Africa during the 16-19th centuries.

Students learn about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade from inside a male slave dungeon at the Cape Coast Castle.

A view from inside the castle.

Taken from inside the female slave cell.

Outside the castle, life rolls along.

100 yards from the castle are is a basketball court belonging to Hoops Care Int., an organization that reaches street children through sports.

At Challenging Heights in Winneba, PW students interact with at-risk youth.

Challenging Heights is an NGO that attempts to end child slavery in Ghana. Over 30% of its student body is ex-slaves.

Sam and Victoria (background) try their hand at selling.

The entrance to Big Milly's in Kokrobite, Ghana.

The view from Big Milly's dining room.

Nearby local fisherman finish up their day.

Finally some much needed R and R at Kokrobite Beach.

Before heading north, Project Wisdom stops by Akropong for the chiefs' blessings.

Once again, we are forced to dance in front of an audience. This time it is the chief and village elders. The linguists holds up two fingers which signify that he is pleased.

Emily tries her hand at kente weaving.

Maya, Taylor, and Sam adorn traditional Ghanaian garb for a picture.

The cocoa industry is explained to PW students.

Martin makes some friends outside the kente weaving center.

Taylor poses for a quick pic before getting back on the bus.

Kintampo Falls - a quick stop on the way north.

Finally, after two days of travelling, we arrive at Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Quickly we realize, we are not alone at Mole.

Taylor catches his first glimpse of the big game at Mole.

Emily and Erin pose in front of their hotel room.

A group of students interact with local baboons before dinner.

At Mole the fun never stops. All meals must be guarded or monkeys and baboons will make away with your food.

The scene outside the Mole Hotel is not your typical morning scenery.

School supplies are donated to a local school near Mole National Park.

Jacob tries his hand at teaching.

Students sit in class.

Project Wisdom teaches students how to play Seven-Up.

Victoria talks to students.

During break time, Mole students play Project Wisdom in a game of volleyball.

Mole School students and Project Wisdom pose for a last picture before saying goodbye.

Students head to Mongnoli - a typical Northern Region village to learn about shea butter and Ghanaian culture.

Students pose for a pic on top of a house. In the dry season, people sleep on these roofs to keep cool.

Peyton watches students climb on top of the Mongnoli rooftops.

A child in Mongnoli watches.

Mongnori children make up their own version of soccer.

Mongnoli village has never known electricity. But recently, the Ghanaian government gave the village some solar street lights.

Erin gets a 1-on-1 meeting with the chief of Mongnori.

Mrs. Macleod makes a new friend in Mongnori.

Young children line up for free clothes. In the Northern Region, new clothes are a luxury that many cannot afford.

Michael, the Easy Track tour guide, disperses the clothes to families in need.

The Larabanga Mosques is one of the oldest structures in West Africa.

Local children hang out at the mosque.

Larabanga youth sits on the mosque.

Our last night in the north. Jacob and Martin get the honeymoon suite.

The Salia family is known throughout Larabanga for their work in the community. The wife sews handbags (see the PW Store) to raise money for the local school.

The Larabanga school is need of some serious funds.

Last stop in the north - the Boabeng Monkey Sanctuary.

Peyton makes friends with the locals.

Erin does too. Seems as if Project Wisdom is pretty popular in these parts.

Soon after arriving in Ghana, Project Wisdom makes its way to Kitase for a five day village stay.

Kitase is located in Akuapim Hills of the Eastern Region, a beautiful area, perfect for hikes.

Project Wisdom poses outside of its guesthouse in Kitase.

Soon after arriving in Kitase, students and teachers make their way to Wisdom Academy, the main school in the area.

Victoria, Maya, and Taylor attract a crowd at Wisdom Academy.

In seven years, Wisdom Academy has grown from a dilapidated plywood structure to a three-story, modern learning facility - one of several success stories PW encountered in Ghana.

Two precious pre-K students pose for a picture.

Pre-K students greet Project Wisdom.

Charles teaches at Wisdom Academy, one of three schools he taught at during the trip.

Every Ghanaian village, it seems, has a soccer pitch. Kitase was no exception. Kids play soccer every evening.

On most evenings, Project Wisdom joined in on the soccer action. Peyton takes a picture with some of the younger soccer stars of Kitase.

Students arrive at the Aburi craft village to do some bargaining and bartering for souvenirs.

Charles trades a piece of Americana for some hand-carved crafts.

A veteran of the Aburi craft village poses with his wares.

Sam looks over some beads at the Agomenya Market.

The Agomenya Market is one of the largest bead markets in West Africa.

Seriously. It's big.

Project Wisdom watches Ghana in the World Cup at a local outdoor restaurant.

Students hike to ABAN (aban.org).

Students pose for a picture outside Rita Marley's compound.

Washing day in Kitase

Project Wisdom is invited to make and have dinner at the headmaster's house. On the menu: fufu, light soup, rice balls, and groundnut soup.

The group poses for a pic as they wait on dinner.

Charles helps Patricia prepare the fufu (mashed cassava and plantains).

Taylor keeps watch on the groundnut soup.

Erin kneads the fufu.

Dinner is served. No utensils - Ghana style.

Post-dinner selfie.

On our last day in Kitase, the school puts on a performance for the ages.

Primary students recite poems and Bible verses for Project Wisdom.

The drum ensemble perform a number of songs.

Parker is elected to give a speech in front of the Wisdom Academy student body.

A cross-cultural collaboration - Project Wisdom students learn the Azonto from their Ghanaian peers.

Mr. Aboagye presents every Project Wisdom student with a personalized kente cloth.

One last dance.

Wisdom Academy teachers join in on the celebration.

Wisdom Academy staff and Project Wisdom participants pose for a final picture.

Emily and her new friends pose for the camera.

Students and parents go over important information the day before leaving.

Students pack 13 suitcases full of donations during our "packing party." Thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies were donated by Duke REMEDY Warehouse.

Students pose for a group picture at RDU. The journey has officially begun.

Dr. Helene Gayle, CEO for CARE Int., stops by the ATL airport to wish the students luck on their trip.

Project Wisdom arrives in Ghana. First stop...customs.

AKWABA (welcome in Twi) reads the sign at the airport.

The Project Wisdom bus gets loaded. The journey into Ghana begins.

First stop...the West Africa AIDS Foundation (WAAF) to donate medical supplies and help prepare for next week's free medical screening.

Parker helps WAAF create a flyer for the event.

Meanwhile, students begin to sort and stock the donated supplies.

Emily (left) helped Project Wisdom establish the connection with Duke REMEDY Warehouse.

Students help WAAF enter data into their computers.

Peyton helps with data entry.

Meanwhile, a group of four students head off to a local school to help teach for the day.

Run by village elders, this is one of the only schools in Ghana that requires no school fees.

The final conference is held at the Gold Suites Inn.

Charles wins an award for "Best Teacher."

Erin wins "Best Fufu Maker."

Before the flight home, a traditional blessing for our travels in the Achimota township of Accra.

Five students are selected to act on Project Wisdom's behalf. They will head into the priestess' house for a traditional blessing.

Inaugural Trip

In June of 2014, twelve adventurous students set out for a journey of a lifetime. Explore the galleries below to see what happened during Operation Wisdom's inaugural international service-learning trip to Ghana. Rollover any image to read its caption.

Gallery 6 - Best Images