Number six, an exemplary global citizen knows that human agency exists, that we have free will, and that human history will unfold as directed by all of our actions. It is not cuberous to assume having control over one’s destiny, just the opposite: it is the sine qua non of one who knows that we can change the world with our visionary works. An exemplary global citizen is thus the embodiment of the admonishment that comes from Mohandas K. Gandhi, namely, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Free will among mankind means that we have a responsibility and obligation to one another, if our aim is progress. It will not come from denial or laziness. The acceptance of responsibility is linked to success. Similarly, the acceptance of sustained responsibility is linked to long-term success. It is this knowledge that makes the success of Periclean projects so sweet; the long-term successes are directly tied to a deep sense of obligation to our partners. The change that has come from our projects is linked to our free will to live out these obligations.
As I perused the latest Periclean newsletter, I found an article about the Class of 2010’s new successes in Ghana that would not have been possible without a sustained commitment to being the change they wish to see in the world. The class has farmed exemplary global citizens who continue to act on behalf of their partners. Below I share the article, for your education and enjoyment.
Building lasting community partnership in Ghana: 2010s follow a project to an unanticipated turn, bringing healthcare to thousands of Ghanaians for years to come
Written by Carly Tustin, Class of 2010
“What the Kpoeta Community Clinic in the Volta region of Ghana is developing into is beyond anyone’s wildest dreams when the Ghana Class of Periclean Scholars was inducted in the spring of 2007.
“At the project’s beginning, those living in rural isolated Kpoeta who were in need of medical attention walked or were carried by others for seven miles to reach Kpedze, the only health facility for miles. During the region’s rainy season, the unpaved road leading to the Kpedze clinic became impassible and, in effect, the 10,000 people of Kpoeta were annually losing access to health care for months at a time.
“In a joint effort with the people of Kpoeta, Elon University’s Periclean Scholars Ghana Class established and opened the Kpoeta Community Clinic in January 2009. Its inception initiated a more stable source of medical care and before most of the class graduated in May 2010, plans were instated to launch a drug store and to obtain additional staff for the clinic.
“Although 29 of the original Ghana Periclean members have graduated from Elon and dispersed across the United States and the world, they have kept the global development initiative a dynamic part of their lives. Over the past three years, six students from the classes of 2012 and 2013 have become Ghana Periclean Scholars and joined Dr. Heidi G. Frontani, faculty advisor to the Ghana Pericleans, to support what was started by the 29 members of the 2010 class and sustain the partnership with the Kpoeta community. The younger members meet every other week and at their September 7, 2011 meeting, they became aware of news from the clinic in Ghana that took the group’s previous sustainability initiatives to a new level.
“Ghana’s Ministry of Health had announced plans to upgrade the Kpoeta Community Clinic to a Community Health Planning Services Center, allowing the facility to add both a community nurse and a National Youth Employment worker to the existing staff, the ability to accept Ghana’s Health Insurance Card, and receive stocks of drugs from the Ghana Health Services for the facility’s drug store. The upgrade will be completed by December 2011. In the meantime, additional on-site housing for the new staff will be constructed and is expected to be completed by early 2012.
“The upgrade to the clinic was celebrated with an official government ceremony and fundraiser (durbar) in Kpoeta on September 8, 2011. Congratulations to all who have been involved with this amazing project and thank you to those who have donated.”
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