More than 5,000 miles from Virginia, the African country of Ghana may seem like a world apart to Virginia Commonwealth University students. But thanks to professor Chris Burnside, a group of VCU students consider Ghana a very personal part of their world.
Burnside is teaching a class titled Making a Difference II. Although he has been teaching dance for 20 years, you won't find him standing in front of the class demonstrating a move; instead he is asking a group of 15 students to step outside the classroom to throw a benefit performance and silent auction – all with the hope of changing the lives of children in Ghana.
Burnside was inspired to create the class after a trip to the West African country in 2006. He wanted a class that would not just work on concepts but would actually host an event.
"No make-believe; it's real," Burnside said.
The class is made up of students from all majors. They were all selected by Burnside based on their passion and enthusiasm for the cause. The class is broken into different subcommittees according to students' strengths. Burnside serves as the director, making sure everything gets done.
What the students have created is a three-night benefit performance titled "For Africa." The production, set for Nov. 1-3 in the Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St., will include performances by various dance companies, poetry readings and a performance from Burnside himself.
Proceeds from the event will go to Sovereign Global Mission, a non-governmental organization in Ghana that works with VCU's School of Social Work to provide children with basic needs such as food, health care and education.
The mission covers the tuition and related expenses of Ghanaian children so they can attend school. The group also is building a child development center that will include an orphanage and a school.
For Burnside, it is especially important that VCU students learn about Ghana, after his own trip to the country inspired him out of retirement and into the classroom.
"Ghana had a huge effect on me," he said. "I felt everything in the world over there. I was saddened by what I saw. I was sort of repulsed at times at how people were having to live."
Although the experience was shocking for Burnside, he left inspired by the spirit of the people in Ghana.
"Ghanaian people were innately happier on a daily basis than Americans. They seem to appreciate life a lot, so there was great joy in the midst of all this too," he said.
This inspiration has found its way into the classroom and into the hearts of many VCU students, who now see the work they are doing as much more than just another three-credit class.
"Because of this class, my life has drastically changed – my whole entire world as I knew it changed," said Brittany Sponaugle. She was so moved by her experiences in the class that she recently changed her major from anthropology to social work and is planning to travel to Ghana with the School of Social Work to help build the development center.
The cost to feed one child in Ghana for a year is $66. The class hopes to collect more than $20,000 for the program, which will go toward children's school fees and construction costs.
Although the purpose of the benefit is to raise money for the children of Ghana, the class is careful not to devalue the Ghanaian way of life.
Lauren DeSimone, a VCU senior and a member of the class, believes the mood of the benefit will leave the audience with a sense of appreciation, not condescension.
"It's not as much as coming to a rescue as much as it is celebrating people for who they are as they are," said DeSimone, who is majoring in sculpture. "We're allowing them to exist as they are; we're just facilitating their resources."
w The "For Africa" benefit concert will take place Nov. 1-3 at the Grace Street Theater. Each evening's entertainment will begin at 7:30. After each performance, a reception, silent auction and African market will be held at the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St. The concert will feature performances from Richmond-area groups including: Ezibu Muntu African Dance Company; African American Repertory Theatre; Dr. Njeri Jackson, a poet; and VCU faculty member and Richmond Ballet's Minds in Motion, Team XXL. Tickets are available for $26 at the Grace Street Theater Box Office, 828-2020. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, there is an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 in VCU's Fine Arts Building, 1000 W. Broad St. For more information, visit www.forafricabenefit.org.
Ginnie Seger is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University.