Interns' Voices

Hi, I'm Amanda Boyce. I am a 21 year old student from the U.S. I go to Arizona State University and will be entering my fourth year studying political science  in the fall. I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study abroad here in Ghana. I came to Accra with my professor from Arizona and for two weeks our group of eight students heard lectures from professors at the University of Ghana, Legon, and toured the country. We have been to Cape Coast, Kumasi, and places nearby like Ada. We have had a wonderful time coming to know Ghana, Accra, and the people here.

Personally, I am studying political science because I want to become a politician. I have always been motivated to help people, and feel that I can do a lot of good if I am the one helping create policy. However, before becoming an elected official I plan on working with many NGOs and learning about all areas of human need and development. That is why I am so grateful to be working with Women Peace and Security Networks (WIPSEN) - Africa. This organization is young but already has accomplished a great deal. And although I will only be here a short time, I have already learned to look at women's issues in a whole new light, and see details of various situations that I otherwise would not have seen.

This is my first experience working with an NGO, and as such I have gained incredible insight into how these organizations assess the needs of people and then face the challenge of coming up with a way to meet those needs. This has inspired me to take these new skills (i.e., creating and analyzing surveys, hosting dialogues, mobilizing stakeholders, etc.) and apply them within a volunteer organization I work with in the US called the General Federation of Women's Clubs. On a broader scale, my time in Ghana, as well as with WIPSEN specifically, has shown me quite a bit about the details of state development. This is a topic I have studied in the states, but nothing can make it as clear as being in a developing nation and seeing its challenges first hand. What I look forward to, is using these skills and information to make me a more well rounded politician in the future, with a well educated global perspective.

I know this experience will be invaluable to me as I continue down my path to political office. So I'd like to thank WIPSEN-Africa for giving me this opportunity, and the people of Ghana for the wonderful hospitality I have experienced in my time here.