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To Africa and Back: Geography & Community Development

Akosua Ampofo with Freud

Akosua Ampofo (Class of 2005) believes that there is an important relationship between community ideology and economic development. This past summer she began testing her hypothesis in Mudasoma, Rwanda, where she interviewed members of child headed households (orphans from the 1994 genocide and the current AIDS pandemic), community leaders, and non-governmental organizations to ascertain their attitudes and feelings about community cohesiveness and mutual support. Her research was support by an Anton Fellowship and her subsequent analysis constitutes her Honor's Thesis in Geography and International Development (double major).

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, but a citizen of Ghana, Akosua is indeed a world traveler and citizen. She spent the summer of her sophomore year working with Action Aid in Ghana.

Akosua (at left) in Rwanda

Recipient of the Strabo Award from the School of Geography (for intellectual leadership and academic achievement), Akosua was selected to GTU (National Geography Honor Society), is active on the Clark Dynamic International Political Forum and the International Student Association, and partakes in intramural volleyball. Most recently, she co-organized a well attended seminar marking the ten-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.