VCU news

By Mike Porter

Chris Burnside will never forget his first impression of Ghana.

“It was just chaos. It was the densest experience I have ever had. Humidity, pollution, geographical beauty, the heat, brilliant colors, music and a mass of children running toward us. It was overwhelming,” Burnside said.

Burnside, a longtime dance instructor at VCU who retired in 2005, had followed VCU School of Social Work Professor Randi Buerlein’s trips to the African nation with great interest. And though Buerlein had invited him to come along, it wasn’t until after his retirement that he decided to join her and her students on a trip to Ghana in January 2006. 

Burnside said that while the nation’s poverty caught his attention initially, the people left him with a more positive, lasting impression of Ghana.

“On one hand, it was really depressing,” Burnside said. But the people are joyous and appreciative. When I saw the street children, I felt many emotions, including sorrow and anger. But I was also elevated. I felt their graciousness and observed their greater sense of joy.”

Randi Buerlein is a big believer in offering her students international education opportunities to help them understand global social and economic justice issues firsthand.

“It helps the students put a face on the people in need,” Buerlein said. “Social work students understand it is an important part of our code of ethics to push beyond national boundaries.  And the students come away transformed.  It is a life-changing experience for them and they are committed to making a difference.”

Since 2002, Buerlein’s classes have supported the work of Sovereign Global Mission, a non-governmental organization in Ghana, which serves homeless street children and rural children who can't afford to go to school and is working to build a combination school and orphanage near Accra, the capital.   

“Poverty does not necessarily mean misery,” Buerlein said. “We encounter hope and joy and laughter and often at a deeper level than demonstrated by people in this country.”

Kelly McCall, a VCU School of Social Work graduate participated in one of the trips to Ghana in January 2005.

“I couldn’t believe I had this amazing opportunity,” McCall said.  “It allowed me to combine my love for social work and travel to Africa which is something I always wanted to do.”

McCall was also immediately confronted by chaos as she stepped off the airplane. A man grabbed her luggage and demanded to be paid for carrying it for her. And when she and the other passengers arrived at the van transporting them into the city, it had been booted even though it was parked legally.  Of course, it could be freed – for a fee.

“It occurred to me right then that this is survival for them. This is their reality. They hustle to make a living,” McCall said.

Despite the bumpy beginning, McCall knew by the end of the 10- day journey that she would be back. She returned to Ghana the following August on her own for a six-month trip to support Sovereign Global Mission. While there, she registered children for school, tutored children, performed intensive outreach and first aid to men, woman and children living on the streets of Accra, and participated in an HIV/AIDS rural education program.

McCall now works at the “Daily Planet,” where she assists Richmond’s homeless population. She’ll return to Ghana, her fourth trip, in January.

Burnside has also never forgotten his experience with the people of Ghana. After returning to the United States, Burnside first opened his checkbook to support Sovereign Global Mission’s work and convinced friends to do the same. But he soon realized he could do much more.

“At first, I was overwhelmed by how to respond. Writing a check was a quick way to make a difference. But I kept wondering why am I here? And what can I do to make the world a better place? And then it hit me – I needed to use my time, talent and effort to do a benefit,” Burnside said.

Burnside broached the idea with Richard Toscan, dean of the VCU School of the Arts, and suggested that a class in how to put on a benefit with the students actually working on the benefit would be a unique course offering. The dean agreed and gave the go-ahead for developing the course.

From there, the idea of a “FOR AFRICA” benefit took off. Burnside enrolled in a service- learning class and worked with Buerlein and a faculty-staff advisory board to shape curricula for two independent study classes offered through the School of the Arts. 

The first course was offered in the summer of 2007 and attracted 11 students. A second course offered in the fall attracted 14. Participating students represent a variety of fields of study, including art history, anthropology, mass communications, social work and international social justice.

The students’ classroom experience has covered a variety of topics, ranging from AIDS in Africa to marketing. Non-profit professionals have shared their experiences with students. The intense pace of the summer class has become even more feverish as the clock ticks toward Nov. 1, when the three-day “FOR AFRICA” benefit begins. Students are responsible for coordinating performances, publicity and corporate sponsorships – every aspect of putting the benefit together. 

“We all realize this is a chance to do something to make the world a better place. It’s easy to feel like there’s nothing we can do here in Richmond, Virginia. But we can and this will result in tangible benefits for the kids – food to eat and a place to live,” said interdisciplinary studies student Melanie Hackworth, who enrolled in both classes.

Burnside said it has been rewarding to see the students combine their creativity and energy for a common goal.

“I’ve seen the students in the class get connected.  They know we are doing something real and that on the other side of the world people are going to benefit,” Burnside said.

It costs $130 to cover the books, uniform, food and tuition needed to put a child in Ghana through school for a year.  The VCU community is hoping to enrich the lives of the children of Ghana by achieving their goal of raising $50,000 to build the child development center which will provide a home and school for homeless children. 

“Our class is dedicated to making this benefit succeed. And it’s important to get the word out that there are students here at VCU who are trying to change the world,” Hackworth said.

For more information, visit www.forafricabenefit.org or contact Chris Burnside at 804-986-5751.  To make a donation to Sovereign Global Mission, contact Randi Buerlein at 804-828-0708 or at rwbuerle@vcu.edu.