From Ms. Shirley Edgerton:
I am pleased to share with you that beginning July 8 through July 19, 30 Rites of Passage and Empowerment (R.O.P.E.) scholars and ambassadors (pre-R.O.P.E. members) will have the opportunity to experience a life-changing experience in Accra, Ghana. They will engage in service-learning projects, embark on a cultural exchange with students of the University of Accra and Ghana Educational Collaborative program and tour historic sites. Another highlight of this cultural and educational journey will be to visit the homesite and museum of Berkshire native, esteemed sociologist and civil rights activist, Dr. W. E. B. DuBois.
R.O.P.E. was founded by a group of professional women in 2010. It is a proven mentoring program for young women of color and young people identifying as female or non-binary. The mission of R.O.P.E. is to celebrate and honor the entry of adolescents into adulthood and provide them with skills and knowledge that they need to be successful, independent and responsible people. It is designed to help participants discover their inner voice and support all components of personal development and personal leadership.
These scholars attend monthly workshops facilitated by accomplished, professional women who share their knowledge, expertise, passions and paths to success—exposing participants to new worlds of potential and opportunity. Each is assigned a mentor to support them on their individual journeys.
In this vein, we fully expect that this incredible 11-day trip to Ghana will open up a new world of global awareness and service, as it did for the R.O.P.E. groups that previously traveled to Accra and South Africa. R.OP.E. scholar, Cashey Young, who was among the group that traveled to Accra in 2022, shared the following sentiments:
“My favorite experience was visiting the Good Shepherd Orphanage. On the first day I felt a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect but I was greeted with smiling faces and a very happy environment. Within five minutes of meeting everyone, I immediately felt a strong connection. I met a group of girls that were my age and shortly after I noticed that they seemed so happy with what they had in life. When I look at most teenage girls here in Massachusetts, and even America, we are overall never happy with the things we are given in life like free education, but these girls were so happy and took their education seriously. I couldn’t help but think how America would be if there were people like this here that take nothing for granted. I noticed that we need change here in America and I hope to start this change with myself because this opportunity has opened my eyes to what this world is outside of the United States.”
To make this life-changing experience happen for our scholars and ambassadors, R.O.P.E. is asking for your support by participating in our $10 dollar campaign (please know that you’re welcome to contribute more, if you so choose). We hope that you will give from your heart to help us change the lives of our scholars and ambassadors. Your tax-deductible gift, in any amount, can be given to one of our travelers, mail checks to P.O. Box 1016, Pittsfield, MA 01202. Please be sure to make the checkout to R.O.P.E. and put Ghana 2024 in the memo line. Payments can also be made via CashApp to “$ROPE6789.”
As the Founder and Director of R.O.P.E., I sincerely thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this momentous opportunity. If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free to contact me at 413-496-4602 or send an email to shirleyann1.edgerton@gmail.com. .
Together, we know we can change the lives of girls in our community!
With deep gratitude,
Shirley Edgerton M.Ed.
Founder/Director
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