Odyssey’s Global Influence
While studying abroad or advocating on behalf of international causes, scholars are given the opportunity to observe life with a broadened perspective, gaining a true understanding of other cultures personal beliefs, values, habits, foods, and other cultural differences. Odyssey scholars are given the opportunity to gain a global mindset by going on our yearly field trips or participating in fundraisers to help our community or one across the world.
Paying it Forward
Creating Water Solutions For Our Sister School
The Odyssey Preparatory Academy – Family of Schools, has been assisting in bringing water and sanitation solutions to our sister village in Ghana under the direction of WATERisLIFE since 2011. It has been an amazing journey thus far, and the new goal for Odyssey is nothing short of groundbreaking! Over the years, Odyssey has played a part in hygiene education to the villagers in Kapaachilyi, as well as securing their water source from animals and making it deeper in order to sustain the village’s water needs through the dry season. However, the village women and children still must travel approximately a mile to carry the water back to the village. WATERisLIFE has created a solar pump system that can transfer the water from the water source (dugout) to the village, bringing hours back into their day. Odyssey wants to make this happen!
Odyssey’s sister school in Kapaachilyi is an elementary school. Teachers must travel over an hour on motorbike to get to the school. Children learn the basics in conditions that we in the US would consider uninhabitable. They go home for lunch and many do not return because they need to help work around the village, cart water, etc. The middle school these children would attend is miles away, creating a significant drop in education levels due to lack of opportunity of getting to school. The need at our sister school is great. From material to mend uniforms all the way to guest quarters for teachers, opportunities are endless to make a difference. These beautiful people with their beautifully sweet and giving culture have a tremendous amount to share with Odyssey as well. However, in order to forge deeper into our relationships with the school, important work must be done at the foundation! Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are the building blocks for change. Odyssey wants to be a part of helping provide this change for our sister school. Please help us fulfill our goal! Our next trip is scheduled for November 2016 and we hope to see water flowing at the end of it! It’s our opportunity, our choice, our Odyssey!
Kpaachi Yili village – Ghana
Several years ago, the Odyssey Family of Schools developed a partnership with Kpaachi Yili, a village of 1293 residents in northern Ghana. In partnership with the Water is Life Foundation, Odyssey has been able to help provide clean water solutions, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives. Because of the generosity of the scholars and families of Odyssey, an incredible transformation has taken place.
In 2011, after a year-long fundraising effort, our WiL Ambassador and junior high Spanish teacher, Jessica Milakovich, travelled to Ghana to distribute 500 filter straws that were purchased with the more than $5,000.00 raised by Odyssey scholars. Mrs. Milakovich was welcomed with open arms by the members of the Kpaachi Yili community who were thrilled with the donation.
Since 2011, we have raised almost $25,000.00 to support WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) initiatives specifically in Kpaachi Yili. From water filtration systems, to latrine building, to hygiene education curriculum in the schools, and soap making by local women and most recently, a fully funded fence and gate surrounding their water source! We also helped fund the expansion of their dugout to hold water year round.
Our support has produced a flourishing, sustainable community we are able to call a partner. The combination of financial support and community buy-in has allowed for positive health changes in the school and community.
Reflective (Nov. 2015)
Reflective: We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development. There are many things that I know to be true in my life and one of those things is that [...]
Thinkers (Nov. 2015)
Thinkers: We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions. People say that I should stop thinking so much. I respond that they should just ask me to stop breathing. It's what I do. [...]
Caring (Nov. 2015)
Caring: We show empathy, compassion, and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us. Today we went back to the school at Kpaachi Yili unannounced. It seems that the similarity of [...]
Inquirer (Nov. 2015)
Inquirer: We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life. Today we visited the Kpaachi Yili village and school. My education continued as I learned about a new [...]
Communicator (Nov. 2015)
Communicator: We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups. Austin is the 14-year-old boy that went with us on this trip and I was curious to see how a child [...]
Open-Minded (Nov. 2015)
Open-Minded: We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view and willing to grow from the experience. Today we went back to the village of Zali. Mrs. Fine and I oversaw [...]
Knowledgeable (Nov. 2015)
Knowledgeable: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance. We wake up this morning just a couple of short steps left to our goal of meeting and connecting with our sister school. These [...]
Principled (Nov. 2015)
Principled: We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences. So you decide you want to make a difference in the world and connect to [...]
Risk Taker (Nov. 2015)
Risk Taker: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. It's crazy to think about really. We live in a country that clean water runs to our [...]
Ghana Trip Intro (Archive 2015)
Odyssey has a sister school in Ghana, located in the village of Kpaachi Yili. The partnership started several years ago when an Odyssey family became involved with the WATERisLIFE organization, a nonprofit committed to bringing clean water solutions, as well as sanitation and hygiene education to those in need around [...]
WATERisLIFE 2015 Ghana Trip
WATERisLIFE Ghana Trip - 2015 [...]
WATERisLIFE Partnership with Odyssey
This year the Odyssey Family of Schools is taking on a huge project by placing a water pump system in a Ghana village. In 2011, our Junior High Spanish teacher traveled to Ghana to distribute 500 filtration straws. Since 2011 Odyssey has raised almost $25,000 to help support the water, [...]
WATERisLIFE Dash for Ghana 2016
Join us on October 1, 2016, at 9am for an obstacle course race at the OI High School. The race will be about 2 miles long and include obstacles along the way that will add to the fun! All proceeds will go to provide a water pumping system for our [...]
Balanced (Nov. 2015)
Balanced: We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives - intellectual, physical, and emotional - to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live. Today we visited the village of Zali. The village is [...]