Serendip's Togo connection
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| Serendip's Togo connection |
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SUSAN WHITE, Associate Professor and Chair of the Chemistry
Department at Bryn Mawr College, worked with the Peace Corps in the West
African nation of Togo from 1978 to 1981, teaching physical sciences in
public high schools in the Plateau region. While working on her Ph.D at
The Johns Hopkins University and during subsequent postdoctoral work at Yale,
Susan remained in touch with Togolese friends and teachers. After joining
the Bryn Mawr faculty as an Assistant Professor in 1991, Susan returned to
Togo for two weeks in 1994, for a quick visit in 1998, and for four
multi-week stays in
2000-2. During each of these visits, Susan talked with teachers, school
administrators, and government officials about how Americans and Togolese
might work together to enhance educational opportunities
internationally. During the latter trips she spent much of her time
in Tohoun talking with local political and educational leaders.
Materials presented here (see directory) are aimed at developing ways to bring
American and
Togolese educators and students closer together. An emerging
priority, both to foster development and to make rural life more
attractive, is to bring computers and computer education to the
children who live in small towns. Generous colleagues recently donated money to the Lycée for the constuction of a well. The photos of the well construction to the left were taken during Susan's January, 2002 trip. The well is being dug by hand by one well digger assisted by two apprentices and his wife. Initial excavations to a depth of 8 meters went quickly, but progress has been much slower due to a thick layer of hard, white rock. As of May, 2002 the depth is 21 meters and no water has been found. The site for the well was chosen by traditional dowsing methods and is next to a lush spot with a large mango and several palms trees ... so there is hope. Think water!
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