Trina Shanks
School of Social Work
The Global Perspectives in Social Work: Ghana program offered a faculty-led, three-week study abroad experience designed to immerse students in the intersections of cross-cultural understanding, social justice, and the African diaspora. Grounded in the principles of global engagement, the program emphasized bridging theory and practice by exposing students to Ghana’s vibrant history, social structures, and cultural traditions. Through guided learning, community partnership, and reflection, students explored how social, economic, and environmental inequities shape lives both within Ghana and globally.
In-country experiences combined academic dialogue with hands-on learning and cultural immersion. Students visited significant sites such as the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Independence Square, and the W.E.B. Du Bois Center to study Ghana’s postcolonial development and transatlantic connections. In Kumasi, visits to the Manhyia Palace Museum and a meeting with the Queen Mother of Akropong illuminated traditional leadership and community advocacy. In Cape Coast, tours of the Elmina and Cape Coast Castles and the Ancestral Slave River Site offered powerful insight into the history and legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
Upon returning, students synthesized their learning through presentations and reflective assignments that connected their academic preparation in Ann Arbor to their in-country experiences. The program fostered empathy, critical reflection, and a deepened commitment to culturally responsive social work practice in global contexts. Students left with an expanded worldview, strengthened intercultural skills, and a renewed understanding of social work’s role in promoting equity and justice worldwide.
Learning Objectives
Cross-Cultural Understanding – Develop an appreciation of Ghanaian culture, history, and community structures through immersive and respectful engagement.
Theory to Practice Integration – Apply concepts of social justice, social work, and community advocacy in cross-cultural and international settings.
Critical Reflection – Cultivate reflexive awareness of one’s positionality and biases in relation to global systems of inequality.
Collaborative Service Learning – Partner with local educators and organizations to assess and address community needs.
Global Social Justice Awareness – Examine the enduring legacies of the African diaspora and deepen understanding of systemic injustices from a comparative perspective.
