Vernon school trip to Ghana dependent on Ebola situation

NORTH OKANAGAN – An Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa has cast some doubt over a planned school trip to Ghana next spring.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap school board has approved the excursion in principle, pending a December update from one of the organizers. The trip is scheduled for March 15-25, 2015.

Director of Instruction Wendy Woodhurst told school board trustees the outbreak has not reached Ghana or any neighbouring countries, nor have any travel advisories been issued.

The trip, which involves building a school, is part of Me to We, an initiative focussed on youth making a difference in the world by helping others. Woodhurst said 15 students have already expressed interest and launched fundraising activities.

"Hopefully school will soon be back in and we can see if there are others who would like to join in," Woodhurst said at the board meeting.

If the situation worsens or a travel advisory is issued, she said other Me to We villages will be considered.

Woodhurst was asked if the group could pick a different location now, but she explained the students have a connection to ‘their’ village in Ghana, either because they helped build the school last trip, or because they fundraised for that village and would like to see the difference their efforts made.

Woodhurst will provide an update to the board in December.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.