While many contemplate vacations to Disneyworld, Palm Springs, or Cancun, Trevor Blair (’05) would much rather go to Africa, not to have fun, but to help its villagers lead a safer lifestyle.


Blair went to Ghana in late March on a mission to build a clean water well for the village of Ajampoma, which is in east Ghana.

“I heard about this mission trip from my aunt who owns a non-profit organization called the Water for Children Africa,” said Blair. “I’ve always wanted to go to Africa but it was [an] even better [experience since] I went there with a mission.”

In Ghana, Blair went to a village called Cumasi where he, along with four others, gave out life-kits which consisted of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and condoms to mothers who had contracted HIV. He also went to the S.O.S. Orphanage where he spent time touring the household and also giving out more life-kits.

“I was so humbled and relieved to [be living] in America after visiting Africa,” said Blair. “America is not perfect but we are a lot better off than many others throughout the world.”

In Ghana, Blair stayed in an area called “Yellow House,” also known as “Elders of Village Palace.” He stayed with a family that included a member who was educated at an Ivy League college in the United States. According to Blair, after the student graduated from college, he returned to Africa to help improve the living conditions.

Besides going to Africa for the first time, Blair had other first-time experiences there. For instance, Blair witnessed a live chicken being plucked, killed, then made into dinner as food for survival in Africa. Also, Blair went to a slave capsule where African-Americans were put in before being sent to America to be sold as slaves. Lastly, Blair went to the neighboring country of Togo, which is in the midst of a civil war. Because of the growing danger, he was only allowed to stay for one day.

Although Blair admits that the living conditions in Ghana were not as uncivilized as many would think, there were still major problems with electricity going out and water being cut off around 7 p.m. While the electricity is said to be in service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on some days the electricity goes off and there are no ways of turning it back on. Additionally, Africans have to go out and walk to cafés to use computers, since many cannot afford personal home computers.

Blair hopes to return to Africa next year to continue his mission of helping the people of Ghana.

“After seeing everything that goes on in the villages [in Africa], I feel obligated to go back and finish what I started,” said Blair.

By Staff Writer Claudine Sarmiento