• I want to help others Mansa Ackaa Gyasi Panamaa 24 Jun 2008 • Join InterAction in Ghana Leslie Boafa 02 Aug 2007 • Become a member of the GHANA Programme 24 Jul 2006 • Journey with a purpose 20 Apr 2006 • Ghana Module 3 04 Apr 2006 • African science must regain control of local resources Kazhila Chinsembu, sent in by Collins Osei 18 Feb 2006 • Ghana Module 2 Leslie Boafo 17 Feb 2006 • New Website Launched! 26 Jan 2006

Mansa Ackaa Gyasi Panamaa has become inspired to build a Capacity Programme using the InterAction: Appreciative Inquiry, Passions, Principles, Assumptions and the Power of Questions for the women groups and the schools in the Central Gonja District.

I want to help others

I joined InterAction with a whole lot of things happening in my life. As a fresh graduate I was posted to a village in the northern region of Ghana, Buipe. With no access to normal things a young person like myself will need, I held my own assumptions about the people and the place.

It was very difficult to work with my colleagues because we kind of didn’t understand each other. I faced a lot of challenges as a female engineer and was ready to quit the place, and then I had the opportunity to be on InterAction.

Learnt to cope

Through my knowledge of the Passions, Principles, and Assumptions, I adjusted my lifestyle by first working on the “ME” passion. Also through the enabling and ideas from my friends at InterAction I could cope with the situation. With the change in behaviour and attitude towards work I was made the Gender Desk Officer.

I developed my confidence in my leadership skills through participating in the programme. I developed the ability to relate to other people, particularly my colleagues, those older than myself.

Working at the community level, I am now able to communicate ideas effectively in different contexts when facilitating at sensitisation programmes organised by my District Assembly and NGOs for the women groups in my district.

I have become a mentor

Now I am able to understand their way of life and they understand me. I have become a mentor to a lot of the young girls in the community.

I must also say my relationship with my family; especially my father has improved tremendously thanks to InterAction. I do want to leave work, not because I cannot cope but to find new prospects.

My ambition is to build up a Capacity Programme using the InterAction: Appreciative Inquiry, Passions, Principles, Assumptions and the Power of Questions for the women groups and the schools I work with in the Central Gonja District.