MIMOSA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF America Inc

In December 2017, the co-founders of the MIFoA (Gwen Thornton, PhD LCSW and Jane Parker, MSW, Department of Social Work faculty members) in partnership with the Virginia State University Office of International Education sponsored a faculty led study-abroad trip that offered students a two-week global service-learning opportunity in Jukwa and Winneba, Ghana, West Africa. Students and the faculty worked alongside local community partners to identify and complete needed tasks for a number of community projects. While working with local community partners, they had an impactful, immersive, and life-changing experience. During their time in Ghana, they were approached by Ghanaian children and families asking for their help. These individuals were not merely seeking handouts but opportunities to have a better life than what they were accustomed to in their experiences. While in Ghana during this time, the faculty and students developed relationships with Ghanaian residents and community partners that have remained strong for more than 3 and half years.In 2019, between August and November, Dr. Thornton spent three months on sabbatical in the Central Region of Ghana where she initiated various activities that set the foundation for creating the MIFoA. The primaryobjective of Dr. Thorntons sabbatical was to engage in and collaborate with community leaders regarding community, healthcare and educational needs in the Central Region of Ghana. During this time period, incollaboration with school administrators, faculty, staff, parents and community leaders she provided her expertise, knowledge and skills in community and program development. She assisted in the development of a5-year Educational Strategic Plan for Divine Kids Academy (DKA). As a result of this initiative, she assisted in identifying a network of international donors (colleagues and friends) for the provision of educational resourcesand equipment for academic success of children attending DKA. The engagement, collaboration and partnership with donors resulted in the purchase of desks, textbooks, computers and building of a computer lab for grades one through grade six. These collaborative efforts inspired the formation of the Mimosa International Foundation of America, Inc.Upon Dr. Thorntons return to the United States, in December 2019, the Mimosa International Foundation of America was founded by a group of individuals who shared a common interest in providing healthcare,educational, vocational training, other charitable services and resources to underprivileged women, children and families in underserved remote areas across the continent of Africa and the African Diaspora to help them to achieve self-sufficiency. MIFoA strives to improve the education, healthcare and vocational training opportunities for women, children and families in the Eastern and Western regions of Africa. We also aim to foster a better understanding of the multicultural nature of Africans through interpersonal connections that our volunteers will make in the Eastern and Western regions of Africa.