By Abby Wiseman
On Jan. 22, the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of British Columbia and Sociology students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Vancouver, in British Columbia Western Canada organized a fundraiser, which raised $2,800 for Doctors without Borders and the Canadian Red Cross. The “Giving a Helping Hand to Haiti” event was attended by a cross-section of the Ghanaian and Kwantlen University communities.
Organizer, Dr. Quist-Adade who doubles as president of the Ghanaian-Canadian Association and sociology professor at Kwantlen University, was thrilled with the amount of money donated. He said he was expecting to only raise about $500. “I am pleased we are able to throw life line to our long-suffering kith and kin in Haiti.” He thanked the Ghanaian community and his students, colleagues, and staff at Kwantlen for their generosity.
“It’s really upsetting to see what’s going on. It’s just scary to see that something can happen out of nowhere,” said sociology student Jasman Virdi: “It’s good that everyone is pulling together to help out all around the world.”
The highlight of the event was local slam poet “Scruffmouth” Kevan Cameron. Cameron recited three poems about African-Canadian culture, modern society and playing scrabble with his mother. Other highlights included Dr. Quist-Adade recounting fantastical “Ananse” (spider) stories from his Ghanaian childhood, earnest appeals from the professor’s three children, Maayaa, Kwaku, and Malaika
