This academic year, the Africana Studies Program and the Fashion and Textile Technology Department are proud to offer Buffalo State students a unique interdisciplinary trip to Ghana. In January 2025, students will spend 10 days in this vibrantly exciting West African country, known for being the first Black African country to gain independence from the British in 1957 as well as recognized for its friendly and welcoming culture.

With guidance from Professor Marcus Watson and his Ghanaian wife, students will experience Ghana culture first-hand, learning culturally appropriate ways to greet, eat, travel, negotiate, and more. We will explore the emotion-gripping slave castles of Cape Coast, visit real communities in Accra and Kumasi, pay homage to the great freedom fighter W.E.B. DuBois, buried in Accra, and explore the West African beach life on the coast of the Atlantic.

Leaning on the expertise of Professors Shantell Reid and Erin Habes, students will also delve deeply into the world of fashion in Ghana, observing everyday styles, visiting designers, and witnessing the making of Ghana's famous Kente cloth. This study abroad brings education to life for students, who will grow immensely from their experience while engaging in culture and fashion like never before. This initiative aims to immerse Buffalo State students in Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, history, and its vibrant fashion scene, thereby fostering cross-disciplinary learning and cultural exchange.

Help us make this experience possible for Buffalo State students!

The cost per student for the Buffalo State Ghana trip is approximately $3,800, covering travel, accommodations, meals, and learning activities. Not all students can afford these costs, but your generosity can reduce these financial barriers and provide them with an invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves in Ghana's rich cultural heritage and fashion industry.

On this page, you can make a gift to the "We'll Get You There!" Study Abroad Fund at Buffalo State to help defray costs of the Ghana trip for students who might otherwise be unable to participate.

Thank you for supporting this transformative study abroad experience!