There is a little piece of heaven nestled behind a furniture store on central ave, I call it the gateway to AFRICA.

Yesterday I experienced one of the most amazing things to ever touch my heart. I was able to talk to a group of students from GHANA, AFRICA, and interact with some incredible teens and children. Who, despite what may be going on around them have this passion and love for learning and living. So many bright smiles and faces peered through a flat screen TV broadcasted for us to see.

Excerpt about program:
The AKOMA NTOSO CULTURAL CENTER (ANCC) provides programs and services that encourage the appreciation of African cultures and history, emphasizing the ways African culture intersects, overlaps and complements all people and all nations the world over- and has throughout all history. By utilizing the “Tele-Presence” technology, we will bring people of all nations face to face, thus, eliminating the oceans of waters and misconceptions that separate us.

The Organization behind the program:
Oiada International Inc. (www.oiadaintl.org) is a non-profit organization, our goal is to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions of the people of Ghana, Africa through education, health care, cooperative economics and community development                                                   

The ANCC’s primary mission is to link the US and the residents of Ghana via ANCC’s telepresence communications center (powered by polycom). This will be the foundation for a nationwide network of students, residents, academicians and professionals concerned with connecting or reconnecting with the African people, bridging the gap between the US, Africa and ultimately the world.

We are partnering with the American Institute of History Education (AIHE) www.americaninstituteofhistory.org  to be a venue for the Amistad Comission to achieve their goal of integrating the history and contributions of African-Americans and the descendants of the African Diaspora. One of the ways students will experience the African slave trade from the other side of the sea- by taking a “live” virtual tour of the slave castles of Ghana’s Gold Coast. We hope you saw President Obama’s visit to the slave castle in Ghana. The timing couldn’t be better for opening of our cultural center.

Students will participate in round table discussions via tele-presence with students from countries and islands involved in the trans-atlantic slave trade such as Brazil, Barbados, etc. The ANCC compliments AIHE’s curriculum by bringing history to “life”.

Please, please support this program in any way you can! An please share this post and pass the message along. They are doing something very positive in our community! And if you ever get a chance stop by the center to witness this experience for yourself!
Peace family!

ANCC
191 central ave
Newark, NJ 07103
973-732-3188
www.oiadaintl.org