Thursday, January 16, 2014

Amibs, I am typing this letter in one of my blogs on the internet.  I'll send you the URL so that you can preview and proofread it before I send original copies to Ghana.  You should be able to view this on your cell phone instead of having to go to an internet cafe.


To Whom It May Concern:

     My name is Larry Hewett and I have served as the Accademically and Intellectually Gifted Specialist and the Instructional Technology Facilitator for Columbus County Schools in southeastern North Carolina in the USA for two years.  Before this I held the position of art instructor for twenty-two years.  During these years I had my students participate in as many foreign art exchanges as possible.  These were learning experiences that my students loved.  The exchanges allowed my students not only to learn about art, but more importantly, learn about the people and cultures of foreign countries that they would never be able to visit.  The exchanges gave my student wings with which they were able to travel over the whole world while never leaving their homes.

     Then one day something wonderful happened.  I was invited to travel with a group of educators to Ghana for two weeks.  This was my first international trip and one of the most memorable ones that I've ever taken.  Ghana and her warm and beautiful people touched my heart as I traveled across the country.  Upon returning home I created an elaborate presentation about the people and artists I had met.  To add to my list of Ghanaian artists I contacted others via email and the internet.  One of these happened to be Abubakari Mohammed from Kasoa.  He graciously granted me an interview and what has become a lifelong friendship and admiration for one another.  I returned to Ghana the next year during the summer of 2007 to visit friends that I had made.  While there Abubakari, or Amibs as I call him, and I finally met in person.  He now refers to me as Uncle.

     He invited me to his house to meet his lovely family and his students at the his school, Central Educational Complex..  We have quite a bit in common being both professional artists and art instructors.  The idea came to me to do some kind of cultural exchange between our two schools.  At that time I was teaching art at West Columbus High School.  We did an exchange and it was a huge success.  We also gave scholarships to a few of his students.  It was successful for all students involved because of the knowledge, culture and artistic processes that was shared.  

It has been approximately seven years since Abubakari and I first met.  I have returned twice to Ghana and both times I went to Kasoa to visit my "nephew" and friend.  The last time I was there he and his students introduced me to a unique style of textile production and painting that I had never seen before.  It involved dying designs from lace-like material onto white cloth.  I wished that I could have my students do the same process but I did not know how nor did I have the supplies that were available in Ghana.  Even though I'm no longer teaching at West Columbus High School, I'd still like for the students here in Columbus County to learn this process and take part in this awesome textile production.  I may be able to purchase the needed materials but the main thing missing is Abubakari.  Oh how I wish he were able to visit here so that he could do textile workshops for all three high schools in my county.  This is why I am writing.

I am writing in regard to the possibility of a visa for Abubakari so that he might be able to come to Columbus County Schools where he will conduct textile production and painting workshops for art classes in all three high schools.  He will also be asked to do presentations about Ghana, her people, art, culture, current events, etc.  I assure you that we will keep him moving and busy spreading his knowledge of his homeland, Ghana.  He would not only be serving as an art specialist but also as a foreign ambassador as well. So many of our students here are deprived, especially culturally, that Abubakari's visit would open up the world to them.  It would allow them, in essence, travel to Ghana without leaving Columbus County.

If allowed to come to the U.S., Abubakari would be a guest of mine and I would be responsible for his place of residence, food and transportation. He has strong ties to his homeland and numerous reasons to return home.  His is the sole proprietor of Central Educational Complex in Kasoa.  His purpose is to train and educate young people with the desire to rid the youth of poverty and unemployment.  He is happily married with three young girls and one small son.  It is his intent to leave his family during his visit to the United States and return within the time limits of his visa.  Please consider Abubakari's request for a short stay of three weeks in the United States.  If I can provide more information or be of any assistance in this matter, please contact me by phone at (910) 323-0260.  Thank you so much in advance.

Sincerely,


Larry Hewett
Columbus County Schools
Whiteville, North Carolina, USA 28472






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