WNY teachers making a difference in other communities outside of their schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Six teachers at a Western New York elementary school are heading to Ghana this summer. 

They are going to schools that some of their own student have a connection to. 

This is a brand new educational outreach program that started with one common passion education. The goal is to unite kids and teachers both in Amherst and Ghana for learning.

Heritage Heights Elementary School is a melting pot of cultures. In fact, the school's music teacher created a musical performance to showcase stories about Africa to represent a couple of students that attend this school that are from Ghana.

2nd grade teacher Jill Grugnale got to know one of their families very well. After many conversations with them, there was a huge interest in global education.

Six teachers got together and are now planning an educational outreach trip over the summer. They will work with two schools while they are there: an international school and a government school.

"I think what it does is takes some of your stereotypes and your misconceptions and it turns it upside down. You realize, 'Wow this is so much different than maybe what I thought it was.' They have the same struggles, but also the same successes that we do. So therefore, I think it's eye opening and it's going to be a real cross road exchange for both sides. We want to be an example for our students. Take your gifts and talents and share it with the world. It's no good if you just keep all of those things to yourself. You want to share that and you want to reach one and touch one. I'm looking forward to what it does and this is only the beginning to great things that is going to happen in the future," Antonio Perry, the principal at Heritage Heights Elementary said.

The school has many fundraising events coming up to make this trip possible, including 'Ghana Grooves and Yoga Moves' on April 24th and a 'Community Scavenger Hunt' on May 4th.

The teachers are also collecting monetary funds and essential items like school supplies, personal hygiene products and footwear to give to students in Ghana while they are there.

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