Spreading Knowledge for the Betterment of Our Community

The saying “Each one, teach one” is an African proverb that originated in America during slavery when Africans were denied education. If someone learned how to read or write, it became their responsibility to teach someone else.

We continue the tradition through our cultural exchange program focused on the arts.

Each One, Teach One Community

Connected to Culture is excited to launch our Each One, Teach One Community in our hometown, Washington, DC. We want to provide our neighbors who need access to the internet with laptops, broadband access and the skills to use these tools for their participation in our one of a kind virtual exchange experience.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION

Digtital Literacy

We are conducting in-person workshops along with virtual cultural exchange with peers across the globe. Participants link up with international peers to take online trainings, learn new software, apps and platforms.

Cultural Exchange

Participants will be asked to participate in online/hybrid/in-person gatherings that will include workshops, cultural experiences and more. By the end of the program, participants will be well versed in using their device as well as learning more about a new culture from someone new across the world.

Mayor Williams shares a laugh with the Asantehene in 2006 via GhanaWeb

Sister Cities Partnership

As the capital of the United States of America, Washington, DC partners with national capitals around the world. Accra, Ghana’s capital city, entered into a Sister Cities partnership in 2006 to collaborate for the mutual benefit of their communities. The agreement called for opportunities to:

“Support and promote the development of new social, technological and academic programmes to encourage both cities’ citizens to share experiences and learn from each other through appropriate exchange programmes.”
Sister City Agreement between Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Mayor of Accra & Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of Washington, DC

Each One, Teach One: DC to Ghana is a virtual program that engages school-age and young adults to connect with their peers across the world.

This edition of Each One, Teach One is not only an introduction to the most commonly spoken language in Ghana but a first taste of the country’s culture. Students in DC will learn the basics of Twi and are paired with a partner in Ghana on fun cultural and art projects to put their learnings to the test.
Students in Ghana who are looking to strengthen their English are paired with students in Washington DC to learn more about the culture of Chocolate City and are introduced to Go-Go music. Birthed from African American culture, Go-Go music is native to DC and mirrors the characteristics of traditional and contemporary music in Ghana and throughout West Africa with a heavy percussive nature and emphasis on live audience call and response.

Every student participates at no-cost to them and is given a donated device to join the regular online sessions as well as broadband access where needed. Twi instruction is provided by Resplendence Language Arts. The early school age group meets for 1 hour once a week on Wednesday afternoons (12 pm EST/4 PM GMT) and older age groups meet for 1 hour twice a week on Wednesdays (4 pm EST/8 PM GMT) and Weekends (12 pm EST/4 PM GMT)

“Simple exchanges can break down walls between us, for when people come together and speak to one another and share a common experience, then their common humanity is revealed.”

— United States President, Barack Obama