Between the Classroom and the Pineapple Field – First Impressions from Our Interns at Tropigha

What does it feel like when a new partnership suddenly turns into real encounters, shared learning and hands-on experiences? Over the past few days, our student teachers Hanna Laib and Lena Neuhaus have experienced exactly that.

For one week, they exchanged everyday school life at the German International School Accra for the Tropigha Education Center in the Volta Region. At the beginning, the focus was mainly on getting to know one another and building trust.

Learning, Playing and Getting to Know One Another

Through small introductory activities, shared learning sessions and sports games, Hanna and Lena quickly connected with the children at the Education Center.

It soon became clear how much connection can grow even without many words: through playing together, laughing, calculating, reading and trying out new things.

At the same time, our interns had the opportunity to experience lessons at the Tropigha Education Center at close range and to exchange ideas with local teachers about teaching methods, learning approaches and everyday school life.

This change of perspective is precisely what makes the stay so valuable: not only sharing knowledge, but also observing, asking questions and gaining new educational experiences themselves.

Learning Where Pineapples Grow

A special highlight was a day spent together on the farm. There, the children were able to experience first-hand how pineapples are grown.

Instead of simply talking about agriculture, they stood right in the middle of the fields, watched the different stages of the work and were even allowed to lend a hand themselves. The farm thus became a learning environment where nature, work and economic processes could be experienced directly.

For Hanna and Lena, the insights went even further. During an extensive tour of the farm, they learned about the entire production process – from planting and harvesting to processing and packaging pineapples and papayas.

It became clear just how many different stages are involved before fruit is ready for sale.

A Little Piece of Swabia in Ghana

Alongside lessons and farm activities, there was also plenty of time for personal encounters.

A particularly nice connection came from a shared regional background: Hanna, Lena and Helmut Lutz all come from Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. As a result, the shared lunches regularly included a taste of Swabian cuisine.

After a morning in the classroom or out in the pineapple fields, familiar food from home tasted especially good. And at the same time, it showed just how naturally different worlds can come together within this partnership: Ghanaian agriculture, international education and Swabian cuisine under one roof.

Turning an Idea into a Living Partnership

The first week already demonstrates the potential of the new cooperation between GISA, Tropigha Farms and the Tropigha Education Center.

For our interns, it offers the opportunity to experience school and education in a very different setting. For the children at the Education Center, it creates new encounters and additional learning opportunities. And for both institutions, it opens up a space for mutual learning and exchange.

What began as a new partnership is now gradually being brought to life.

Between classroom, sports field and pineapple farm, exactly the kind of encounters are taking place that reflect our guiding principle: “Building Bridges”.