Athena Maikish Business & Technical Consultant [Washington, D.C.]
			Click for     more Photos Volunteer Vacation
	Hiking through the Volta Region in awe of the large termite hills.
		Description: (Cape Coast, Ghana. June – July 2005) WIP's Global Mamas retail store in Cape Coast had outgrown its inventory system, and a dedicated software solution was needed to replace simple spreadsheets. Additionally, Global Mamas had expanded to include 12 new women-owned businesses into the International Trade program that were needing video clips produced to publish on the Internet so customers buying Global Mamas products could "meet" the women producing the products. Achievements: With a strong business and technology background, Athena assisted WIP in several ways: Identified several promising inventory management/point-of-sale systems and helped to evaluate and negotiate pricing on each. Interviewed the new Global Mamas and created a series of video clips that are published on the Meet the Women section of the Global Mamas eCommerce site. Organized, filmed and edited a drumming and dancing workshop that is being used to promote the cultural workshop on the Ghana Expeditions website. Highlights: Athena most enjoyed living in the community and interacting with the children and women. Working on the business side of things and being able to observe the educational system let Athena reflect on her future career plans. From this trip, she realized that she would like to stay in the field of education but widen her scope and study international education. "Interviewing the women gave me a lot of insight into the Ghanaian culture and the Ghanaian way of presenting one's self. These interviews combined with a few school visits also gave me an introduction to the school system in Ghana and how it prepares women for society." close window