(story continued)
“Sometimes I still want to pinch myself when I think about what has happened,” Conte says. “In three years … this has turned into so much more than I could ever have imagined.”
Another important facility at the center is a vocational school, which aims to provide jobs and a steady income—particularly for young Ghanaian women, who might otherwise turn to prostitution to support their families. At the school the women take up various trades, including weaving and bread making.
“The thing that has been incredible … is to watch Ghanaians take pride in what they are doing,” Conte says. “They have pride in what they have been able to build.”
Although she is an inspiration to many, Conte is modest in her self-assessment of her accomplishments. She credits her SU education with providing a compass to guide what has become a mission.
“It’s humbling to know that I am not the only one doing this work,” Conte says. “It reminds me that there is so much to do, and I am so grateful that I went to a university that instilled that in me—to make the world a better place.”
To learn more about New Seed International and how you can help, e-mail rebecca@newseedinternational.org.
