Home for the Holidays is taking on new meaning for one Goochland County resident.

Last month, GHS graduate and VCU senior Jarvis McCowin left for a 17-day trip to Ghana.

Each year, VCU’s Graduate School of Social Work holds an application process for the service learning trip to Accra, Ghana, under the leadership of Rev. Eric Annan who is the leader of the Grace Home International School and the Sovereign Global Mission Program in Ghana.

McCowin was one of 13 students selected to take part in this year’s mission.

“While there, we will be teaching street children as well as finishing construction on a Child Development Center for the children of Accra,” McCowin said. “We (the students) will each be taking two bags of luggage, one for ourselves and the other for the children of Accra, Ghana.”

Last week a fundraiser was held at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church to benefit the children, and school supplies and arts and crafts materials were collected for the trip.

McCowin is a history/psychology major at VCU and expects to graduate in December 2012.

His motivation for applying for the Ghana trip was simple. “I applied for the service-learning trip to Accra, Ghana after I became interested and eager to provide service to the children of Ghana,” he said.  “After reading the supplemental materials that were with the application, I began to imagine and have a clear vision of myself interacting and helping to teach the children of Ghana.”

McCowin said he felt an immediate connection to the project, and more importantly, the children of Ghana. “I felt that I had to be there after reading what we would be doing helping teach the street children as well as helping to finish construction on a Child Development Center.”

Although the mission will involve countless hours of hard work, McCowin said he hopes to expand his horizons as he interacts with the children. “I expect to reflect while in Ghana.  Reflect about my own personal circumstances as well as to have a better understanding and appreciation for everything that I have,” he said. 

“I expect to learn from the children.  The purpose of a service-learning project is for the participant to both teach and to learn from those being taught.  I plan to walk away with an appreciation for everything and person in my life,” the 2008 GHS graduate said.

Embarking on such a long and unfamiliar journey provides its own unique blend of apprehension and excitement for McCowin.

“As far as apprehension, I am a very picky eater.  I have been out of the country before, however, I have never participated in this kind of service project,” he said.

In addition to the culinary challenges, McCowin want to make sure he encompasses the spirit of the mission.

“If anything, I am in fear of not learning life’s lessons while I am over there, meaning that I want to serve as well as become more aware of focusing and appreciating all that I have rather than whatever I may not have,” McCowin said.

He also plans to learn from the children he plans to assist.  “In reality, the children of Ghana have everything that I am in search for at this time in my life,” McCowin said.  “I am provided with everything that the children in Ghana have, loving family and friends, an education, etc.  However, when one looks at a picture of a child in Ghana, you see nothing but hope in their eyes.  I too want to be able to feel genuine hope, faith, and a sense of the true meaning of life to ultimately be happy.”

McCowin plans for the future include graduate school. “I am applying to Higher Education Student Affairs Programs and Counseling Education Programs on the Master’s Degree level,” he said.

He hopes to eventually become an academic advisor at the collegiate level and eventually work as a research professor.