Philly Leader

For the second consecutive year, students from Imhotep Institute Charter High School will embark on an eco-friendly service trip to Ghana. This year's visit includes a unique opportunity: the students will announce one of the Philadelphia Eagles' Day 3 draft picks from Ghana.

Shirley Posey, Director of STEM at Imhotep, expressed her surprise and excitement about this opportunity. "I was beyond shocked; I started shaking," she said. "When I told the students, they were so excited. It shows that the Eagles recognize us and the work we will be doing."

Posey, who was named the Eagles' Nouryon All-Pro Teacher of the Year in 2020, used her prize money to help fund Project Kujichagulia. This initiative began in Jackson, Mississippi, and has since expanded to Ghana with support from the Eagles as part of their International Marketing Home Area program.

Last year, Imhotep's STEM Ambassadors brought 3D-printed water filters to a school in Ghana and taught locals how to use them. They also built a water filtration system on Anjito Bende island. This year, 28 ambassadors will travel to serve communities in Accra, Anayko, Keta, and Woe.

"It's been unbelievable to see the growth of this program," Posey remarked. "Seeing my students take ownership and want to be a positive change, you can't find that in a textbook."

The group plans several projects during their two-week stay. They aim to establish a STEM lab at Rhema School for local students to start using their own water filters and implement a sustainable water filtration system.

In response to recent floods that devastated farmlands in Ghana, the STEM Ambassadors will construct an innovative hydroponic system for crop rebuilding. They will educate local farmers and over 1,000 students on maintaining this system.

The team has also crafted a 3D-printed prosthetic limb for Jessica, a girl they met last May in Keta.

"Instead of teaching students just about coding and robotics," Posey explained, "we really look at how we can solve problems in the community through science, technology, engineering, and math."

Many ambassadors are members of Imhotep's State Champion football team; they plan a flag football game on the beach after introducing locals to the sport last year as part of NFL's global expansion efforts.

Imhotep players with potential futures in Division I programs will gain firsthand experience by announcing an Eagles draft pick on Saturday. One such prospect is Tykee Smith from the University of Georgia—a former student of Posey's.

Posey views this as an exceptional chance for her students: "It is a perfect opportunity for us to announce the pick," she said. "The Eagles and NFL are supporting a group of students from Philly going abroad for impactful work representing their community."