Fourteen National Leaders from all across Africa visited West Linn High School on Thursday, meeting with students, touring facilities, and learning about life in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.

The group of leaders came to West Linn High representing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civic Activism regional projects. Representatives from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe walked West Linn High’s halls, interacting with students and getting a taste for public education in the United States.

The Portland Metro area was the last stop for the group, following three weeks of traveling across the United States. Traveling to the U.S. with the purpose of making global connections, learning about American life, and creating networks to further work back in their African nations, the group of leaders spent much of Thursday learning and sharing information about their home countries.

The most powerful part of the afternoon, however, came when the distinguished visitors met with Modern World History students. Facilitated by West Linn High Teacher Todd Jones, discourse about national stereotypes, the world’s largest problems, and hope for the future flowed freely. Topics from living conditions to national safety measures were discussed, as students listened to African leaders and received the chance and both ask and answer questions.

Students were even treated with a poetry performance from globally renowned poet Daphine Arinda, who is also CEO of Legal Brains Trust in Uganda. NGOs also met with local organizations with ties to African nations, capping off another great day at West Linn High School. Thank you to our guests!