I was assigned a mentor, Kathleen Filling, who guided me through the process of refining my concept into a world-class proposal. TheWorld Bank office in Ghana also provided a consultant, Emmanuel, who managed the Busak Fund, a significant agricultural fund. Emmanuel and his team supported my concept, leading us to engage with the Prison Service and the Ministry of Agriculture to create a robust proposal. Together with my mentor, Busak, and the Prison Service, we crafted a proposal that aimed to recruit willing prisoners as farmers. They would receive training and stipends when the produce was sold. About 200 prisoners signed up, and we initiated a pilot program, starting fromNsawam and extending to Kenyasi, Tamale, Bawku, and Ankaful. We completed the proposal and sent it off. To my delight, I was invited to present and defend my proposal in front of a jury inWashington, D.C. The project gained popularity and even caught the attention of ‘The Voice of Africa,’ resulting in an interview with me by Durren Taylor, an interview that went viral. It was no surprise that my proposal was among the top five selected for implementation. Unfortunately, the funding never materialized due to the inability of the Prison Service and the Ministry of Agriculture to decide on the lead implementer. Little did I know that my trip toWashington, D.C. was not by chance, but a part of God’s plan to connect me with my next significant opportunity. A Scholarship That Defied the Odds “Mr. Kanduri, I have heard the story of why you didn’t complete college. Would you like to attend City University of New York?” My heart leaped, and I felt like somersaulting all around the City University of New York campus with joy. It was so unexpected and unbelievable, but I quickly composed myself and enthusiastically said, “Yes, it will be such a pleasure.” I gently placed my cutlery on my chinaware, took a long sip of water to wash down the roasted potatoes and lamb chops with gravy I had been eating before Dr. Peruggi made the offer. The proposal had not fully sunk in. Going from someone who dropped out of school because they could barely pay their tuition at the Catholic University in Ghana to being offered a scholarship to City University of New York – just like that, without even submitting a student application form? How had this happened? When I went toWashington, D.C. to present my proposal on prison farms, I got in touch with Tatiana Kotlerenko, my partner in the Enslavement Prevention Alliance, who was coincidentally working on a project at City University of New York. She told me, “The president of City University of New York would like to host you because they’ve heard you’re in town.” So, I took a bus to New York. To my surprise, the university hosted me for dinner, and there I met the Academic Provost and the university’s President, Dr. Regina Peruggi. She was excited to meet me, having heard about our achievements at the Soldier Bar. That’s when she asked if I would like to pursue my university education with them. As soon as I said “yes,” she turned to Dr. Fakhari, the Academic Provost, and said, “Can you please facilitate? Let’s give him a full scholarship to come back.” It felt absolutely wonderful. 27 The Birthday Journal
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