Photos courtesy of Maura Longenecker
The High Library Innovation Design Expression Art (IDEA) Lab opened the exhibit “A Decade of Service: The Teachers for West Africa Program (TWAP), 1962-1972” on Monday, Jan. 27.
According to High Library Archivist Rachel Grove Rohrbaugh, the IDEA Lab is a space used for interactive exhibits and goes beyond the standards of a gallery.
Professor of history and Director of the Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking David Kenley explained TWAP occurred only during the decade between 1962-1972.
The program was funded by the Hershey Corporation and sent students from Elizabethtown College to West Africa in order to act as teachers.
In addition to providing education, TWAP was also a way to give back, as the teachers were sent to the communities from which the cocoa beans used by the Hershey Corporation were being sourced.
This is the first time anything like TWAP has been displayed in the IDEA Lab.
Elizabethtown College was contacted last spring by two teachers from TWAP in hopes of talking about their experiences.
Grove Rohrbaugh and Kenley co-taught a course in the fall semester in which they researched archives from TWAP—PHS 203: Archive Resources in Digital Humanities.
The class consisted of roundtable discussions and lectures.
Each student got to work in the Hess Archives of the High Library on materials from TWAP.
The students could then focus on the archival materials and interview local teachers from the program.
The students created a podcast from what they learned during the semester, which is currently on display in the IDEA Lab.
Prior to this year, Kenley and Grove Rohrbaugh had no connection to the program but gained a greater understanding of the material as they taught the class.
Grove Rohrbaugh enjoyed the process, even designing the setup for the IDEA Lab.
She was able to collect photographs and pull direct quotes from some of the teachers that were involved in TWAP.
“TWAP is something that’s been largely forgotten about until now, but I think it’s a super interesting example of international peacekeeping and purposeful life-work on our campus, and we have tons of documents, images and people available to learn from,” sophomore Etownian Features staff writer Giselle Taylor said.
The College chose to install the exhibit because it is the 50th anniversary of TWAP.
“[The exhibit] is a good opportunity to highlight students’ work and prepare for the February talk,” Grove Rohrbaugh said.
The College will host an event featuring two teachers from TWAP to speak at the Young Center Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
The exhibit will remain on display in the IDEA Lab until Friday, Feb. 21.
“I hope [the exhibit] creates a greater awareness of the tremendous things former alumni did,” Kenley said.
Kenley said the goal of the exhibit is to celebrate the past, while also motivating present students and bringing awareness to the Hess Archives.
“I’d like to see students inspired to think about international volunteering, as well as learn more about the College in the 60s. I hope students also think about how they can use their skills in local communities,” Grove Rohrbaugh said.
Taylor was one of the students inspired by the direct archival work.
“I think the Teachers for West Africa Program is especially meaningful, as it is so connected to our College history and our mission of ‘Educating for Service,’” Taylor said.
The IDEA Lab has frequent displays on a variety of subjects.
The IDEA Lab is always open to student suggestions for future exhibits.
