This interview was featured on the Talking Good website on January 16th, hosted by Rich Polt. The piece was picked up the same week by the Christian Science Monitor and The Huffington Post.
Talking Good spotlights one person each week: "citizen philanthropist, purpose driven individuals who champion causes and lead by example." The interview questions and format are the same from week to week. To access the Talking Good website click on the link below.
Talking Good Click Here
TALKING GOOD INTERVIEW WITH RENEE FARWELL.
When asked for a favorite inspirational saying, Renee Farwell cites author/artist and fellow Iowan Brian Andreas: “There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other…” A statement like that, for many, evokes a warm smile and a nod. We relate to it because it touches that part of our brain which yearns to be carefree, spontaneous, impractical. Perhaps we might tweet it. But it’s only once you know the life path which Renee Farwell chose for herself that you can fully appreciate how profound and auto-biographical that saying truly is.
Talking Good spotlights one person each week: "citizen philanthropist, purpose driven individuals who champion causes and lead by example." The interview questions and format are the same from week to week. To access the Talking Good website click on the link below.
Talking Good Click Here
![]() |
Renee in Ghana with Mawuvio's Students |
TALKING GOOD INTERVIEW WITH RENEE FARWELL.
When asked for a favorite inspirational saying, Renee Farwell cites author/artist and fellow Iowan Brian Andreas: “There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other…” A statement like that, for many, evokes a warm smile and a nod. We relate to it because it touches that part of our brain which yearns to be carefree, spontaneous, impractical. Perhaps we might tweet it. But it’s only once you know the life path which Renee Farwell chose for herself that you can fully appreciate how profound and auto-biographical that saying truly is.
“… they may make no sense and they may make no money …”
I wonder what Renee’s parents said when she first told them that
she would be returning to Ghana, the West-African nation where she took her
semester abroad while attending Chicago’s Roosevelt University. Did they think
her decision was misguided? Were they supportive? Perhaps better than anyone,
Renee’s parents recognized their daughter’s propensity for doing good and
foresaw the seismic impact she would have in a community halfway around the
world.
A few years earlier at the University of Ghana, Renee had met a
young man named Eric Kwame Agoe. Kwame, a native Ghanaian, lost his
father at a young age and was forced to drop out of public school due to his
inability to pay the required fees. As he grew, Kwame saw other young children
in his Kissemah Village
also suffer from an inability to afford schooling. After talking for a while
with Renee at the copier, Kwame invited her to visit his village and help with
the seven children being home schooled at Kwame’s mother’s house. She accepted
his invitation. The experience changed her life.
Within a year, Kwame and Renee together established a free
education and care facility in Kissemah Village. By January 2010, Mawuvio’s
(God’s Children) Outreach Programme became a registered non-governmental and
social welfare organization in Ghana. In November 2011 Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme
(MOP) became a registered 501(c)(3) organization in the United States. MOP
provides educational and development services to orphans and disadvantaged sons and
daughters on the streets who cannot afford the required fees to
attend government schools in Ghana. Mawuvio’s Outreach operates under the Ghana
Education Service providing Nursery through Primary 6 basic education; English,
Math, Science, Religious Moral Education (RME), Information Communication
Technology (ICT), Citizenship Education and Creative Arts to children free of
charge.
“… and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each
other…”
According to MOP board member Elena Arosemena, “Renee embodies
the spirit, courage, and conviction of following your heart! She is an example
to the world and what can be accomplished if you stick with your dreams and
goals. She has overcome cultural, language, age, gender barriers, and is
providing hope, opportunity, and education to amazing children who otherwise
would not have a chance.”
This coming September, after a multi-year fundraising and
construction effort, Renee, Kwame, and team will finally open the Mawuvio’s
Outreach Programme school building (classes are currently held outside). With
the new facilities in place, their student population will grow appreciably.
Now, their top priority will be to secure ongoing
funding to keep the new school open and operating.
What began with just seven children on the porch of Kwame’s
Mother’s home, has grown into a major operation that provides education,
opportunities, and purpose to so many people; no one more so than Renee. As she
says below, “I cannot imagine any other life than the one I am currently
living.” Thanks for speaking with us Renee!
1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? To inspire youth to
use education as a means to excel themselves, their families, and their
communities out of the impoverished situations they come from and help them
become successful, contributing members of society.
2. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU? Because of this work,
I have found my purpose in life. Now, I cannot imagine any other life than the
one I am currently living. It has made me more appreciative of everyday
luxuries– from running water to having access to education. Most importantly, I
am single handedly assisting in, and witnessing, the development of the next
generation of leaders in Ghana and the world at large.
3. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING? Seeing my students
make steps in their education, making sense of letters and numbers – putting
them into words, sentences, math problems and being able to understand what
they have just learned– is a huge reward for me. Listening to students, who
once had no dreams or purpose, as they talk about becoming a doctor, a teacher,
president gives me hope for the future — both for these children and the
children Mawuvio’s Outreach Programme has yet to reach out to.
4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE
CHANCE? Any
individual working to provide a means for youth to rise up out of poverty and
lead successful lives; I would ask them how they do their work, what has worked
well, what has not worked well, and can we keep in touch if I have more
questions in the future?
5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR
PHILANTHROPIC GOALS? Ghana is a country with an immense amount of natural resources
that can help our school become self-sufficient. We can utilize our land to
farm food to feed our students 3 meals a day and sell remaining crops to
generate income to support our monthly expenses. If we had program vehicles, we
could operate them as public transportation when the program does not need
them. A simple plot of farming land and a few buses would dramatically help us
achieve our philanthropic goal of being a self-sustaining entity that does not
rely on foreign funding.
6. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL SAYING? “There are things you
do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no
money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other.” ~Brian Andreas
7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? “Stories From the
Bench: Creating a One-Room School Under a Tree”
8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC? My father recently
suddenly passed away. I was in Ghana when it happened and had to quickly travel
home to the states. A lot of family and friends felt very bad that I was so far
away at such a difficult time however I feel differently. The community I work
in in Ghana has become a second family to me, they have met both my parents and
care for me in the same way I am cared for by the family that raised me. I am
blessed to have had the opportunity to grieve with both of my families during
such a difficult time in my life.
9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN
PHILANTHROPISTS? Follow your instincts and do not over-think things.
Everyone has a purpose in this life and if you are patient and open to
things, your purpose will find you.
10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE
ANSWER? QUESTION:
At what point did you know this was the work for you? ANSWER: The first day I
visited Kissemah Village and met our initial group of 15 children. One little
girl, Mary, held my hand asking me question upon question for the entire four
hours I was there. Although I left with an extremely sweaty hand I knew
that I would return and continue returning to Kissemah to answer as many
questions as I could.