Teens' $90K Ghana trip saved after visa issues, ABC11 Troubleshooter steps in
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A group of Durham teens is finally set to embark on a life-changing trip to Ghana after visa delays nearly derailed their journey.
The teens are part of the POOF Teen Center, a Durham nonprofit that helps young people build skills in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, legacy planning and travel through real-world experiences.
"This is our five-year journey to Ghana," founder Destiny Alexander said. "We've been in business since 2021, and we wanted a big trip for our five-year celebration."
The organization, along with support from the community, raised $90,000 to make the trip possible. Despite having passports ready, the group faced a major obstacle: obtaining visas from Ghana.
"Trying to get these visas was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life," Alexander said.
She said problems began early in the application process when payment instructions on the visa website conflicted with information provided by customer service representatives.
"On the website, it said you can pay by money order, or you can pay online," Alexander said. "We selected a money order, and something wasn't going through. So, we reached out, and they told us, no, you cannot do a money order."
After restarting the process, Alexander overnighted the applications and paid for expedited service, expecting them to be returned within seven days, but that didn't happen.
Alexander said she spent days making phone calls, sending messages and sitting on hold trying to get answers from the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, D.C.
"It was story after story after story," she said. "We would call and be hung up on. I would be on hold for two hours, and the phone would disconnect. Every time you talked to someone, it was a different answer."
With the group's departure date approaching, Alexander reached out to ABC11 Troubleshooter Diane Wilson for help.
"I was at my wits' end," Alexander said. "I didn't know who could help other than Diane Wilson," Alexander said.
Wilson contacted the U.S. Department of State, and later that same day, Alexander received a call regarding the visas.
"Miraculously, we got a call," she said.
Alexander was told the visas could be picked up. Not wanting to take any chances, she had a friend in Washington, D.C., pick up all 33 passports containing the approved visas from the Ghana Embassy and overnight them back to North Carolina.
Now, with visas in hand, the trip is back on.
The group leaves Monday morning for their educational and cultural experience in Ghana. During the trip, students will visit the University of Ghana, tour a hospital, explore local markets and participate in volunteer projects with students at local schools.
"We're a volunteer-based organization, so it's important to give back," Alexander said. "We're not going to save anybody. We're going to see how they live, what the culture is like, and what life is like in Ghana."
Alexander said parents, students and community members are relieved and grateful that the trip will move forward as planned.
"I just want to thank everybody," she said to Wilson. "Nobody would return my calls. I'm appreciative, and I know a lot of families and parents are too."
After months of fundraising, planning and uncertainty, the students are now preparing for what many hope will be the experience of a lifetime.
