Sankofa Defined
Sankofa (main symbol seen as our logo to the left) can mean either the word in the Akan language of Ghana that translates in English to “go back and take” (san=return, ko=go, fa= take) or the Adinkra symbols seen as our logo(s). It symbolizes one taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge.
Using the radio and internet airwaves, we continue “Passing on the torch of culture bearing and preserving (traditions and values) through documenting experiences in the arts, cultural education, and community service.”
CLICK HERE FOR A DIGITAL SANKOFA SATURDAYS PRESENTATION
What is the Sankofa Saturdays Youth Radio Program?
A weekly LIVE youth radio program sharing music, history, local artists, cultural and arts events often co-hosted by youth with the intention of teaching youth radio production as a means of public service through advertising, marketing and promoting digital e-learning. Co-hosted by students from Sankofa Saturdays as well as the Environmental Rangers LIVE in our WUVI Studio here at the University of the Virgin Islands.
Phone: 954-526-5604
Email: sankofasaturdays@gmail.com
Social Media: @sankofasaturdays
Narrative/letter from the Founding Director of our current situation, goals etc.
As usual, we always need volunteers from the village in any of these areas as well as and as our foundation even more importantly just to help monitor the children being children. This is where we pass on our cultural values and teach them to respect themselves and each other through peaceful and productive communication and collaboration. In any situation, this is where I’m most concerned. Yes they’ve gained the experiences, learned the skills and the information, but if they are better people from the experience then we know we’ve done what we set out to do. Our job is to raise the humanity in each you through paying attention and listening to who they are, what they’re going through and how we can help them channel their feelings into creative ways of expression and helping others.
In reality, we’ve greatly downsized and would be better able to accomplish our goals and serve more youth, if we had more help. We even need help to find help…again, not for lack of knowing where to ask, but lack of having the time to focus on it more while managing our own busy lives. We remain quietly consistent and work with what we have. Ideas and experiences are always available, but we need to recruit volunteers from any retired educators, therapists or professionals in the fields we utilize. Any willing persons willing to assist with transportation so we can safely get students to and from the station or special location. I use to write grants, but honestly haven’t written one in a long time, not that I don’t think there’s funding support out there, but more importantly was finding the kind of help that wanted to be there even without the money involved, so that when I do start writing for support again, I’ll be supporting people who are dependable because they share the vision, our mission and truly understand the fundamental goals.
Our youth are so talented, so capable and so willing… But they need our support more now than ever in this fast paced moving world. They need us to slow it down for them and help them remember why we’re here and learn who they are. There’s a lot of work to be done to help protect them from so many of the distractions that are out there preventing them from being their best selves. Together, it’s our job to find, no create a way to get it done for them, using what we’ve learned from our past experiences and bringing those lessons and at knowledge into our present so that we can help to ensure better futures for them, for us and for the world around us.
Sankofa Saturdays is just one way. It’s not the only way, but it’s the way we choose to help humanity in each other and for us all. We’re creating a template that can work anywhere so that we can do this anywhere on the globe in any community to help them preserve their culture and traditions. Help us help the youth of the Virgin Islands remember and respect themselves and their community through Cultural Education!
Passing on the torch of culture bearing and preserving (traditions and values) through documenting experiences in the arts, cultural education, and community service.
The shows are posted unedited on
our SoundCloud account for archiving the radio. We have the intention of sharing
YouTube versions eventually which would include multi-media collages of video clips, pictures and audio etc.
Donate via PayPal at info@SankofaSaturdays.com if you can only assist that way, but money isn’t the greatest need, though it would make it easier for us to get more help and support those who do.
Asante Sana… Medase… Gracias… Dua… Shokran………
Thank you for even reading this far. We appreciate the time and energy you’ve shared to be one with our thought and mission.
DaraMonifah Cooper
Founding Director
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Sankofa (main symbol seen as our logo to the left) can mean either the word in the Akan language of Ghana that translates in English to “go back and take” (san=return, ko=go, fa= take) or the Adinkra symbols seen as our logo(s). It symbolizes one taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge.
Sankofa Stories: The Vision, Experiences and More 