Lillian Turnipseed, senior advocacy teacher at the Providence Academy of International Studies, asks a question of the visiting students from Ghana who are part of Plan USA’s Youth Ambassador’s program.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

PROVIDENCE — The students wore the same boldly patterned kente cloth, the girls dressed in ankle-length dresses, the boys in matching shirts and trousers. Their English was impeccable, their answers thoughtful and heartfelt.

Yesterday, a half-dozen students from Ghana met with their American peers at the Providence Academy of International Studies, a public high school, and, much to their mutual surprise, discovered that they have more in common than they thought.

The Ghanaian teenagers are part of Plan USA’s Youth Ambassadors program, which fosters goodwill between students from United States and the developing world. The hope is that this program will dispel myths that American teens have about their counterparts in Africa and the Middle East.

Based in Warwick, Plan USA is an international humanitarian organization that raises money to build schools and clinics in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The group is working to foster “child-centered” development in 49 countries around the world.

The Americans learned that although English is the official language, 152 dialects are spoken in Ghana, a country in western Africa. They learned that many Ghanaians never receive a birth certificate because they are born at home and local custom doesn’t observe such rituals. And yet, without a birth certificate, children, until recently, could not register for school or obtain a passport. Although Ghana offers free, universal public education, universal literacy remains more of a dream than a reality at this stage, especially for children who live in the country.

But the teenagers at yesterday’s gathering are not afraid to dream big. They talked about becoming lawyers and doctors and attending university here or in Ghana, and several students said they are committed to returning home and sharing their knowledge with their communities.

“I want to work for human rights, to make sure that poor people receive justice,” said Wutor Mahama Baleng, 16, who wants to become a lawyer. “In Ghana, money speaks. That’s how a case is won. If I am a lawyer, I will respect what is right.”

One of the adult chaperones explained that many Americans have a false conception about child labor in Ghana. Helping the family cook and gather firewood is not considered “hazardous” labor. That term refers to work that puts a child in physical danger or interferes with his or her ability to attend school.

“America is one of only two countries that haven’t signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” said Kate Ezzes, who works with Plan USA. “The other is Somalia.”

Africa has many profound challenges, from poverty to the lack of clean water, said Otika Djaba, one of the group’s chaperones.

“But we have strengths as well,” she said. “I’m here to ensure that a positive side of Africa is seen. We are no different than you in our expectations. Children are abused all over the world. Abuse comes in different forms. It’s the ability to overcome these challenges that unites us. What is most important is the mind. If we can forget all of the things that separate us, maybe we can get somewhere.”

“What are the positives about living in Africa?” an American student asked.

Children grow up with a deep sense of community, a loyalty to family and clan, one of the adults from Ghana said. They live in a world whose history is told through oral traditions like music, storytelling and dance. In the cities, though, the modern world is intruding on those customs. Parents are working away from home and children amuse themselves with television and video games, Emelia Allan said. Allan, who works for Plan Ghana, said she sends her children back to her childhood village for the holidays so they can be immersed in traditional culture.

The Ghanaian students have been in the United States for approximately 10 days, visiting Washington, D.C., and New York City before traveling to Rhode Island. They will return to Ghana later this week.

After the class bell rang, a couple of girls from PAIS lingered in the hallway and exchanged e-mail addresses with their Ghanaian peers. It seems some customs transcend national boundaries.

lborg@projo.com