{"id":4713,"date":"2015-10-09T11:27:47","date_gmt":"2015-10-09T16:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.generationcp.org\/sunsetblog\/?p=4713"},"modified":"2016-02-22T19:10:52","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T01:10:52","slug":"elizabeth-parkes-cassavas-woman-of-destiny-in-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.generationcp.org\/sunsetblog\/2015\/10\/09\/elizabeth-parkes-cassavas-woman-of-destiny-in-ghana\/","title":{"rendered":"Elizabeth Parkes: Cassava\u2019s \u2018woman of destiny\u2019 in Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Photo:<\/a>
Elizabeth Parkes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elizabeth Parkes<\/a> grew up in Ghana as the youngest child and only girl in a middle-class family of nine children. Through visiting poor communities with her family, she began from an early age to build her understanding of the lives of resource-poor families in this part of West Africa and their need for reliable and nutritious food.<\/p>\n

She also knows first-hand the important role women play on a farm and in a family. \u201cRural families are held together by women, so if you are able to change their lot, you can make a real mark,\u201d says Elizabeth.<\/p>\n

It was this sense of social conscience that drew her to a career in agricultural research: \u201cMy father, a Regional Education Officer, was not very amused; he thought agricultural research was a man\u2019s job!\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n

But Elizabeth was on a mission. \u201cI see African communities where poverty and hunger are seemingly huge problems with no way out,\u201d she says. \u201cIf I put in enough effort, I can bring some solutions. My primary target group is the less privileged, and women in particular have been my friends throughout. This sometimes means subtly getting the men to consider some changes in roles.\u201d<\/p>\n

This sense of destiny led to Elizabeth gaining a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Agriculture, a Diploma in Education and a Master\u2019s in Crop Science.<\/p>\n

Meet Elizabeth in the complete podcast below (or see a playlist on PodOmatic<\/a>)\u00a0 \u2013 and be inspired by her warmth and passion!<\/em><\/p>\n