Alyssa Minor’s Journey from Research to Reality in Ghana

Story by Grace Richards

As a BYU Public Relations student minoring in Global and Community Impact, Alyssa Minor had the opportunity to write a Ballard Brief, an in-depth research paper about child abuse in Ghana's residential homes.

Even after spending an entire semester uncovering the harsh realities these children face, Alyssa understood that the only way to create real change would be to truly know the people that she wanted to help. With this in mind, what began as an academic endeavor quickly evolved into an immersive, transformative experience.

Alyssa's journey was guided by the Ballard Center’s foundational principle of Loving the Problem. Loving the Problem emphasizes deep empathy and a true understanding of the issue before attempting to implement solutions. 

The Ballard Center also provided essential funding for her trip to Ghana, enabling her to directly engage with the community and bring her research to life.

“Actually going to Ghana and meeting people who had experienced some of the issues that I wrote about in my paper completely changed the way that I saw that it affected their lives. It made everything so much more real to me,” Alyssa reflected. 

Her words carry the weight of firsthand experience, a shift from theoretical understanding to tangible reality, and echo the essence of Loving the Problem.

In Loving the Problem and creating genuine connections with those affected, Alyssa not only gained a deeper understanding of the issue of child abuse in Ghana but also discovered the power of empathy and compassion. 

Now, as Alyssa returns to her studies at BYU, Alyssa carries with her the invaluable lessons learned from her time in Ghana that will continue to guide her efforts to create meaningful change in the world.