Girls for a Change Stranded at JFK as Weather Delays Long-Awaited Cultural Journey to Ghana, Costs Soar Beyond Budget
A cultural and educational journey to Ghana that had been more than a year in the making has been unexpectedly disrupted after a severe weather event grounded a flight carrying members of the U.S.-based nonprofit Girls for a Change, leaving 20 travelers stranded at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The group, made up of 15 girls and five adult chaperones, was scheduled to travel to Ghana as part of the organization’s flagship cultural immersion program, “Her Journey Home.” Instead, they have spent days navigating flight cancellations, hotel shortages, mounting expenses, and uncertainty over when they will finally be able to continue their trip.
According to the organization, the travelers initially spent nearly 12 hours inside JFK Airport before eventually securing accommodation. Even after finding a hotel, the group was forced to wait from 4:00 a.m. until noon before rooms became available, as hotels within a 30-mile radius of the airport had reportedly reached full capacity due to widespread flight disruptions.
The unexpected delay has placed significant financial pressure on the nonprofit. Officials estimate that the organization has already incurred approximately $9,000 in additional expenses, covering meals, airport-related costs, transportation, and emergency accommodation while waiting for new travel arrangements.
The situation has been complicated by the size of the traveling party. With 20 people needing to travel together, finding available seats on replacement flights has proven extremely difficult.
Na’Kera Richardson, Director of Programs and Operations for Girls for a Change, explained that while the airline offered to place smaller groups on different flights, the organization could not allow the girls to travel without adult supervision.
“Our challenge is that we are traveling as a group of 20,” Richardson said. “It is incredibly difficult to find last-minute seats for everyone together. We cannot allow the girls to travel alone, so every flight must also accommodate our adult chaperones.”
She added that purchasing entirely new tickets through another airline would be financially overwhelming, with replacement fares currently ranging between $3,000 and $4,000 per passenger, potentially pushing the overall cost into tens of thousands of dollars.
Travel insurance has also provided limited relief. Richardson explained that the policy primarily functions as a reimbursement program and only covers certain weather-related disruptions, with daily spending limits that leave many emergency expenses uncovered.
Beyond the immediate travel costs, the delay has also affected prepaid activities awaiting the group in Ghana. Several educational tours and cultural experiences cannot be refunded and may only be transferred as future credits. Hotel reservations in Accra have already been paid for, while transportation arrangements and other bookings may also need to be revised depending on the group’s eventual arrival date.
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Despite the setback, local partners in Ghana are working to adjust the itinerary to ensure the girls can still benefit from as many planned activities as possible.
The “Her Journey Home” initiative was designed to reconnect African American girls with the history, culture, and heritage of Ghana through immersive educational experiences. During their stay, participants are expected to visit the historic slave castles at Cape Coast and Elmina, where they will tour the famous Door of No Return, a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade.
The program also includes visits to Ghanaian farmlands, a pineapple plantation, local schools where participants will interact with students of similar ages, traditional drumming and dance sessions, cultural workshops, and educational exchange opportunities, including a program linked to James Madison University.
According to Richardson, the organization’s broader mission is to equip Black girls with global perspectives, meaningful cultural exposure, and life-changing educational experiences that strengthen their confidence and leadership.
“Our mission is to prepare Black girls for the world and prepare the world for Black girls,” she said. “One of the ways we do that is by giving them real-life experiences and opportunities that help them grow and develop.”
For many of the participants, the Ghana trip represents their first experience traveling internationally, and, for some, their first journey away from home without their parents.
Despite the unexpected obstacles, organizers say the girls have demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the ordeal.
Development Manager Dani Brown Lewis praised the participants for supporting one another during the extended delay, describing their response as a reflection of the organization’s emphasis on unity and sisterhood.
She noted that the girls have continuously encouraged each other, maintained positive attitudes, and even uplifted the adult chaperones during moments of frustration.
Richardson said hearing the girls express gratitude and encouragement to the adults has been one of the brightest moments of an otherwise difficult experience.
“They’ve come up to us saying, ‘You’re doing such a great job. We love you. Thank you.’ That has really lifted our spirits because, as adults, we’re naturally frustrated by everything happening.”
Brown Lewis added that the experience has become an unexpected lesson in resilience, leadership, and the power of sisterhood, values that lie at the heart of Girls for a Change’s mission.
While the travel disruption has delayed their arrival, the organization remains hopeful that the group will soon reach Ghana and complete a journey intended to inspire, educate, and reconnect the young participants with their ancestral heritage.
