In four years’ time, the children in the Ghanaian village of Otwetiri have gone from attending class under a thatched roof to learning in a new school building with a virtual window onto the world.

The changes were made possible by a Davis-based nonprofit led by one of the village’s favorite sons, Tometi Gbedema, and his Otwetiri Project. It will host “A Taste of Ghana” from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.

The Southeastern rural village of Otwetiri, located in the West African country of Ghana, has seen some change in recent years – for the better.

Tometi Gbedema, a recent doctoral graduate from the Geography Graduate Group at UC Davis and a local of Otwetiri, hasn’t forgotten his roots. Otwetiri’s strong sense of community and culture has helped shape the person he is today.

A UC Davis grad student lives with the weight of wanting to do more to help his impoverished village in Africa.

This month, Tometi Gbedema will return home to Ghana for the first time in seven years. The 39-year-old UC Davis grad student will be greeted by villagers proud of his success. He brings with him two master’s degrees: The first in translation, at University of Benin in Lome, Togo; the second in community development from UC Davis, where he’s working on a doctorate in geography.

But he also will carry the weight of responsibility.