Global Citizen Journey Alums return to Axim, Ghana and engage in various projects

In addition to the "BIG" events in Axim Ghana --- Kundum, Manye Science Day, and WHH Building Dedication --- we engaged in many other activities.

RICH and MARYANNE visited a UN Refugee Camp about 25 km from Axim Ghana and surrounding villages in the Nzema East District. We traveled there with Major Domino the Camp Manager and Clifford, his body guard. In the villages, there was no electricity, no sanitation to speak of, and no sure source of clean water. Yet, when asked what they liked about their village or what was special about it, people said they liked the people because they are not greedy. They liked their coconuts and fish and their beach. One woman said she liked the sunsets (Atlantic Ocean setting). The kids said they liked their school, which was one room with nothing in it at all except one blackboard. They also said they very much wanted water, sanitation, “lights” (i.e., electricity), better school, and closer medical facilities. They have to walk several miles to a clinic, esp. difficult for woman in labor. They welcomed us warmly in a dignified manner, setting up two plastic chairs for us under a small canopy of rattan and leaves. They gathered around their spokesman to welcome us and answer our questions. It was a very special and emotional experience for us.

BARBARA interviewed more than 30 people, men and women, about their life stories, including market women in Axim Ghana. She will publish this information in some form. The stories she heard are inspiring and moving. Barbara conducted AI sessions in several other venues as well. At the end of the journey, she traveled to Konongo School to help dedicate the books for which she raised major funding. While there, she conducted Appreciate Inquiry sessions for the teachers, and two sessions of 500 high-school students in each session. Who knows what these young Ghanaians might be inspired to do?

TOM visited the Ghana Telecom to learn more about plans for internet access.

SUZ conducted a numbe of HIV-AIDs sessions with the Methodist Youth Group, the kids at Manye Academy, and groups in Cape Coast. She made a big hit with her colored condoms!

TOM, RICH, and MARYANNE met with the District Head of Dept of Education, headquarters in the town of Axim, along with many circuit heads. We discussed science education. They asked if we could find a scientist who is highly creative and innovative to help them teach the concepts in their curriculum with all local materials that they don’t have to buy. They have so little money. One told of needing milk of magnesia to do an experiment, but couldn’t find the money for it. They told us HIV-AIDs education starts in every class, beginning with nursery school and up, every day, the first thing in the day, in an age-appropriate manner. They are well aware of the threat of HIV-AIDs and are determined to manage it. They cannot afford antiretroviral drugs, so if a person gets the disease, there is not much hope.

RICH met with Reverend Banson, Pastor, and Isaac Bentil, Lay Leader, of the local Methodist Church. They are interested in forming a sister-church relationship with an American Methodist Church. The church in Axim Ghana has a cluster of smaller village churches associated with it and served by Rev. Banson.

BARBARA and LOUISE conducted an Appreciative Inquiry session with the Western Heritage Home Board. WHH is very fortunate; the Board is composed of well-established, mature local leaders from Axim. As an active locally-based NGO, WHH, although relatively new, is beginning to enjoy wide respect in the community. During the workshop, they focused on what is positive and special about WHH, what their dream for the organization is, how to design their Board and staff to achieve the dream, and how they themselves can strengthen their commitment and skill to achieve those dreams and goals. It was a wonderful session. We especially enjoyed seeing Awulae, the King of Lower Axim, with probably several hundred years of tradition behind him, partnering with Anastasia, a young, computer-trained woman of 22, who wants Hillary to become our US President, so then maybe Ghana will elect a woman president someday, too! Somehow, together, they represent Ghana as it now is, during its Jubilee Year of 50 years of independence.

BRYCE got to know the Axim Beach Hotel staff well, and also the birds and other “wildlife” around the hotel—mostly birds and geckos. He interviewed each individual orphan, and got some really good shots of each of them. Bryce has a natural affinity for small children, and at 14, was a big brother to kids, esp. during the Kundum Festival. Bryce was also our “water treasurer”, making sure we had enough safe water on hand and collecting money for it. Some of the girls decided he needed an “African” hairdo, and braided his hair!

LOUISE joined in the Science Days, joined Barbara in the AI session with the WHH Board and staff, and did a lot of videography. She and Bryce showed us all how a Grandmother and Grandson can have a wonderful friendship and a lot of fun together! She made sure Bryce and she experienced everything, including church, exploring the beach, exploring the town and people, drumming, helping drag in the fishing nets, and engaging at Manye during Science Days.

MARYANNE worked with Anastasia and Esi (WHH Staff) on the WHH bookkeeping system and on financial matters generally. The staff has done a remarkable job of ensuring receipts and data entry for the hundreds of purchases needed to supply all the materials, labor, transport, etc. for the building project. This is not an easy task, given the fact that this is basically a cash-only economy. We also updated the WHH office computer's anti-virus software.

BARBARA and MARYANNE met with the King, Awulae Attiburukusu III, who welcomed us, and discussed the new fishing harbour being built, the new girls secondary school which he initiated, his efforts to enforce stopping inappropriate “easing” on the beach, thereby fouling the very area where the fish are brought in, the new compulsory education ruling and the government’s capitation grant to pay basic school fees, and the recent finding of a high grade of oil in the ocean not far from Axim. This relatively young King has studied business administration in California, and plans to continue next year. He hopes to do a few internships in American companies. He is known as a man of principle, who takes his duties seriously and does his best for this economically-challenged community. We are very fortunate to have his welcoming and suportive presence when we are in Axim.

BARBARA, RICH, and MARYANNE with James, attended a funeral in a small, very well-kept village about 1.5 hrs drive from Takoradi. It was in a beautiful tropical jungle, with banana and plantain trees, coops for chickens and rabbits, and a nearby forest where their hunters find food. Funerals are important to Ghanaians. Although many leaders are trying to convince people to have simpler, less costly funerals leaving more money for investment, school costs, etc., the people themselves use funerals to maintain family ties and to reconnect with their villages. Gifts of money are given to the bereaved family, to help defray expenses. We were honored by the chief pouring libations to bless us and the event. He poured a small amount of gin on the ground, offering up his prayers as he did so, and then each of us took a small sip of gin from a glass, spilling some on the ground, and offering up our own prayers and blessings as we wished. There were drummers, and we were told the dancing was the traditional funeral dances. The man who died was a 49 year-old school teacher, and we met some of his fellow teachers who genuinely were mourning his death and the loss to his students.

JEANIE, with our Ghanaian friend John, raised money and arranged to construct 34 veronica buckets, which we dedicated. "Veronica buckets" are used for hand sanitation. They will be distributed to five local schools, near the lunch facilities, and also in the WHH Children's Home. These are hand-washing stations to be used when piped water is unavailable.

And we all enjoyed the beach, visiting with our Ghanaian friends, and the care and concern of the Axim Beach Hotel staff. For the most part, and with care, we stayed healthy.

Ghana is a “third-world” country, so there are safety and health challenges, but by taking precautions we had a good time and kept safe. Perhaps our biggest fear and danger is the possibility of auto accidents. We insist on seat belts, and firmly tell drivers to slow down. One of our members actually saw a little boy killed when he ran into the street and was struck by a truck. This was traumatic, and highlighted how dangerous the roads are. We were careful about our malaria prevention, too, and about hand sanitation, and about not overdoing it in the warm and humid weather conditions.

In general though, Ghana is a warm and welcoming country, with interesting people, culture, and tourist sites. The “new” re-dominated money made it easier for us, because it’s more like the US dollar --- no more “millions” of cedis for ordinary purchases. The STC bus we rode from Accra to Takoradi was efficient, and handled our eight suitcases (the science stuff, remember?) with ease. The MTN cell service was having problems, but generally, the cell phone system works extremely well. The electrical power is off quite a lot---we used our headlamps! We saw the potential for photovoltaics, with the very dependable 12 hours of daylight and generally evenly warm temperatures of around 80-85F. The only internet connection in town, at the Beach Hotel, was down the entire time we were there, with the exception of about 15 minutes (just time to update the virus checker!). There is a Swiss man there who is trying assist the manager to get it working, coordinating with the provider in Takoradi. We did see fiber optic cable being laid along the roads. Ghana is hosting the Pan Africa Games in 2008, and is laying cable to improve communications for that event, so we hope ordinary folks will benefit from that in time.

Ghanaians are proud of Ghana in spite of some corruption, poverty, poor environmental quality, and other woes. They told us over and over that Ghana is peaceful and they are proud of that. They like their drumming and music, and beautiful cloth and traditional festivals and so do we! They are proud of their democracy and their new modern money, with its foolproof iridescent stripe against counterfeiting. We were told again and again that they are the “financial capital” of West Africa. A man in an extremely poor village said he was proud of the new President’s house, because Ghana’s President should have a beautiful house! (Others think it’s an extravaganza, but…). One man told me he was proud that the Americans have built “the biggest embassy in West Africa" right in Accra. W visited the central library on Legon Campus and enjoyed using the completely modern computerized catalog search system. We heard from a student that their University of Ghana is the “Harvard of West Africa” and that the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi is a leading West African university. They have what might seem to be very challenging problems, but hope appears to be alive and well. They are blessed with a rich traditional culture and a democratic spirit.

We Global Citizen Journey alums have an ongoing relationship with Axim and the Nzema East region. If you have ideas about how this area might develop economically, or how children can be given a boost, or how you may wish to support a project in the area, please contact us. We are in regular communication with leaders there, and may be able to find the right match for you.
---The GCJ alum group.

DEDICATION OF WESTERN HERITAGE HOME CHILDREN'S HOME AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER IN AXIM GHANA

Definitely, definitely, this was the HIGHLIGHT of our journey!! What a day!

First, we must acknowledge the heroic efforts of so many workmen and women who put in so much effort to get the building ready for the dedication. We especially honor and appreciate the dedication and energy of Patrick K, the WHH Logistics Specialist, who has overseen the work, purchased most of the materials, spent his day on the building site and even sleeping there on occasion to protect the construction materials. Patrick is also an elected District Aseemblyman, and is a dedicated community leader. In the days leading up to the event, the electricity had failed numerous times, and three terrazo machines (two from Takoradi) broke down because of the inadequate electrical current. Terrazo machines are essential "cement polishing" machines which prepare the floors in this humid climate with a hard polished surface. This is necessary for cleanliness and to prevent mold.

Meanwhile, workers were painting the building, cleaning up the site, hauling in chairs from "somewhere" (we suspect we owe a VERY big thank you for the Catholic Church and Father Paul and Esi Biney, Church President). When we all arrived at the building, we were ushered inside by proud WHH staff members in their beautiful blue and brown patterned WHH "cloth" outfits, made especially for the event. The conference room on the 2nd floor had been transformed into a clean, spacious room, complete with a beautifully appointed head table covered with a white cloth and flowers. The WHH Scholars arrived in their Manye Academy uniforms, with Mr. Browne, and Felicia, the Nursery School teacher, and our own Mustapha, himself a teacher and headmaster, helping them to find seats, etc.

Those of us associated with GCJ and WHH Board and Staff members had lovely blue and brown Ghanaian style shirts and dresses, with cloth specially designed for the occasion.

Other distinguished guests arrived: the King and Queen Mother of Upper Axim; the Queen Mother of Lower Axim and her sister, the Acting Queen Mother; Father Paul of the Catholic Church; Father John of the Anglican Church; Mr. Kojo Armah, the member of Parliament for this region; Mr. Joseph Elimah, the District Chief Executive; and many friends and family members, including the two women, mother and daughter, who were the water carriers supplying water with their headpans to the workers over the months of building. And of course, our WHH Board members, led so capably by Mr. James Kainyiah and his wife Justine, who are the visionaries and leaders on the ground. Other Board members present were Miss Frances Polley, Father Paul, Mr. Isaac Bentil, Mr. Joseph Quansah, and Awulae Attiburukusi. They were joined by GCJ Ghanaian alums, Gifty Asmah and her husband, the Headmaster of Nkroful Secondary School, Stephen Kwabia and wife Deborah, Frank Cudjoe, Esi Biney, Annie Essien, Dina Cobbinah, Mustapha Abdullah, and Francis "Old Soldier" Nokoe. Our friend from Bellingham, Kathryn Roe, who has a program supporting secondary education in the Cape Coast area, also honored us with her presence. As you can imagine, this was also a wonderful reunion for all of us GCJ Ghana Project alums, North Americans and Ghanaians.

The King of Lower Axim, Awulae Attiburukusu III, our friend and WHH Board member, officiated. The dedication was conducted by the Archbishop of Metropolitan Accra, a native son of Axim. Barbara and Maryanne attended the Catholic Church the day before, where Father Buckle preached about children and encouraged the congregation to care for all the children of Axim. His Mom, the mother of twelve children all of whom are educated, still lives in Axim, and we were honored to meet her as well.

Esi Biney was the master of ceremonies. James Kainyiah gave the opening remarks. Anastasia Amoo, WHH Administrative Assistant, gave the closing remarks. Ann Essien presided over the dedication of the veronica buckets.

Best of all, the children who will soon call the WHH facility home and some of their temporary guardians were there. Several older children participated in the ceremony. The Catholic Band played festive music---kind of an Africanized version of our New Orleans type of music--gay and upbeat for sure!! (After all, where did this music originate???!!!) Everyone was dressed in traditional cloth---a colorful and celebratory atmosphere!

I believe all of us there felt a kinship and partnership that goes far beyond our respective national borders. We did indeed feel a global connection centered around the care and love of children and what we adults can accomplish if we come together in a spirit of understanding and sincere desire. For a little while, we forgot about the bad phone connections, the electrical breakdowns, the lack of internet connectivity, the communication challenges exacerabated by wide cultural differences, the economic disparities, the heat and humidity, and all the other obstacles we have collectively faced. We just allowed ourselves to bask in our mutual feeling of accomplishment and our collective determination to continue step-by-step, not quite knowing where the future will take us, but having faith in ourselves and God that we will together find our way.

Kundum Festival in Axim

Kundum is an annual festival of the Ahanta people, whose traditional center is the city of Axim. What a week!! The drums beat furiously, wonderfully. The rhythmic complexity is astounding. Families reunite around the "family homes", with traditional Ghanaian food, music. Everyone is dressed in traditional clothing---esp. the women with their colorful batik dresses.


Let me tell you a little about the Kundun festival in Axim. It’s one of the larger ones in the country. For 4 weeks, the drums move around and get closer and closer to Axim. At the beginning of the week, heads of families, and kings request that anyone holding grudges in the community come forth and reconcile with their opponent. Thus many rifts are healed. The next day everyone cooks, and anyone can walk into to anyone’s house and eat. There is a day of remembering and mourning the ancestors. There is a day of killing of a fowl, 4 goats and more drumming and cooking.


On the high festival day, the royals – the co-director of our project was one this year – the first white person ever to be so honored -- all arrive at the palace about 10 to dress and await the parade. 3 Of us went elsewhere to be dressed in royal cloths. Maryanne was carried in the palanquin as the development Queen of Axim (Nkosohema). Thus did Axim honor and thank our GCJ group for our work in Axim during this past year. We walked behind her. It was quite an affair – colorful, rhythmic, joyful. We ended up at the field and listened to speeches and music and dancing, and then it was back into the palanquins in what seemed a bit like a rodeo. The carriers danced back and forward and bounced the palanquins quite a bit. Some of the more experienced riders stood up and cheered them on. It was very colorful! Finally we ended at the palace for dinner. It actually reminded me a bit of Mardi Gras. Not surprising – where did Mardi Gras come from? What a day!

All in all, it is a time of peace, reconciliation, remembering the departed, generosity and celebration of life. A good thing, I think. Although some Christian missionaries tried to stamp it out as pagan, and current Pentecostal churches pan it, others are now being more tolerant. (text by Barbara G)

MANYE ACADEMY SCIENCE PROJECT

We're back from Axim, Ghana, with seven of us GCJ Ghana alums plus one grandson spending three weeks in Ghana. Alas, no internet access so no opportunity to update this blog while we were there.

As reported earlier below, we brought with us 7 suitcases, of about 50 lbs each, of elementary/junior high level science supplies and equipment for Manye Academy -- microscopes, measuring instuments, charts of all kinds, resources for teachers, etc.

Why Manye Academy? Manye is the school which 20 of our orphans attend. The school has welcomed the group of children the WHH Board has selected to live in our children's home, and receive assistance in education. The Director, Mr. Browne-Umar, is trained in science himself and wants to improve science education in his school. Maryane visited the school in May '07, and discovered that although the school and teachers have both a school goal and a goal set by the Ghana Dept of Education to improve science education, there were virtually no supplies or equipment with which to carry out the learning in the Ghana Science Curriculum. Thus was born our "science project". Working with Mr. Browne during the summer, we enlisted the help of many friends, and local Northwest Washington teachers (thank you!) and pulled together a basic collection of teaching aids. This represents our "thank you" to the leadership and staff of Manye for their acceptance and dedication to education for all children, regardless of prior educational deficiencies.

The school put on a colorful and moving dedication, complete with student color guard and drill team and all students present in organized formation in their beautiful blue shirts! What a welcome!!

We were especially honored that Professor Nokoe, the school's owner, was present. Prof. Nokoe is also the Acting Chancellor of Ghana's University for Development studies, and has extensive scientific training himself, holding a PhD in Biometrics from the University of British Columbia.

Some of us with science training and interest worked with the teachers in workshops designed to review the materials and explain the workings of the microscopes, etc. We also met with Manye students, and Suz did an HIV-AIDs workshop with the students. Professor Nokoe hired a bulldozer to build a playfield for use by the school and also our Western Heritage Home Scholars, as they are known by the Manye staff and students. Our team walked the path through the little settlement and up the hill from the school to the WHH Facility. The school looked great---it had been fairly recently painted blue, the school color, with the blue shirts on each student matching the blue. We sensed the pride and dedication of students and staff.

Now for some speedbumps before and after the school, to protect the children who have to cross the busy street from the speeding vehicles---a constant danger in this area. Indeed, one of our group witnessed a tragic traffic accident on the highway just outside of Axim in which a four year-old boy was struck and killed by a truck. The newly paved streets are a great improvement in holding down the dust, but now the traffic dangers have increased.