The Gateway - June Edition

Welcome to the June edition of the Gateway.

Welcome Note

Welcome to the June edtion of "The Gateway" newsletter. This month I have the pleasure of bringing you the news from the Central Region. In this edition I have the pleasure of bringing you the latest news form the volunteers here in Cape Coast, a Project Profile from Hamish Naisminth a volunteer at the Abura Literacy School, an interview with one of our host familly monther's Philomina Sampson. As usual there is also news from the other regions to keep you all up to date on the events of what has been happening with Projects Abroad in Ghana. On behalf of all the Projects Abroad staff in Ghana, I hope you enjoy the newsletter.

Grant Appiah Regional Co-ordinator – Cape Coast

If you wish to make any comments or offer any articles for The Gateway please contact:andrewfryer@projects-abroad.org

Tel. +233 (0) 246 – 979 819

Or speak to any member of the Ghana team.

Project Profile - Abura Literacy School

Abura Literacy School is one of the deprived schools in Cape Coast situated at Abura a suburb of Cape Coast. The school was established by the chief of Abura basically to give the street children in Abura a basic education. Starting with a basic Kinder garden class and a nursery it has grown to incorporate the lower classes for Primary School aged children. Due to a lack of resources and teachers it has become the most popularly used teaching placement in Cape Coast as the volunteers help really is essential in order for the children to gain some basic education. The volunteers help by teaching, playing and giving some attention to the children who would otherwise be neglected.

Hamish Naismith, a volunteer from Scotland (see picture below) has been at Abura Literacy School since March 2007 he explains to us here at the Gateway a day in the life of a Project Abroad volunteer teacher in Cape Coast.

"Every morning I walk to school and just as I near the the school entrance the children come running up and jump on me! They hardly speak any English but they are still really friendly. The day starts with a parade at nine o'clock when the children sing the national anthem and say the Lord's prayer and the national pledge. They then file back into the class and are taught bible passages by the headmaster. The pattern for the rest of the day sees myself and the other volunteers teach the first lesson. This is normally done with the hep of a black board and involves teaching the alphabet and basic maths, helping with the pronunciation of the letters and numbers. The second lesson usually involves the children working in jotters. In nursery the children do drawing and colouring. In the older classes the pupils practice writing or maths.
During the breaks the kids play clapping games, eat some lunch which will normally be little more than just rice, sleep or play football. At around 1 (O) Clock by singing local songs or songs the children have learnt from volunteers.

Abura Literacy School has been a great experience. On my first few days I was lucky to have another volunteer, Rosie, taking nursery with me. As a result I was able to pick up some good ways to teach and I didn't feel I was in the deep end as much when I had to stand up and teach the class. The children can't understand us speaking English but they can recite the alphabet after us. We sometimes ask the headmaster to translate for us and we also try and find different ways to hold their attention. Last week I took over the class KG1 after another volunteer Jonas left. The older children are less easily distracted than the nursery and they love doing their work in their jotters! Overall I have really enjoyed my experience at the school the only negative being the use of the cane which can at times be quite shocking. Sometimes the kids will also go a bit wild but for the most part they are very friendly and I find them very rewarding to teach."

Dancing and Drumming Lessons

Volunteers in Cape Coast went through two hours of drumming and dancing lessons on the 12th June as part of their quiz night. The dancers and drummers from the Tubman Davis foundation danced and drummed to entertain the volunteers in a candle light meeting. After almost two hours of entertainment the volunteers were invoted to join in the dancing and drumming performance putting the lesson to good use and applying what they had just learnt.

Host Family of the Month

This weeks Host Family comes from Cape Coast in the form of Philomina Sampson (Pictured right), a Primary School teacher who has hosted volunteers in Cape Coast for three years now. She was kind enough to take sometime out her day to speak to us at the Gateway.


"I decided to become a host mother as I wanted to learn about the different cultures of other people. The volunteers provide me with an interesting insight to a culture that is very different to the Ghanaian one so it is very special to interact with them.

I can host a maximum of four volunteers although normally I have two staying unless it gets very busy and the volunteers will live in the same apartment as me. Living with the volunteers and myself are my family including my brother Paakow who is 20 my daughters, Marilyn aged 10, Suzy who is just two years old, her son Jojo 9 years and my niece Gloria who is 16, they all enjoy very much spending time with the volunteers, although the fact that they stay for a small amount of time is sometimes a shame.


There have not really been any downsides to having volunteers to stay as most of the have a good cordial relationship with me and my family. However, sometimes we do have a problem with volunteers coming home late at night at we ask them to respect that they also live with a family. However, I generally spend a lot of time chatting with the volunteers and inviting them to share their time with us at special occasions. As such I see my future with Projects Abroad as very bright."

Glona Academy - Volunteer story

The HIV/AIDS education program in which I have been placed by Projects Abroad is a collaborative effort between the Glona Academy, a local charity organization which focuses on community education and outreach, and PPAG, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, an organization focused on promoting sexual and reproductive health throughout Ghana. The education project targets the Labadi area of Accra, Ghana, and aims to educate the population in that area on both effective prevention of the transmission of HIV/AIDS, as well as how to have a high quality of life with HIV/AIDS. We are currently in the preliminary phase of the project, which involves developing a survey questionnaire to be disseminated throughout the community so that we may develop a more effective education program. The actual program will consist of educational posters, flyers, and handouts, as well as at least one organized community education fair, with speakers and information available for the local population. The project has gone slowly at the outset, because we are essentially starting from scratch. I am one of two PA volunteers working on the project, and we are optimistic that we can get the program started and moving forward in a positive direction in our remaining time here.


As the education program is only in its infancy, things have been frustrating at times. We’re basically starting from scratch, and it’s taken a couple of weeks to figure out exactly what we want to do. But, things have picked up a lot of momentum and look very promising. I’ve learned a great deal about the difference in resource availability in à developing country versus in à developed one. It’s been à massive challenge to have to research and draft documents with limited computer and internet access, for example. I’ve gained à tremendous admiration for the inviduals who affect positive change in spite of the limited resources. I’ve learned à lot about adapting to à different culture as well. I’ve learned to be more relaxed about things, which runs very contrary to the way I’d lived the past three years as à college student. Overall, things look very promising for Glona, and I’m confident that the HIV/AIDS Education Program will become an asset to the Labadi community in the near future.

Report of Child Trafficking Workshop

CHRI volunteer Brandon Carter (see picture) was kind enough to

take time away from the elephants to write the Gateway a report on last month's CHRI child trafficking workshop.

On the 22nd of May 2007, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in collaboration with Hon. Vera Boamah and the Unit Committee conducted a workshop, sponsored by Projects Abroad, to inform the public on the dangers associated with the practice of Child Trafficking. The workshop was held two hours away from Accra in the rural area of Bortianor in an area known for child trafficking. The workshop occurred at the local Methodist Basic School and lasted approximately two hours.

Talks to the local community came from key figures from within the community who stated that the violation of fundamental human rights was a grave concern in many areas and that community support was crucial in reducing human rights abuse.

Hon. Vera asserted that the key, most important factor in advocating for human rights is education. Devoid of school and education, children lose the opportunity to fulfil their potential and become the “better people” It is a parent’s responsibility to look after their children and educate them, thus allowing them to grow as people and live better lives.

As such the workshop included a play, a collection of poems (both performed by the local school children) a talk from the Chief of Police. In addition to these events Projects Abroad’s very own CHRI volunteer Corinne Shepherd (see picture below) gave a speech to the audience that emphasised why child trafficking is a real and serious problem that parents should avoiding taking part of in the future. Focusing on children’s rights, child trafficking and its definition, and what is illegal in Ghana and examples.

The speech began by looking at the prevalence of Child Trafficking in Ghana and West Africa. Ms. Shepherd stated that “Roughly 39% of children in Ghana alone are involved in economic activities of which 242,074 children are carrying out hazardous child labour.” This was followed by an explanation of children’s rights, which aimed to explain that since children are vulnerable targets that need special attention and protection from their parents and the public.
With the aim of the workshop to increase the awareness of those living in a poor community within Ghana that has become targeted by those involved in the child trafficking trade. The talk was just one of the many areas that the CHRI volunteers focus on and was a good example of how the CHRI is attempting to increase the level of awareness for human rights within Ghana.

Obruni FC WIN!!!!

It's a headline that has been long over due but finally after months of waiting Obruni F.C. the volunteer football team has tasted the sweet joy of victory.

So last month saw Obruni F.C. take on the Teshi based team King Shege Stars, coached by some of Projects Abroad sports volunteers.

The game kicked off with the Obruni team confident that it possessed its best ever squad. Dave Meecham ( hair freshly braided) and Ryan Shields (see picture right) controlling the midfield and helping to apply the early pressure for the Obruni's. Soon the mounting pressure reaped rewards with Ashley Cannady crossing in to see Andrew Fryer slot the ball into the net from close range after beating the offside trap.

It wasn't much longer before Obruni were applying further pressure and it was always looking dangerous from set pieces it was little surprise when Kwame's free kick was met by a David Meecham volley rippling the net to see the Obruni's go 2-0 up. However, it was no surprise when King Shege applied some pressure of their own and with good passing and movement they began to look dangerous. Adam Rusnack the Canadian crippler made a number of last ditch tackles, Bruno Albutt delegated the pressure out from left back and Josh Byford and Sam Melgard worked hard down the flanks and the Ghana heat and humidity took its toll. However, some good passing around the right flank offered space for a cross which was met by the rising figure of the King Shege centre forward who scored what the American teammates would term as a headgoal.

At half time with the match in the balance the Obruni team were handed a gift form the heavens. Rain torrential rain all of a sudden the conditions had changed from hot and sticky to those more similar to a rainy night in Grimsby. Substitutes Thomas Finch and Garret 'Nashville' Jones worked hard to restore order into what was becoming a war of attrition. Chris 'the Werewolf' Williamson did his reputation no harm as he cleared away any danger coming his way and new Projects Abroad member of staff Ken steadied further steadied the defence.

Obruni FC were soon able to apply further pressure and Kwame managed to make the moist of a sloppy clearance by toe poking the ball into the opponents net to seal that game and leave Obruni FC with its first victory in its entire history.

In further sports news - Thursday night basketball has now commenced at the Ghana International School at absolutely no cost. Let me know at the Tuesday Quiz if you are interested in playing as we begining trials for The Fufu Heat the volunteer basketball team.

The Hills

Last month saw the Hills crown themselves as the Monthly Quiz Champions (see cover picture) as they stormed into Accra and took the crown of Quiz Winners back up North. Leading from the ealry rounds the Hills team managed to hold on to there lead with the last throw off the frisbee by dutch wonder Dann Fritz to allow himself and his fellow team mates to go down in the Hills folklore for years to come. In the picture below Daan Fritz (top left) is made the King of the Hills after his heroics.

Donations in the Hills.

Jan Rogers donated a number of items costing 500 British Pounds to Trinity Foundation Orphange. Jan arrived in the Hills at the begining of the month taking part in a project which see's volunteers helpi take care for the orphanages babies by washing and feeding them, playing with them and of course, changing their nappies!

Projects Abroad also made a further donation of 12 bags of cement to prevent the Trinity Orphanage building from collapsing. Furthermore, the first farm product from the Projects Abroad Agricultural project was donated in the form of food to feed the kids. In the Picture below Tom Davis the Director for Ghana and Emmanuel Abaaja the Regional Co-ordinator for the Hills present the Orphanage with the donations.

Melissa Tan has also donated cement and other office equipment to Tetteh Quarshie Hospital, the main hospital in the Akuapem area and therefore a reasonably busy one. The hospital is low on resources and certain areas are dependent on donations. as a result they were very grateful for the donation of $400 from Melisa.

Congratulations!

A big congratulations goes out this month to the Deputy Director and Hills Regional Co-ordinator Emmanuel Abaaja who became a father for the second time last month after the birth of his second child Christian. We look forward to seeing the little guy at quiz and send our warm congratulations to Emmanuel and his wife Rita.

The Departure Lounge

The Departure lounge is the place to hear about the excitement, anticipations and expectations of future volunteers. Caroline Shackley is about to join us here at Projects Abroad Ghana and took some time out of her last minute packing to discuss her feelings as she prepares to arrive in Cape Coast.

“I finished my degree at Australian National University (Canberra) at the end of 2006, and was intending to undertake an honours year in international relations in 2007. However, I had a bit of a revelation that I wasn't really up for another year of study, and I wanted to do something productive with my life - so I have been working full time for the Australian Government (I finished last Friday) to earn enough money to go away....and off I'll go on Friday!

I have always wanted to go to Africa - I went to South Africa a few years ago, and ever since have wanted to go back. It was going to be between Ghana and Senegal, but I ended up choosing Ghana - it's got such an incredible history, and on the more practical side, is pretty safe (always a bonus!). I choose Projects Abroad because they offered projects in Ghana and not a whole lot of agencies from Australia do that.

Hopefully it will give me a bit of life direction. I don't have a great deal of that at the moment (hehe!). I did a lot of study focusing on the development of the third world - so it will be really interesting to see what life is like at a grass-roots level. I really do think that it will be a wonderful experience.As such I’m coming to Ghana and now as I it gets so close to my departure I’m naturally getting a little nervous about jumping so far from the comfort zone, but I'm sure it'll be fun - challenging, but so very, very worthwhile.

I'll be doing teaching - at Abura School in Cape Coast. It's a school for street kids who normally wouldn't have access to education. I really like kids - I worked as a swimming teacher while I was at University and I am a firm believer in putting effort into a nation's future generation - the more kids who get an education, the better. I realise that I have been so fortunate in my life - always had access to what I've needed, had a great education - so I'd like to be able to share that with others who don't have such opportunities.”

Kumasi

In Kumasi the volunteers have continued with the weekly medical outreach programme.
Here the volunteers with the help of a local nurse go and visit local schools and orphanages and attend to any minor wounds and recommend any further treatment required in certain cases.

All Projects Abroad volunteers are invited to attend and visit a some of the poorer and more remote orphanages which have very few resources and cannot afford to visit a doctor or even afford the medication required. Small problems such as a minor cut can easily develop into a serious situation that our volunteers hope to address with such outreach programs. As seen in the photos below, by cleaning and dressing the wounds.

Last month saw four trips to different areas aroud the Garden city including the trip to Ampetia shown in the pictures above.

Thanks for your help

Special thanks for this months edition goes out to Tom Davis, Grant Appiah, Hamish Naismith, Philomina Sampson, Thomas Finch, Brandon Carter, Emmanuel Abaaja, Caroline Shackley, Bethany Bostock, Jacob Coppel, David Meechan and Miranda Cole.

Have a word

When new volunteers arrive holding a copy of the West African Lonely Planet or the Ghana Bradt Guide then they often have a good idea of where to visit. However, for the best advice it is normally better to ask the volunteers who have recently returned from their travels and can offer the best advice of where to go,how to get there, how much it should cost and other useful tips you would never think of. This month we have asked the volunteers to recommend to us the best travel destinations they have visited during their time in Ghana.

"The best bit about my whole travelling trip has got to be Mole National Park. Doing the Safari through the park to see the Elephants and then in the afternoon sitting on the viewing platform whilst the elephants bathed in the waterholes right in front of you was amazing." Bethany Bostock (see above)


"We went for a trek up the up Mount Afadjato is the highest mountain in Ghana even though it is only 880 m (2900ft) tall. A manly group of explorers spent a day grappling up the hill in a slightly scary decent back down as the rain began to fall and the slope became slippery. Still it was nice to visit a sight off the normal backpacker trail." Jacob Coppel


"The highlight of my travelling trip was the visit to Mali and especially the Dogon
Country, the scenery and the architecture of the villages were outstanding. The escarpment is especially beautiful at dawn when first light hits it, and this is the best time to be in a village as well. Through out the there weeks we travelled up from Ghana to Senegal and just the time spent with three close friends was a great experience to share as we roughed it through West Africa." David Meecham


"I have to recommend all future travellers go and visit Green Turtle Lodge, after a week of roughing it around Ghana it was nice to find this cheap beach paradise and sit back and relax. This has to be one of the best places to visit within Ghana." Miranda Cole