Loving "Hands-On": The Anglican Creche Update

Wow! You’ll LOVE these photos! They were not staged---this is just what I saw when I strolled unannounced into the St. Mary’s crèche today.

First some background.

We seem to be focusing on the “hands-on” front right now---hands-on science for the JHS and hands-on Montessori-style for the little guys. Ghana’s education “style” is very rote---maybe we’re inserting a little variety into the mix. As Eric Jimpetey-Dyan, the science room supervisor says, “Use your hands and brains.”

In the 2009 timeframe, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, Michigan partnered with the St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in Axim to create a crèche---as it’s called here---similar to our pre-schools/daycare in the US. Ghana Together and Western Heritage Home fostered the relationship along, and provided some communication and coordination.

St. Philips worked with the Axim church to renovate one building and build a second. They now have two nice classrooms and one small room for eating lunch, storing the water basin, changing clothes, etc.

St. Philip’s not only provided the buildings, but provided a substantial assortment of Montessori-style learning materials. Regina Lawler of St. Philips visited Axim and gave a workshop to teachers in 2010, and also provided for one of the teachers to get some training. But the concepts were just too new. When I visited the crèche two weeks ago, I saw little understanding of the hands-on style of learning that works best with these small children, ages about 2-4. Most of the materials, puzzles, games, etc. were still carefully stored in their plastic wraps---common here where any materials are scarce and people hardly dare touch them for fear of “spoiling” them. I’ve tried to give them confidence that it’s OK to use them.

So, I’ve been giving brief on-the-spot training on most days. FUN! Not that I know much about it! Not having been there for a couple of days, today I saw clearly the fruits of all the hard work of the crèche teachers, Philo and Grace, to incorporate these new ideas into their work. I think they’ve got the concept! They are excited; I am excited! This is downright exciting!

The parents pay 5 cedis (about $3.00) for admission and 20 cedis (about $14) for a three-month term. Seems like a small amount, but it is out of reach of most. 35 students are now enrolled---split between the two classrooms. They could comfortably handle about 10-15 more. It’s open to all children, not just Anglican folks. Most of the Moms are “market women.” They say it’s easier for them to work in the market without these little ones under foot. A few Dads have stopped to pick up their children, too.

St Mary’s is slowly taking more ownership of the program. They fixed 2 of the fans. They are planning better storage for the materials. The priest, Father Ghartey---new to Axim---is trying to figure out why the DVD player in the crèche won’t play the great instructional DVD’s St. Philips provided, when his own plays them just fine. He is amazed by them and wants the children to see them and to share them with the Axim Library. Today he brought over his own player and said they can use that until he figures it out or buys a new one for them. A committee was formed in early 2011, headed by Fr. G himself and Madame Hagar, a laywoman. We have challenged them to support maybe 2-3 children whose parents can’t afford the program.

They saw a TV program about a pre-school in Accra, and painted their wall just like the one in the program! With letters of the alphabet, etc.

And so it goes...also worked on KVIP toilets today, but that’s another subject altogether!! Also lucked out food-wise, because the Adamus Gold Mining guys from Australia came HERE, an the Ghanaian staff prepared a huge tuna just pulled in "from the sea" today!!  Maryanne Ward from Axim, Ghana

Ashesi University Visits Axim!

How many high-schoolers can fit into one assembly hall!! At least 1,500 in this photo. Maria Bankas, Admissions Officer from Ashesi University (the one waving her arms!!) visited Axim today. All the students from both Nsein High School (nearby town) and the one high school in Axim, the Girls High School heard Maria give a rousing presentation on why they should aim for a tertiary education. She and her partner Admissions Officer Fred (not shown) brought sophisticated equipment that wowed the students: a video with a screen and powerpoint slides!

The teachers told me this is the first visit by a university to this part of Ghana. In my earlier post, I described the visit James Kainyiah and I made to Ashesi. We are so pleased that they accepted our invitation to visit this area and connect with these students! Ashesi is very competitive, but maybe a few students will qualify.

Looking Good at Manye Academy & Axim Girls HS

I reported a bit on the WHH scholars in an earlier post---here's a photo of many of them, looking good after school at Manye Academy.

Dorothy wants you to know she's FIRST in her class at Axim Girls High School. She loves her  colorfull gift from her friend and will hang it in her house, she says. Her headmistress told me she's doing very well, is disciplined, and studies hard. She seems to be having quite a lot of fun, too. Way to go, Dorothy!!

WHH Board of Directors Meet

 

Today the Western Heritage Home Board of Directors held a meeting in Fr. Paul Awuah’s living room. James Kainyiah (aka Nana Kaku Bullu II, Development Chief of Axim and local businessman) chaired the meeting. This NGO (as non-profits are called here) was founded by James in 2005 to help the children in Axim.

As Advisory Member, I attended the meeting, along with Isaac Bentil, owner of a local printing business and leader of the Methodist laity in this region of Ghana; Ms. Frances Polley, retired senior high school mathematics teacher; Madame Hajara Yakubu, Director Community Development Vocational Institute; Fr. Paul Awuah, lead priest in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church; and Nana Adjow Sika II, Upper Axim Queen Mother. Sarfo Hayford, Science Curriculum Supervisor, was unable to attend.

Those present are respected community leaders who have served WHH since its inception. It has not been easy. This “United Way” type of locally-led NGO is not common in Ghana; in fact, we know of no other. This is completely new to this community. They’ve had successes and disappointments, but they don’t give up. They are remarkable people.

They decided to expand their Board to include younger local leaders with a broader range of expertise and have issued invitations.

At this meeting, they laid out their main priorities for 2012. 1) to work with the Ghana Education Service to make sure the JHS Science Center housed in their building is well-launched and running smoothly; 2) to move their internet café from the their building to the Axim Town Center and create a first-rate service for local businesses and people in general; 3) to employ an instructor to develop a computer learning program based on the One Laptop Per Child computers to complement the JHS Science program; 4) to thoroughly research and hopefully establish an eye clinic in their building, as people are now traveling all the way to Cape Coast (about three hours minimum by tro-tro) to get eye treatment.

In addition, they work as a trusted umbrella organization with Ghana Together to receive and re-direct funds and/or to facilitate communication and provide local coordination for other projects such as supporting the Axim Public Library, the EWB KVIP toilet project, or the Anglican Creche.

It’s a pleasure for me, as the President of Ghana Together, to work with these warm, friendly, and dedicated friends. Who knows what we can accomplish by joining forces for good in this community?

Three More WHH Scholars...

Still no photos possible---weak internet tonight, but...I want to finish this off. I'm experimenting with a satellite modem tonight and it seems to be bit better.

I finally connected with Ernestina who is her usual serious, intelligent self. She seemed somehow older, more relaxed, more confident, less "worried" about grades, etc. I didn't get much time, because she wanted to walk home with her friends---a good idea. I was pleased she had a group of friends to walk home with and was "too busy" to spend much time with me. All good.

I told the other children to find McC. He found me today, bless him. Those who know the children know this boy. Unfortunately, he is the one child who is not in school and for whom things aren't going too well at home. We are having a WHH Board meeting Wednesday, and that will be one item on my agenda. He told me a lot, but I'll preserve his privacy, here. He seemed really glad to see me, and was very forthright about his situation. One of things we'll work together to try to fix. He was with two older friends who said help him get "chop" (food). He said he just turned 15.

Meanwhile, Godwin is with James' family---along with James three other younger children. He is in school and told me he likes living in Uncle James' house and his new "brother" James Jr., two little sisters, and a best friend at school named Emmanuel. I gave him his OLPC to keep. I had taken it back to the US to rebuild and replace some parts. He was very very happy to have it. Remember the children called him the "Little Professor" because he did so well in school.

I'll get up to Akynimin (sp?) to see Gloria and Ben later this week, but Bentil says they are OK, thanks to a neighbor who helps out grandma with cooking. And Ben is old enough to be a big help.

Many Ghanaian children live in multiple homes before they're on their own. In fact, I asked at a WHH Board meeting how many of them had lived in multiple homes, hostels, etc. in their youth, and every one of them raised his/her hand!

Now I just learned (haven't verified)  a new organization is working with the Ghana Social Welfare Dept to identify and get background on every child living in children's homes/orphanages in Ghana over a 3-year period. Ghana is trying to phase out, except for the most desperate---those with AIDS, severe development problems, etc. Not easy for anyone.

That's it for now. I'll bring some photos back. Maryanne from Axim, Ghana

WHH Scholars---Brief Update

I know some of you are wondering: what about the children who were sheltered in the WHH Children's Home, either long-term or on a short-term basis. I met all of those who attend Manye Academy except Gifty, who was studying at a special class for her JHS exams.

In general, I spent about 45 minutes with them after school and walked to towards town with those who live in that direction. I would say they seem just fine. They saw me waiting for them in the Manye school yard, and ran to greet me and many hugs. Overall, they looked and seemed just great! Healthy, robust, and just so full of life and enthusiasm. I asked each, semi-privately, how things were going "at home with their families." Without exception they had positive comments---I'm not sure what I expected, but having spent so much time with most of them over 4-5 years time, I think I could have picked up negative signals.

They all have opted to stay at Manye, in spite of the fact that some, like Isaac, walks probably at least 45 minutes both ways and has a school nearer him he could attend. But he said he still wants to be an engineer, and they have "good maths" at Manye. Olivia is her bubbly self, says school is hard. She just kind of bounced up to me, doing a little dance on the way, esp. when I clapped for her! Philo still has her eye on flight attendant, but is also learning Home Ec, to help her "grandmother" more. Peter worked for me all day yesterday, testing chargers, OLPCs, etc. He is loving living with the Bentils---what a wonderful gift to him from that family. George and Johnson are both still their quiet intelligent selves.

Who else? Charlotte may or may not have a boyfriend---lots of giggling and teasing when a certain someone walked by.

I asked more or less semi-privately how things were going "at home with the family." All were positive---I didn't expect a lot of information and I didn't feel it right to pry but I didn't catch negative reaction. They told me they miss the tables at the Home for their homework, and they miss their OLPCs. But it was obvious they are still very close, arms around each other, etc. etc.

I just feel relieved and happy about this. I do believe the WHH Board (and we by extension by giving them our full confidence) made the right decisious and handled things very very well. They are moving forward and they are paving the way.

The internet is not "photo-capable" tonight, so next time...

Maryanne

JHS Science Resource Center (probably part 1—this could turn into a book...)

Well, I’ve seen a few JHS Science Resource Center classes in action now. How I wish I could just transport the many scientific types among our friends for an hour or two!

Here’s what happened Thursday. Seventy-four JHS students (one class from the Methodist School) walked up the hill to the WHH facility at about 9:00 in the morning.

 

Thirty-six went to the Science Resource Center, with its storeroom filled with creative and interesting materials for them to do their experiments with---their “science practicum.”

They gathered, six to a table, to learn about measuring “mass.” The classroom teacher tried to explain mass, but it kind of went by them (and me). So, they had a rock and they were supposed to estimate the “mass” of the rock and then weigh (?) the rock to determine its mass in grams. I asked one guy if mass were the pull of gravity on the rock. He said “No, that is weight. Mass is what is inside the rock.” OK, maybe it is. Darned if I know. Personally, I am not so good on science definitions!

But, the fun part came when they started to weigh the rock. (Jerome, HELP---do you “weigh” mass? Yikes, I’ve probably screwed them up already). Anyway they put the rock on the nice scales Jerome provided. I went up to one table with a seemingly solid, durable, unfinished wood top. I pulled out my camera pouch and asked them to estimate the mass in grams. They all passed it around and solemnly made what sounded like wild guesses to me. So, we weighed that. They were way off. But then we tried a bunch of items---a ruler, a notebook, a plastic beaker type thing, a basin of water...they got closer and closer to a reasonable estimate. They were very excited---remember this is absolutely new to a third year junior high class! Much giggling, teasing, clapping for the person who got the closest estimation. By the end they were “getting” the idea of estimating and then verifying...at least on that day. This class has been coming since Jerome left in September and it’s obvious they are really “into” it.

I loved it that Science Room Supervisor Eric ordered everyone to put down their exercise books, put down their pens. Then, he held up his hands and said, “You may use only your hands and your minds.” They actually had a hard time doing it---they are so engrained to take incredibly detailed notes from what the teacher says and what is written on the blackboard. We carefully piled the exercise books on the end of the table, neatly, so that quelled their anxiety about losing their exercise book, which, because they have nothing much else in the way of textbooks or reference books, is their educational lifeline, literally.



One child's well-used and worn exercise book---her ticket to her future

But meanwhile, what about the other thirty-eight? They went into the “big classroom” and their Information & Computer Technology (ICT) teacher wrote down on the whiteboard what they were to learn and they copied into their exercise books: “Microsoft XP”, “Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet”, “Microsoft Word”, “Power Point”... etc. There was no computer in sight. Just these words on the whiteboard. I doubt if few if any had the faintest idea what these terms meant. Probably most have not really seen a computer except in passing and certainly haven’t touched or used one. Sigh. But, by writing the words down and being able to memorize them, they will be able to write them in their JHS exam that will be the ticket to senior high school. And once there....  After sometime, they all switched and the ICT children got to do science.

Some things need fixing. On this project, we are not at the tipping point yet, in my estimation, but we’re getting closer, thanks to the enthusiasm of the children themselves in no small part and the incredible dedication of Eric Jim, and a few other teachers. A few schools are committed, and their students just bound up the road. They are fairly large, strong children physically. Some bring food---rice mostly---in little containers and take a break to eat. But some of the schools feel the walk is too much---transportation is the ever-present challenge. James and I will be “making the rounds” as he puts it next week to the various school administrators, etc. to see what can be done. Stay tuned...I have much to learn.

There was a similar class yesterday---Saturday. Yes they come up on Saturdays, their day off, for science, and so does Eric. Give him the “Science Prize”, please someone!

Meanwhile—a correction. I was informed by a Ghanaian that the World Cup reference should have been the Africa Cup. Tonight is the game between Tunisia and Ghana for something or other in the Africa Cup. And for you Ghanaians who keep reminding me: I am WELL AWARE that Ghana beat the US in the World Cup in the past, but I have forgiven all of you for that long ago.

Axim Public Library, Part 2...

You may think I do nothing but library stuff...well, there are many other things going on, but the library is close to my librarian heart. So, I'll finish up on that and go on to other topics in future.

I mentioned “StoryTime”, held at the library four days/week. Two classes each day come from the 5 schools near enough that even the youngest children can walk to the library, although this is not an easy walk. Axim has one main road coming into town. It has to accommodate everything and everyone---including trucks and taxis, etc. There are not many private vehicles, but they’re there, too. Everyone walks along this road, but there are no sidewalks. There are only drainways about 2-3 feet deep on each side of the street. Yikes! I say all this because it shows the determination of teachers, parents, and the children themselves to take advantage of the opportunity to read.

So, today at 11:00, 54 students from just one Morning Star Academy 4^th grade class walked to the Library for storytime. Classes are very large here. Benches were moved out onto the second floor veranda, where there was at least a bit of a breeze. The children jammed in. Meanwhile, in the lower level of the Community Center, there was a Town Hall meeting going on and the loudspeakers were deafening. Readers who have been here are familiar with the local love affair with terrifically loud microphones, speakers, etc. We are natural orators here. Give us a microphone...and louder must be better...Meanwhile, the Library veranda fronts that main street, and trucks and other vehicles rumble by.

In spite of the din, Mercy the librarian riveted the children’s attention by telling a traditional African tale, complete with many dramatic flourishes---demonstrating beautifully the seemingly effortless oratorical and dramatic flair that is so common here. After the story, the children got a chance to browse for books to check out, with the help of their Library Teacher. Every student in this school have library registrations, at 50 pesewas/year (about 35 US cents). Mercy’s two staff members will collect the books in one week. She gives just a week, to put pressure on the students to read quickly and not procrastinate. That also helps her stretch her meager collection to the max. The fees help pay for book processing supplies.

Meanwhile, another has class arrived---just 16 grade four children this time. They have walked probably at least 30 minutes to get here. Their classroom teacher and library teacher walked, too. They come from a small community school in the very economically marginal Apowesika neighborhood. Because of the long walk, these children get a choice---they themselves choose to make the walk or not. When they finished storytime, the library teacher put 50 books in the new plastic tote I bought for them yesterday, hoisted it on her head, and away they went on the long road back to school.

So, the library has made major strides in children’s services. In 2010, 152 children registered to be library members. In 2011, that number had jumped to 1035, with registrations nicely increasing from about mid-2010 to present, month by month, as children more or less “recruited” each other. Cleverly, they may “swap” books with others who are registered (peer pressure! The hope is the children and parents will be “invested” in the program). The Library Teacher has a brightly colored plastic bag, with each child’s registration “envelope,” made of some blue paper stapled. The bookcard is slipped into the little registration envelope...clever, inexpensive...works.

Now children must re-register for 2012, and that’s going very well, too. They may have reached a “tipping point” here, in terms of sustainability. I spoke with several teachers about whether family financial situations prevented registration, but they assured me that 50 pesewas was within reach of all. Currently the “mobile library by taxi”, which started into 2011, visits 16 primary/junior high schools---most of the schools. How many children are there in Axim? I have no idea. A lot.

Mercy has worked hard to have many African books in her collection. In fact, her problem was that the few children who had registrations had read all the books multiple times. With the “new to them” books we’ve been sending, which have been carefully chosen by librarians and teachers, she finally is starting to achieve a collection sufficient to run basic children’s services. Folks are well-aware of this change, and I’ve received many positive comments as I walk the around the town. A good feeling.

Mercy herself has been recognized as an outstanding young library leader by the Ghana Library Board, and in October will start the program at Legon University in Accra to become what we would call a Masters Degree in Library Science. She will continue to be paid her full-time salary, and will return here to work during university breaks. Meanwhile, she will be replaced by her former assistant whom Mercy herself trained as part of National Service, and who is now the Children’s Services Librarian in Sekondi Library, a much larger city. This librarian wants to be a library manager, and the Ghana Library Board Director for the Western Region (whom I have met and communicated with) sees her as a good fit to sustain and further develop children’s services Mercy has started here.

And so, my dear readers...thanks for your patience in reading all about this. Next time. Today is "KVIP Toilet Day". What I do for those engineers back in Bellingham!! Wish me luck!! Maryanne Ward from Axim, Ghana

Ps: Unfortunately, because I forgot to flip the little switch on the electrical outlet, I didn’t get my camera charged, so no photos this time.

And, by the way, these news items are being published to the “News” menu page on our ghanatogether.org website. The News webpage has a free “subscribe” option whereby an automatic email version of these news item are sent to “subscribers”.

A Day for Librarians

I leave my hotel room which, although it’s a super-modest volunteer quarters, is untold luxury with shower, toilet, small TV, fan. Actually, this hotel is really very nice, outside of town some, and serves mostly Europeans and some Ghanaian officials, etc. So far, I’m the lone American. I couldn’t stay in the Volunteer Quarters at the WHH facility this year so here I am.

Breakfast is koko (sour corn cereal, kind of like cream of wheat, but taste of buttermilk), Spanish egg (sort of very flat omelet with some veggies), small roll, FRESH PINEAPPLE JUICE, and my special drink of coffee, milo (coca), sugar, and condensed milk. And oh, tropical fruit plate of fresh pineapple, watermelon, mango or whatever they have...yes, to get good tropical fruit, you must go to the fruit, rather than bring the fruit to you.

 

I walk to Axim Town, taking the short-cut trail from the hotel that local folks take---about a half hour walk. Part of it is a bit scary---just pure jungle---but often there are women hauling wood or something on it. Then, we get into a more populated area. Past the fishing canoes, crowded walkways, little stands, little kids yelling “obroni, how are you?” (white lady...), women sorting out the fish, men making/mending nets, every present radio blaring by loudspeaker...

I arrive at the Axim Public Library on the 2^nd floor of the Community Center, a sort of open air building that is being improved. I am just in time to meet Mercy Ackah, the Librarian. We are walking to Akyinim (pronounced approximately Acheeum) JHS school. There are fifty JHS students (out of about 100) there who have paid 50 cedis (about 35 US cents) for a library registration envelope. The school has no library, so, with the influx of about 1500 books that have been received by Western Heritage Home from Ghana Together and others and in turn given to the library, Mercy runs a sort of “book mobile” service. We walked about halfway up hill with 25 books each, and just when I wondered if I was going to pass out, Elijah appeared! He is a taxi driver who is sort of part of the Western Heritage “team.” He loves helping out and is their regular driver, on top of his regular taxi driving. So, we bundled in and off we went up the hills away from the beach to the school.

He dropped us off and off we went on a small jungle path, across a stream, and finally the school appeared. (And oh, for you Engineers Without Borders folks reading this, there is a genuine KVIP toilet there! More later).

There, the 50 kids were ushered into a classroom. We spread about the books on a small table. Mercy has a Library Teacher Coordinator in every school. This teacher took each child’s registration card, called out the name, and the child came forward and selected his/her book. A few kids signed up for the first time and everyone clapped. They may swap books during the week, but next week on the same day, the library staff arrives to collect all the books, and move them on to another school.

Meanwhile, Elijah scooted back and helped Mercy’s two “boys”---young men on her staff---deliver about 500 books to the Methodist P4-P6. The primary school has 630 students, but only 400 have library cards, because the library doesn’t currently have enough simple, basic books for the P1-P3 age group. However, 400 students have paid about 35 US cents each for their registration (as compared to less than 20 a year ago). This was a much bigger operation. Multiple Library Teachers and library staff helped most of the 400 children find a book. The excitement of the children was terrific! This is brand new for them. They love these new books. Mercy has now begun mixing in older books, and the kids don’t seem to distinguish, so it’s working. They immediately began reading their books out loud. A wonderful din.

Assistants and Elijah and taxi driver in yellow shirt

Meanwhile, the books they’d been using were boxed up and taken to Beamish School and Life International. Thus, a rotating library, by taxi. When we got to the Methodist school, several girls ran out, excited by seeing the book boxes. They took what I thought were extremely large boxes of books on their heads and up the hill they went to the classrooms!

They do this “books by taxi” every Mon-Thursday, hitting three schools every day! None of the schools have libraries in them, and no books generally. Mercy herself goes to a different school every Monday, to connect with the staff and make sure all is going OK. The other days she usually runs two “storytimes” a day for children from nearby schools who walk over with their class teacher. Fridays they work in the library itself organizing for the next week.

All of this is new and has been made possible since about 1.5 years ago, when St Philips Episcopal Church in the Detroit area started sending children's books, with the help of Ebby M, who grew up in Axim and now lives in Maryland. And friends of Ghana Together in the Skagit Valley have helped a lot, too.

The District Assembly here has designated a room next to the current three-room library for a “Children’s Library.” They are also installing ELECTRICITY! Ghana Together funded a local carpenter to build shelving, a table, and a guy to paint everything. A local Ghanaian donated the paint. It’s part of a larger effort to improve the Axim downtown Community Center. The Children’s Library will soon be ready. There are many books still not unpacked waiting for a home because there’s no room in the existing space. Mercy wants a new library, which I can understand. We yell “Librarians Rule the World” once in a while just to mystify people! Mercy says we are “missionaries of the mind.”

Thanks you all from Mercy and from the teachers who asked me to convey to you their thanks! Sometimes things work. (ps...think “board books”. If you don’t know what they are, ask....)

Mercy looking down from her second story library veranda

Church in Axim

St. James Methodist Church, Axim,Ghana on Jan 29, 2012--an ordinary Sunday service
The women in white belong to a women's service group and wear distinctive dresses.

Yes, I do attend church in Axim...in fact, since the services are long and the churches are clustered, I usually attend more than one! Partly this is because I find the services warm, inviting, and inspiring, even though I cannot understand more than a few words. I sit there, and sort of get in touch with myself and find myself calming down and relaxing---shedding my feeling of foreign-ness just a bit and getting my head and heart more or less in alignment as best I can. And I connect with folks I know, etc.

Today in the Anglican Church, the preacher started his sermon dramatically by sort of slugging himself in the forehead, and I caught the words “David and Goliath”, so I knew generally where he was going. He ended by saying in English that we are small “David’s” sitting on God’s shoulder, walking together...and he walked around a bit and everyone clapped. And I thought to myself since everyone here walks a LOT, it probably was the perfect metaphor.

But mostly I love the singing---these most ordinary people sing so beautifully. And when the drums kick in, well, yes... I know a couple of church musicians are reading this. Here’s how it works: the lead singer in the small choir starts singing, whether hymn, response, etc. In the Anglican church, this is a woman. While she is singing the first few bars, the keyboardist is searching for the key by playing individual notes until he finds the ones she’s singing. It’s his job (young guy) to match her and build the chords around the notes she has started out with. There are disadvantages---today there were two guys and the second guy obviously wasn’t very experienced, and we had quite a few strange chords. BUT, the advantage is she is a really good singer, and she knows all the songs and knows exactly where to start so it fits the voice range---not to high or too low. So, actually, it works well, and when they get rolling, it’s really wonderful. People divide into parts (fifths) and then the drums find the rhythm that works and off we all go. If we had a hard time getting it going on the first verse with the whole “key matching” process, the pastor or someone will call to sing it again. It’s worth going to Africa for! J

Today I thought I had bad luck because when I left the Anglican service, I walked over to St. James Methodist church and they had just launched their quarterly congregational business meeting! I was ushered in to the usual front/side seat and there was no polite escape route. But, I quickly became fascinated. First, leaders gave reports --- all in Fante. Energetically, with expression and conviction. Then the photocopied financial details were passed out to those who raised their hands (very detailed...I was impressed). Then, Mr. Kwofie, an accountant who attends the church, gave his auditor’s report and certified that the records were accurate.

Now came the best part. It was explained to me that this is the one time during each quarter when anyone can stand up and say before the entire congregation what he or she likes or doesn’t like about anything at all regarding the church. Many persons came up. Each started by saying “Christ is Risen.” The congregation responded, “He is Risen Indeed”. Then, the natural Ghanaian oratorical skills began to flourish. Ghanaians are not a shy people, generally, and they speak their minds. Some comments were obviously critical; some were positive. Both men and women had their say. There was much gesturing, clapping for some, and much cross-conversation, laughing, vigorous arguments, etc. as people started to discuss among themselves in the pews. I’m not sure if anything was settled or if someone was writing things down...I imagine the leadership was paying attention. It was explained to me that this is in their church constitution since Ghana is now a democracy and so they have full participation by everyone.

Then suddenly it was all over. We enthusiastically sang “We Thank You All Our God”, plus another hymn and spilled out into the street, with much laughing and conversation. Suffice it to say, it was BY FAR the most spirited congregational meeting I have ever attended, and I’ve been to quite a few!

Another reason to go to church is that it doesn’t hurt to have several hundred people know you’re in town. I feel quite accepted and protected. It also gives me a chance to say a few words before the congregations about why I’m here and make the connection with local leaders. I say “few words” because my American-accented English is tough for them. Americans are rare here.

Mr. Bentil and I went to Friends Café to have lunch and discuss next week’s schedule. The only thing on the menu was a dish called “Local Food.” It was palm oil soup with two balls of rice in it and two balls of what I think maybe was the fat of something—beef maybe? I tried not to think about grasscutters. I courageously ate the liquid part of the soup, which was spicy and OK, and the rice. Maybe I’ll lose weight here!

Back to the hotel and a nice conversation with Jonas, the owner/manager. A good guy. Dinner was perch in sauce and two mounds of rice. Then a conversation with a fellow diner who is the Ghanaian equivalent of an FBI agent. He not only investigates crime but also policies that don’t seem to be working. The example he gave was if many students from a school are failing the standard tests, his job is to find out why. Interesting. Tomorrow I get to solid work. Bye for now. Maryanne from Axim, Ghana

From Afia Village to Axim Beach Hotel---some thoughts

From Afia Village to Axim Beach Hotel---some thoughts. Some of this is quite personal, because many of my “readers” are very familiar with the places and people and may enjoy an update.

Accra seems to be one big construction site. One huge new-to-me building is painted entirely in multi-colored Kente cloth design. The new multi-lane highway heading north is finished on the north bound lane somewhat beyond Accra but when the south bound lane ends, everyone just travels both directions on the north bound, now a “three-lane-but-no-lane-marking road.” Yikes!

Tuesday am we headed west. Just outside Accra they are building a modern overpass---suffice it to say this is about the worst traffic nightmare imaginable, with voluminous clouds of thick red dust and no detours. People told me Accra was built for 400,000 people and now several people told me it has 4,000,000---can that be?

But, James, Mozova (his employee) and I left that behind and the tropical environment emerged with village after village along the road and people selling every imaginable product under small roadside stands with canopies. After a while, James mentioned it was almost 4:00 pm, and then began the search for a “roadside  café” with a reasonably-sized TV so we could watch Ghana play in a World Cup qualifying match. We finally found one that was really quite small, but the best available, so everything stopped and I sat and watched the game with about 30 men, several being police or military men with machine guns slung casually on the back of their chairs. And Ghana won! So all was well.

Gas here is subsidized and costs about $4.00 per gallon. Ghana has oil now, and there is a lot of controversy about the government’s policy to end the subsidies in the near future---I was told it may be well above $5 US/gal. This is a country where the average per capita GDP is about $1000-$1200/year. People feel they should benefit from their country’s resources. We followed two huge Caterpillar earthmovers on the road---going to the gold mines west of Axim---another new economic development. It’s a little wild with oil, natural gas, gold...but how will this all translate into a better life for the ordinary folks?

Finally we reached James’ home in Takoradi. How fun to see Godwin whom James has taken into his home. He seemed relaxed, happy, at home. He whispered to me his best friend is Emmanuel, and he likes school. The family is amazed at his intelligence and proud of him. He asked if I could get his OLPC for him. Luckily I had one with me that I had taken back home to repair. He loves it and is very skilled. James’ house is secure so it won’t be stolen. Since Little James has one, the two boys will teach each other.

And how fun to see their 3-year old deaf daughter again! She is remarkable, too, fitting in well, outgoing, attending an ordinary nursery school while Mom takes baby sister Heidi to work in the Jamkay shop. I have given them three books I bought in Mt Vernon for early teaching of sign language. I hope they work at it.

And Elfriede will be 18 in May! She is excited about “getting enfranchised.” It took me a bit to understand she was talking about voting in the upcoming Ghanaian Presidential election! She is the leader of a Civil Society Club in her high school. They investigate problems in their community and compete with other high schools on presentations. They did a project on a Takoradi slum—they didn’t win this time, but they are sure they’ll win next time. The “national winners” get to make their presentations on TV! Her grades are excellent she says. They are also studying all the speeches made by candidates, etc. She read my Ashesi brochure and got excited about possibly going there to become an engineer.

Many of the day-to-day frustrations of family life remain for this middle-class family. The electricity was steady this time because it’s the “dry season”, but piped water is still not available most or maybe any of the time, although they live in a settled part of the city. They carry water in on headpans from a nearby spigot, which itself only runs at certain times. Imagine running such a household with no running water!

Anastasia dropped in. She has moved on from Quicken software for bookkeeping and now uses Quickbooks and keeps the books for a medical clinic! YES! She also set up a patient record system for the clinic. Then Barbara came round. She is taking courses to become an internet/network/ administrative systems specialist! YES! She took me to her home. I met her lovely Mom and siblings. THEN, Ariana called me! She has twin boys, 10 months old. She is home with them, doesn’t get much sleep, but sounded completely happy. She is thinking about starting a little bookkeeping business in her home when they get a bit older.” Yes, I am really proud of these young women and love that I maybe gave them a little boost with a practical skill!

Then further west to Axim, where the jungle really sets in. The huge rubber plantation some of you are familiar with has been TOTALLY bulldozed. It’s amazing. A Qatar company is cutting down all the trees, grinding them up into sawdust on the spot which flows into a container which is driven by truck to Takoradi port instantly. Meanwhile, new rubber trees are planted right behind the bulldozer. The trees are sixty years old and no longer produce rubber so they’re replanting the entire thing.

Finally we arrived in Axim. The Axim Beach Hotel is more elaborate than ever---Jonas seems to expand the place by the day. I’m in a very small little room, but nicely appointed with water, shower, fan---a new volunteer quarter in a sort of court---brand new. It was good to have a really nice meal tonight, looking at the sunset over the Atlantic, and a shower! Mercy has invited me to stay with her and also Bentil’s niece has offered to stay with me at WHH, so I’ll probably be leaving here soon. Bentil and I walked downtown and had lunch at Friends. It was nice to be greeted by folks along the way.

So tomorrow I start working with folks here, looking back, looking forward, celebrating what has worked and working together to fix what needs fixing...trying to learn as much as I can. Thanks for reading. Oh, and yesterday was my birthday, but it sort of passed without remark. I’m just very happy to be alive and able to carry on. No photos this time...couldn't get it together. Next time. Love to you all, Maryanne from Axim, Ghana

Visit to Ashesi University College

James and I drove the long, rough road from Legon University area to Berekuso, home of the new, beautiful Ashesi University College campus. James and I met with Matthew Taggart, Associate Director of Development, and Maria Bankas, Admissions Officer, to discuss possible opportunities for Ashesi to connect with the Axim-Nzemaland area.

Ashesi was founded in 2002 by Patrick Awuah, a Ghanaian retired Microsoft Program Manager Patrick Awuah, founded this new liberal arts college in 2002. Ashesi’s mission is to train a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa.

Ashesi is interested in reaching out to Nzemaland/Western Region. We arranged for Maria to visit the high schools in the area in March, as a guest of Western Heritage Home.WHH will work with Mrs. Bonku, headmistress of Axim All-Girls SHS and other headmasters in the area to facilitate the relationship.

We were especially interested in Ashesi’s “College for Ama,” a short-term summer program that brings impoverished adolescent girls to Ashesi camps for one week. Ashesi bases its admissions entirely on academic excellence. Students pay tuition on need-based system, depending on family circumstances. Some pay the full amount of about $3000/semester; one student currently pays about $100 for the entire year.

As a fellow librarian, I had a good conversion with Nina Chachu, the head librarian. She runs an amazingly nice little library. They provide access heavily subsidized access, thanks to a Ghana academic consortium, to the online journal and research databases familiar to academic librarians worldwide, such as EBSCO, etc.

We had a wonderful visit. I am so happy that James was able to be there, and meet with them, tour the beautiful campus designed by a Ghanaian architect using local native stone (extremely beautiful I thought), hear about their mission, etc. Unfortunately, Mrs. Bonku, headmistress of Axim All-Girls High School was ill and unable to join us. But, James tentatively arranged with Matthew another visit for the two of them. A wonderful day. Thank you Tom and Louise for facilitating this event.

Back in Ghana

Hi all,
This is Maryanne Ward, here in Ghana on behalf of Ghana Together, at the increasingly expensive but still nice Afia Village Hotel. A long ways from Seattle---snow, ice, delayed flights...
I will use this News feature on our Ghana Together website to keep folks, esp. my family and fellow GT Board members informed about my to-ing and fro-ing here.

Our friend Frank Cudjoe kindly met me at the airport with my three huge bags with my 14 laptops and who knows what else, plus three small bags. Amazingly, the customs official guided me straight out between the two lines of people who were opening suitcases, etc. for the officers...into the hands of competent Frank and his friend the taxi driver.

Off we went to Frank and Anita's neat little apartment in the middle of Accra. One of our original Ghana team, Frank has benefitted greatly from his friend and mentor our Leif who helped him launch his computer career, and helped him get Microsoft and Cisco certifications, etc. Frank now works for MTN, a large telecom/cellular phone company. Anita and her Mom have a catering business, doing weddings, birthday, funerals--anything from cakes to groups of up to 500 people!

We brought "career-oriented gifts: SD chips, RAM memory, and serial cables for Frank; for Anita a high-quality manual can opener from Gretchen's in Mount Vernon (scarce and almost unknown in Ghana), and of course, books for little 18 month old Gejooba Sue (sp). Her Ghanaian name means "Monday-born".

Frank and Anita represent to me the "upcoming young adults" of Ghana---educated, trained, determined to better their lives. It was great to be with them. Anita the caterer prepared a special meal to honor me: rice, boiled plantain, palava sauce (based on moringa leaves), red spicy chile sauce with little slivers of beef, and a bottle of water. It was truly delicious.

The Jerome Chandler Science Resource Center Full Swing!

Oh Wow! Look at all this stuff!!

Eric Jim, JHS Science Center Supervisor and Students

In an Aug 14 news article (see below), we reported that Ghana Together, Western Heritage Home, the Ghana Education Service, and the Axim District Assembly are cooperating to create a Science Resource Center for junior high classes in Axim. The day has come and the Center is open for business!

Jerome Chandler, a retired college science instructor and Ghana Together board director, spent most of September 2011 in Axim working with Ghanaian science teacher Eric “Jim” Jimpetey Djan, Science Resource Center Supervisor, setting up the Center on the 2^nd floor of the WHH facility. Jerome produced a fascinating report with lots of photos which you can find on his “Fiziks is Phun” blog (see link at end of this article).

We talked with Eric via phone recently about how things are going. He said, in his calm manner, that “things are going smoothly.” Six schools are now using the Center for their first-level junior high students, with five more possible. Not all have science teachers in place at this time, which is the beginning of their new school year. Science teachers are scarce. Many are fulfilling their National Service requirement---not necessarily trained as teachers---which is required for all college graduates in Ghana.

At this point, 253 students/week are receiving hands-on practicum instruction for the first time. The children, accompanied by their science teacher, walk up to a half hour to get from their school to the Center. Two of the classes from Axim Methodist-Government and Dr. Bemish schools are very large---up to 70 students at one time. WHH and Ghana School personnel are in the process of setting up a One Laptop Per Child computer lab. When operational, the large classes will be split in half.

Eric says the biggest challenge is that schools must re-adjust their accustomed schedules. Math and English teachers are reluctant to give up any instruction time. The students spend about an hour walking to and from the WHH facility—a lot of time out of the day which, after all, begins at sunrise and ends at sunset, since Axim is nearly on the equator and few homes or schools have electric lights. So, he is working with the headmasters to smooth things out. It’s simply not financially or logistically possible for individual schools to have equipped science rooms, and Ghana nationally is emphasizing hands-on instruction in science and computers, so there is no lack of commitment. One of the schools is using the Science Center on Saturdays, when there are no other classes and the students can spend a longer time.

Eric himself has been teaching for six years. He completed his BSC in Electricals at the Ghana University of Education-Winneba/Kumasi Campus. As Science Center Supervisor he organizes materials, sets up experiments, works with individual teachers so their theoretical lessons and the practicums coincide, and generally helps not only the students but their teachers, too, who may have only limited hands-on experience themselves. He works under Mr. Sarfo Hayford, who is the curriculum director for science instruction in the Axim District, with 32 schools, including three senior high schools. The GES requested Ghana Together to help at the junior high level, specifically, as the age level with the greatest need.

The Jerome Chandler Science Resource Center occupies a large room on the 2^nd floor of the Western Heritage Home facility, which is reasonably centrally-located to the schools. The facility has piped water, working toilets, and electricity (most schools do not). WHH painted the room. Ghana Together donated funds for six large tables, 42 stools, a raised teacher’s desk, extensive shelving in a storeroom, lockable cabinet, some five dozen storage tubs for science materials, a computer projector, whiteboard, etc. All of the furniture construction was contracted out to local Axim carpenters.

We shipped 18 boxes of science materials that could not be purchased easily in Ghana. Miriam Quansah, Director of Education for Axim, worked with Ghana customs to facilitate entry without incurring import fees. A great many items were hand-crafted by Jerome (thereby modeling how teachers can fashion materials themselves). We hand-carried about 150 lbs in suitcases. Jerome wrote many lesson plans for teachers and students experiments, bound in 3-ring notebooks, with DVD versions included. Teachers can use these plans directly, because they are based on Ghana’s JHS science curriculum, and also as models for their own plans. We spent about $600 in Ghana on science materials available there (we always prefer to buy locally, if possible). In addition, we have delivered 52 One Laptop Per Child computers donated by folks all over the US.

 

Now, please take a few minutes to look at Jerome’s report---full of photos and just fascinating. While you’re reading it, remember that Jerome spent four of his early years as a science instructor and five as headmaster at St. John’s School in Sekondi, Ghana. After his retirement as a Science Instructor at Skagit Valley College, he traveled to Ghana with our team in 2006. He returned in 2007 to be honored by St. John’s at their 50^th anniversary celebration.

When we formally incorporated Ghana Together in 2008, Jerome was a founding member and continues to serve as a Board Director. He returned to Ghana in 2009 to conduct three weeks of workshops for Axim’s Junior High Science teachers. He dedicated much of his time in 2011 to creating the science room by buying or crafting materials, writing teachers’ instructions and student experiments, and overcoming the communication challenges involved between Mount Vernon and Axim! Then he spent September in Axim putting it all together.

We estimate Jerome has dedicated at least 15 years of service to Ghana, in one way or another! It is so fitting that Axim honored Jerome with a special ceremony, and named the room the “Jerome Chandler Science Resource Center.” Thank you for making Jerome's dream (and maybe that of quite a few children) become reality!

CLICK HERE FOR JEROME’S REPORT!!

Jerome receives a plaque from School Director Marian Quansah and Municipal Chief Executive Cobbinah

About the WHH Children's Home Phase-Out

This is a long but important article. As many of you know, WHH phased out its Children's Home, as of mid-August this year. This article explains why. We hope you'll take the time to read it through. Thanks!

In December 2010, an official from the national level of Ghana's Ministry of Women and Children (MOWAC) visited the WHH Children's Home in Axim. The Home had been in operation since December 2007, caring for 25 or so children at any one time---some permanent residents and others taken in temporarily until their family's situation could be sorted out. The WHH Board, with Ghana Together's financial support, had already supported school costs for a good number of children at a nearby neighborhood school beginning September 2007, and by December had their facility ready to take in about 25 of the most town’s most vulnerable children, providing shelter, food, health insurance/medical care, and clothing.

The MOWAC official inspected the facility with positive results, recommending only a few improvements: raise the walls on the girls' shower from six to eight feet, build a small "lip" between the boys' shower and entry way to prevent water from flowing out, and build sturdy concrete steps to the volunteer quarters to replace a somewhat steep, slippery path. WHH made these improvements immediately.

However, she also shared with WHH leaders that a few months back--in October 2010---MOWAC adopted a new national policy called the "National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children." The "Care Reform Initiative" part of the Plan de-emphasizes reliance on care for vulnerable children in institutions in favor of moving towards family and community-based care services for children without appropriate parental care. The goal is to reintegrate the child with the extended family (called “kinship care”), and if possible, to find relatives who are able to create a caring and stable environment for the child. If kinship care cannot be provided, temporary or permanent care with foster families can still provide a good home and if there is no possibility of a family reunion, to find the child an adoptive home, preferably with a Ghanaian family.

She explained that while there are four certified orphanages/children's homes in the region, the Ministry had decided to consolidate and certify only one of them for institutional care going forward. It is located in Takoradi, a nearby city about 45 minutes drive from Axim. She offered to move WHH children to the Egyam Orphanage, as appropriate to the individual child’s situation. She also suggested that the excellent WHH facility could well be converted into a women and children's shelter serving the entire Western Region, and that MOWAC would certify it for that use, if the WHH Board was in agreement. It was subsequently made clear by Social Welfare officials that WHH would not be certified as a Children’s Home in 2011 and beyond.

The WHH Board met late January 2011. They spent the better part of a day discussing options, including whether to turn to legal counsel to advise them or to ask their local Member of Parliament to intercede with MOWAC on their behalf. But Ghana is a democracy, and the WHH Board felt they needed to support and follow national policy. And, so, the final consensus was that since this is a national policy, and unlikely to change, the best option was to petition MOWAC to let them continue their Children's Home operation until the children had finished their school year in mid-August 2011, and meanwhile to work with Social Welfare to find homes in the Axim area and prepare the children for this major transition. They believed the children would be better off staying in Axim, which after all is not a very big town and is familiar to the children. They could attend their current school. And, if they were in Axim, WHH folks could keep an eye on their situation.

The Board rejected the idea of turning their facility into a regional shelter, believing that their mission is to support Axim specifically, especially the care and education of children and youth. They decided rather to work with the headmistress of the new All-Girls Senior High School to turn the first floor dormitory section of their facility into a senior high girls' hostel, thus opening an opportunity for girls living beyond walking distance of the high school.

They also decided that regardless of living situations, they would continue to support the children’s education and health insurance costs, monitor school attendance and living situations in collaboration with Social Welfare, and invite the children to come to the WHH Facility to use the computers and enjoy occasional social activities.

Maryanne Ward, President of Ghana Together, who was in Axim at the time and attended the meeting, assured the WHH Board that Ghana Together would continue to help them with school and health insurance costs, and would support their efforts to develop their building for other worthy educational and community purposes. We are in this together.

The WHH Board comforted themselves by thinking back on all they had accomplished---the struggle to build the facility, the satisfaction of admitting the first children, the years of constant care and attention, and pride that these children, so lacking in everything when they first came to them, are now attending school at an age-appropriate grade level, are healthy, can read, write, do math, see to homework, cook, clean, launder and press their precious school uniforms, and even have some computer skills. One WHH Board member remarked that these are not the same children who came to them in 2007. They are robust, some are leaders in their school, and they are ready to go out now and help their families and their community. She recited the WHH slogan---"Making Leaders of the Least"---and remarked that indeed, these children are young leaders in the making.

During the months following that momentous meeting, WHH and Social Welfare held a number of kinship/family meetings. They arranged family homes for every child. During the April school break, the children visited their future homes for a week. Then, in mid-August, on one eventful day, they each received a packet of rice and other foodstuffs, tied their meager belongings into a towel, and were delivered by WHH staff Isaac Bentil and Barbara Davis to their homes. School started early September, 2011.

So, where do things stand as of October, 2011? Seventeen of the children continue to live in Axim, and are attending the same school as before. WHH, with Ghana Together's help, has made sure all are in school, tuition is paid up, textbooks are in hand, and attendance is monitored. The families provide food, basic care, and ensure school attendance, and nurturing and guidance, and we might add, wisdom in the ways of Ghanaian family life. WHH will provide health insurance. Mr. Bentil reports he often sees them on their way to school and enjoys their greetings.

James Kainyiah, Chair of WHH Board, and Isaac Bentil, WHH Manager, have each taken a boy with no kinship options into their own families. Four others have been placed in kinship homes in other parts of Ghana.

One of our American Ghana Together friends was in Axim for the recent Kundum Festival -- the highlight of the year for Aximites of all ages. She met most of the children, gave them each a flashlight (their homes in all likelihood have no electricity for lighting and flashlights are prized in Axim), and said they seemed their "usual robust selves."

While this has been stressful for Western Heritage Home leaders (and we of Ghana Together looking on), we all need to remember that, like we ourselves in the US, Ghana has come to believe that children generally do better with families than in institutions. It will be a long transition, because Ghana has relied heavily on orphanages, often supported by international NGOs. But Ghana is working with UNICEF and others to transition children out of orphanages and into family homes where possible. For us in the West, this is common practice; for Ghanaians it's new and indicates their desire to adopt modern social practices.

As for our WHH Board friends, they will continue to support programs for kids and youth, based on their judgment of the best "bang for the buck." They are led by a couple of savvy, extraordinarily compassionate businessmen, a modern priest who leads a wonderful "youth service" every Sunday, and three very wise women who are leaders and know their community in and out.

As for our WHH Scholars, we’re pretty confident that with some extra support for school and health, they'll be OK. They will struggle---after all, they'll have to walk far for water, live in very close quarters, sometimes lack enough food. Life in Axim is not easy. But they will also have an increased sense of belonging and will add to their already strong arsenal of skills those needed to live in Ghana as it is today.  

All of us---donors on our side, and WHH leaders on theirs---can be thankful that we have had the privilege of giving them a giant boost! We send them out with faith in their capabilities and our loving regard.