I think so many times throughout the day, "if i could only understand people, fundraising would be so much easier". But, there is hope...
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Understanding Each Other
I think so many times throughout the day, "if i could only understand people, fundraising would be so much easier". But, there is hope...
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
Understanding Each Other
I think so many times throughout the day, "if i could only understand people, fundraising would be so much easier". But, there is hope...
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
Understanding Each Other
I think so many times throughout the day, "if i could only understand people, fundraising would be so much easier". But, there is hope...
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
Understanding Each Other
I think so many times throughout the day, "if i could only understand people, fundraising would be so much easier". But, there is hope...
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
Understanding Each Other
I think so many times throughout the day, "if i could only understand people, fundraising would be so much easier". But, there is hope...
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
People are not rational beings, but the patterns of irrationality are always consistent.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Home
What a trip! After four flights and nearly 24 hours of travel, we arrived safely back home in Grand Rapids last night. We spent the last few days in Copenhagen with a friend of Jess's family, Laudi, and stayed with her friend, Leena. Neither of us had been to Europe before (or at least out of the airport) so this visit was an amazing way to wrap up the trip! These past few days gave us some time to reflect, debrief, and treat ourselves a little after a very busy month in Ghana.
The last week in Ghana was crunched with going over details with James, meeting with a few more professionals, and, of course, jewelry shopping. On one of the last days, we traveled four hours up north (of which was supposed to take two hours...) to go to Ghana's largest bead market. This place was filled with every kind of hand-made bead you could imagine. Arriving with only a half hour until it closed, we went a little crazy trying to choose beads from the million of designs they had. We plan on using the beads to make jewelry for future fundraising. (If you're interested, please let us know!:))
Looking back on this trip, everything turned out so much better than we expected. We feel so blessed to have been able to collaborate with such amazing people and are so excited to take the next step in the project. In the next few days, we are taking some time to gather ourselves together and will be right back to work on the project early next week. In the next month, we have a lot of fundraisers to plan and proposals to write. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this trip and project possible! It has been quite the journey!
The last week in Ghana was crunched with going over details with James, meeting with a few more professionals, and, of course, jewelry shopping. On one of the last days, we traveled four hours up north (of which was supposed to take two hours...) to go to Ghana's largest bead market. This place was filled with every kind of hand-made bead you could imagine. Arriving with only a half hour until it closed, we went a little crazy trying to choose beads from the million of designs they had. We plan on using the beads to make jewelry for future fundraising. (If you're interested, please let us know!:))
Looking back on this trip, everything turned out so much better than we expected. We feel so blessed to have been able to collaborate with such amazing people and are so excited to take the next step in the project. In the next few days, we are taking some time to gather ourselves together and will be right back to work on the project early next week. In the next month, we have a lot of fundraisers to plan and proposals to write. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this trip and project possible! It has been quite the journey!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
This weekend was great to get some work done back at the hostel. Sunday we took off for Cape Coast to do a little shopping on the beach. We ended up getting caught in monsoon rains and stranded for a few hours. Finally, with much hesitation, we braved the rain. Only took three crazy taxi rides, two chaotic bus station stops, and one very cold/wet trotro ride to get back. Got a lot of really amazing things though!
Yesterday Kaleigh and I met with the Department of Education and the City Manager/Mayor of Winneba to talk long-term goals for the village-- some really great insight.
Getting some work done today. We leave on Thursday for Accra... eek!
Yesterday Kaleigh and I met with the Department of Education and the City Manager/Mayor of Winneba to talk long-term goals for the village-- some really great insight.
Getting some work done today. We leave on Thursday for Accra... eek!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
If I told you, I would have to chop off your head!
Some friends and I were hiking down the coast earlier this week determined to find the alter that I had seen last year. When we arrived at the place, a stern-looking man and asked us of our intentions. I politely told him we were just curious of the alter's meaning. His face immediately scrunched into an unreadable expression. Looking me straight in the eyes, he explained, "if I ever told you the meaning of the alter, I would have to chop off your head!" and let out an evil-sounding laugh. I'm still not sure if he was serious or not, but I don't think I'll be visiting that alter again any time soon.
The last week has gone by in a blur. It feels as if time is in another dimension here. We always have a list of things to get done and people to visit, but plans seem to change continuously and we are learning to take one day at a time.
The last week has gone by in a blur. It feels as if time is in another dimension here. We always have a list of things to get done and people to visit, but plans seem to change continuously and we are learning to take one day at a time.
After recovering from minor illnesses over the weekend, we were back up on our feet Monday working with Challenging Heights once again. The Grand Valley service-learning group arrived in Winneba last weekend and started their service work with Challenging Heights this week. They agreed to have us follow them around to document all the different areas of Challenging Heights from sensitization in the communities to teaching in the classrooms. We want to fully understand everything they do in their organization and be able to clearly present it back to others in the states.
Wednesday, Mr. Teguo (the construction field manager) brought us to a few different vocational schools to interview and to tour their facilities. The first school refused us to ask questions because they thought we were trying to steal their business once again. With a slightly different approach, we were finally able to interview the next vocational school called The National Vocational Institute of Ghana. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and we were able to get a good grasp of a sustainable trade-school. (They have been building their program since 1979!) Our third school visit had strangely shutdown for the evening, so we wrapped up the day content with our one in threeJ
Yesterday, (Thursday) we met with James (the director of Challenging Heights) again to present a general proposal for the school. We cleared up a few questions and added in some of his suggestions. We eventually came to a general consenses and are both really excited abuut what is to come! After the meeting, James drove us up north a ways to see the children's shelter that is currently under construction. The shelter was so much more elaborate than either of us expected! Tucked away on the edge of rainforest, the shelter stands on a little hill minutes from the city. It is cleverly made to become self-sustaining complete with a bore hole, future farm area, three classrooms, a library, a kitchen and several corridors for volunteers and children to stay. Not only was the building beautiful, but it gave Jess and I a real vision of what the vocational school could look like down the road!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Winneba
In Winneba, traveling the community and spending most of our time at Challenging Heights. We're working through our partnership agreement with the Director, James Kofi Annan, now. Both James, Kaleigh, and I are more than ecstatic about the immense potential we have for this project. We've seen the land and talked basics. Now, we're developing a program overview and working on our proposal (hopefully to be close to completion before we leave). Next week we'll be taking measurements of the land, traveling to the rehabilitation shelter and Volta Lake, where you can find rampid child slavery.
A few nights ago, we followed along to one of the organization's Community Sensitization events. We went to a nearby community, set up microphones, speakers, and a projector. Then right as the sun set, they began to play music videos and mostly strange foreign films in Japenese (i know, we were confused, too). TONS of people from the village gathered around to see what was going on, and as we had a captured audience, they put on a documentary on child slavery in Ghana. David, the Programs Officer began describing to the villagers the danger of selling your children into "forced work", as well as the legal implications. A mother who sells one or all of her children into slavery can face severe fines and 5-25 years in prison. This seemed to absolutely shock the mothers/caretakers in the audience. The whole event was unorganized and a bit chaotic at times, but one of the most effective messages we've seen while we've been here.
We've decided to skip our weekend trip up north-- Jess has been sick for the past few days and Kaleigh fell sick this morning. Let the Ghana Cleanse Diet begin! We're heading to the pharmacy now to get antibiotics and other meds. All is well, no worries. =)
A few nights ago, we followed along to one of the organization's Community Sensitization events. We went to a nearby community, set up microphones, speakers, and a projector. Then right as the sun set, they began to play music videos and mostly strange foreign films in Japenese (i know, we were confused, too). TONS of people from the village gathered around to see what was going on, and as we had a captured audience, they put on a documentary on child slavery in Ghana. David, the Programs Officer began describing to the villagers the danger of selling your children into "forced work", as well as the legal implications. A mother who sells one or all of her children into slavery can face severe fines and 5-25 years in prison. This seemed to absolutely shock the mothers/caretakers in the audience. The whole event was unorganized and a bit chaotic at times, but one of the most effective messages we've seen while we've been here.
We've decided to skip our weekend trip up north-- Jess has been sick for the past few days and Kaleigh fell sick this morning. Let the Ghana Cleanse Diet begin! We're heading to the pharmacy now to get antibiotics and other meds. All is well, no worries. =)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Down the Coast
What an amazing couple of days. Sunday we drove down the coast to Anamabo beach on a trotro (a taxi van that fits an unimaginable amount of people inside). After getting dropped off at the beach, we unloaded our bags to realize we are one bag short. At some point in the crazy hustle of the Accra streets, or one of the many rides we had to take, we lost a bag. =(
After the long, long, and longer rides, we joined the ABAN girls to enjoy the beach to relax, network, and brainstorm over a few Stars (local Ghanaian beer). We stayed the night in a tent just feet from the ocean. So great.
Left the next day on another trotro for Winneba. Settled into the hostel and checked out the University of Education, which seems to be a college for the Teaching Professionals.
Today we visited Challenging Heights, which is the organization we're hoping to collaborate with for the duration of our whole project. We sat in on their staff meeting, where they discussed the new CCPCs (Community Protection Committees) set up in the different villages to be somewhat of a "neighborhood watch" for children not attending school, child trafficking and labor violations. After meeting with the Director, we moved next door for one of the women's empowerment microfinance classes, where an official from the local Union Rural Bank came to discuss terms on the potential loans they could offer the women. The discussion was almost entirely in Twi (the local language), so we practiced reading body language.
Tonight, our meeting was cancelled, which we are ecstatic about. We're going to get food on the beach, watch the sunset, and catch up on work. =)
After the long, long, and longer rides, we joined the ABAN girls to enjoy the beach to relax, network, and brainstorm over a few Stars (local Ghanaian beer). We stayed the night in a tent just feet from the ocean. So great.
Left the next day on another trotro for Winneba. Settled into the hostel and checked out the University of Education, which seems to be a college for the Teaching Professionals.
Today we visited Challenging Heights, which is the organization we're hoping to collaborate with for the duration of our whole project. We sat in on their staff meeting, where they discussed the new CCPCs (Community Protection Committees) set up in the different villages to be somewhat of a "neighborhood watch" for children not attending school, child trafficking and labor violations. After meeting with the Director, we moved next door for one of the women's empowerment microfinance classes, where an official from the local Union Rural Bank came to discuss terms on the potential loans they could offer the women. The discussion was almost entirely in Twi (the local language), so we practiced reading body language.
Tonight, our meeting was cancelled, which we are ecstatic about. We're going to get food on the beach, watch the sunset, and catch up on work. =)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
ABAN
Yesterday morning we visited ABAN, a local organization in Achimota that runs a women's empowerment program for those who are pregnant or have recently had children. They girls were beautiful and impressive. We held a few one-on-one interviews, took a tour of the facilities, and held some babies! It was great to see the work they do first-hand (www.aban.org).
We left early afternoon for a long taxi ride to Street Stream Remedial College, which didn't work out exactly as planned. The school was eerie and in a poor neighborhood and the students were nowhere to be found. The school's director wouldn't allow us to take any video recording and then told us that he didn't trust our motives (and thought maybe we were there to steal of all his business ideas). Needless to say, we did not get a tour. It was a quick way to feel grounded again in the culture of business in Ghana.
Left for the artisan market to look at art and jewelry and then to an International Film Festival. There were free food/drinks everywhere, and as we walked in, we were sure we must have accidentally snuck into the wrong event. Then a fashion show, with models showing off a line of clothes made 100% of recycled material, followed by 6 short independent environmental films. What an amazing night.
This morning we met Tina Oh (from Partners Worldwide) for lunch and are now waiting, waiting, waiting for the Grand Valley State service learning team to arrive-- a group of 18 students and 3 faculty members here to work/study in Ghana for 7 weeks. As it is custom in Ghana.... we are patient and wait. Thank God for internet cafes.
We left early afternoon for a long taxi ride to Street Stream Remedial College, which didn't work out exactly as planned. The school was eerie and in a poor neighborhood and the students were nowhere to be found. The school's director wouldn't allow us to take any video recording and then told us that he didn't trust our motives (and thought maybe we were there to steal of all his business ideas). Needless to say, we did not get a tour. It was a quick way to feel grounded again in the culture of business in Ghana.
Left for the artisan market to look at art and jewelry and then to an International Film Festival. There were free food/drinks everywhere, and as we walked in, we were sure we must have accidentally snuck into the wrong event. Then a fashion show, with models showing off a line of clothes made 100% of recycled material, followed by 6 short independent environmental films. What an amazing night.
This morning we met Tina Oh (from Partners Worldwide) for lunch and are now waiting, waiting, waiting for the Grand Valley State service learning team to arrive-- a group of 18 students and 3 faculty members here to work/study in Ghana for 7 weeks. As it is custom in Ghana.... we are patient and wait. Thank God for internet cafes.
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