This last month has been really busy for both of us and with interrupted internet service and access to internet cafes or office PC, it has not been possible to update this blog. Thanks to all the friends who reminded us that they read the blog and that we should continue to add to it. For those who appreciated Michael’s slide shows, he will be making more of these once he returns from Bolgatanga in a weeks’ time. He is there for motorbike training. His job now covers other districts in the region so VSO will give him a motor bike. I am looking forward to riding pillion – promise not to look at the road because that will only result in my being a back seat driver.
The highlights for the past weeks have been:
A workshop on Raising awareness of the Disability Act and Human Rights for women with disabilities in Mafi Kumasi (I go again tomorrow for 3 days). I roped Michael in to help last time, because two of the staff needed a lot of support. We went to this small village where there was no mobile phone coverage and hence we were cut off from everything and as a result put all our energies into the workshop. The women really got into participating and the role plays. There was a lot of laughter and fun. I really wished then that I could speak in Ewe (we still haven’t managed to have any lessons as the last Tuesday we were in town it rained heavily and then everything else stops.
Building special needs classes in a school in Adaklu Helekpe by the side of the baobab tree: We will be making an application to Anil’s golf club and hope that they can raise enough money for us to build two class rooms and a dining room for all the students. You will hear much more about this if we are successful as it will take up a lot of our time. A few weeks ago we told you about climbing Mt. Adaklu and the picture of a village that you can see from top of the mountain is Helekpe. We are both really excited about this and have had a lot of support from the chiefs of the village and in fact the “War-chief” is personally involved as he is also a builder. Helekpe is about 15 miles away but the road has been impossible due to the heavy rains.
Teaching (or rather supporting a special needs class in Ho): I started supporting Esenam, a qualified Special Needs Teacher, few weeks ago. Two mornings a week I spend an hour and a half at the class and at the moment due to language barrier, I can only support as extra pair of hands. Michael has started joining me and we both really look forward to the two mornings. Even though one time when Michael went on his own, he nearly ended up having a hair-cut!! Bored student with scissors!
VSO Annual Conference: Celebrating 50 years of VSO in Ghana: Michael was on the planning team and this kept him busy for a few days. I facilitated three workshops and used “World Cafe” concept which was fun. We were all put up in a posh hotel for 3 days (78 volunteers) and I could not bear to think about the expense on our accommodation – although some clearly felt that they needed pampering. I can understand this because some of the volunteers have had such horrendous health problems – every time we see them they have lost more weight!
The highlights for the past weeks have been:
A workshop on Raising awareness of the Disability Act and Human Rights for women with disabilities in Mafi Kumasi (I go again tomorrow for 3 days). I roped Michael in to help last time, because two of the staff needed a lot of support. We went to this small village where there was no mobile phone coverage and hence we were cut off from everything and as a result put all our energies into the workshop. The women really got into participating and the role plays. There was a lot of laughter and fun. I really wished then that I could speak in Ewe (we still haven’t managed to have any lessons as the last Tuesday we were in town it rained heavily and then everything else stops.
Building special needs classes in a school in Adaklu Helekpe by the side of the baobab tree: We will be making an application to Anil’s golf club and hope that they can raise enough money for us to build two class rooms and a dining room for all the students. You will hear much more about this if we are successful as it will take up a lot of our time. A few weeks ago we told you about climbing Mt. Adaklu and the picture of a village that you can see from top of the mountain is Helekpe. We are both really excited about this and have had a lot of support from the chiefs of the village and in fact the “War-chief” is personally involved as he is also a builder. Helekpe is about 15 miles away but the road has been impossible due to the heavy rains.Teaching (or rather supporting a special needs class in Ho): I started supporting Esenam, a qualified Special Needs Teacher, few weeks ago. Two mornings a week I spend an hour and a half at the class and at the moment due to language barrier, I can only support as extra pair of hands. Michael has started joining me and we both really look forward to the two mornings. Even though one time when Michael went on his own, he nearly ended up having a hair-cut!! Bored student with scissors!
VSO Annual Conference: Celebrating 50 years of VSO in Ghana: Michael was on the planning team and this kept him busy for a few days. I facilitated three workshops and used “World Cafe” concept which was fun. We were all put up in a posh hotel for 3 days (78 volunteers) and I could not bear to think about the expense on our accommodation – although some clearly felt that they needed pampering. I can understand this because some of the volunteers have had such horrendous health problems – every time we see them they have lost more weight!
Michael has been working on our garden and has made a great effort. He has added more plants last week which are not in the photos. This was the first planting session and we both got really excited about it.
The bad news is that the house is leaking from the roof as well as the floor so we have to move. My employer is looking for alternative accommodation for us. However we will take the plants in the garden with us wherever we go.
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