Trainings

Well I’ve been back in Nadowli now for a few weeks and surprisingly I’ve been quite busy.

In my first week back, I spent most of my time in the office catching up on things I had missed before Christmas. I visited a few local schools to say Hi and welcome the New Year in. The office was very quiet, most people are reluctant to turn up to work in a morning now that the harmattan has set in. The temperatures in Nadowli have now dropped to about 25^oc in a morning (which for me is quite pleasant) and for the people in the office this is positively cold ! ! Those that do turn up, come togged up in sweatshirts, a thick coat, ear muffs, gloves, a bobble hat and scarf, of course I’m still turning up in my blouse and ¾ length trousers. One officer made the comment that he’s lucky, as it’s too cold to get up if you haven’t got a wife to heat some water for a wash . . . .

My housemate returned from England the second week which was nice as it’s very quiet without the company, she brought lots of goodies with her from home, (chocolate, Christmas cake, sweets, mulled wine sachets, spices and herbs)  which we’ve been enjoying sparingly to make them last. Also this week I had my first real request for support from a Head teacher out in one of the villages. He came into the office and asked if I could go into his school and do an INSET on lesson planning as his teachers didn’t know how to write lesson plans. A challenge accepted, although with an air of apprehension, I have been writing lesson plans for the last 11 years in England but had never seen an example of the Ghanaian way. I later discovered they are very similar.

Last week I spent most of my time making phonic resources and planning my INSET. I completed my first ‘full’ day in the office (I went back after lunch) making a handout to give to the teachers explaining how to set out a weekly plan and what information to put where. I also added a few tips and examples to get them started. The INSET went really well and the nerves soon settled, lots of questions followed and I surprised myself by how experienced I felt once I started answering their questions. I was really touched when the Head invited me to share a mineral and some biscuits with him and his staff to thank me.

Today was a day and a half, I was invited to a meeting involving VSO and NAWAG (an assembly women’s group set up in Nadowli that help with educational issues) it was held at the District Assembly, they had invited a selected number of teachers, children, parents and the NAWAG members, all representing their own group interest. The meeting was given a 9am prompt start time, which meant I was there for the obligatory fashionably early 8.50am, only to find that no-one else actually turned up til 9.30am and the meeting didn’t actually start til around 10.30 ! !

The afternoon raised some interesting thoughts for me, the teacher’s group were asked to rate on a 4 point scale a number of issues. One being professional development, from my observations of training here, teachers are given the date and time of a training and are expected to turn up regardless of whether the training is appropriate of their personal professional needs. They were asked to comment on the appropriateness of training and the consultation the training staff have with teachers about their professional needs. They all felt that training was appropriate and that they were consulted about the topics covered. I’m afraid I couldn’t sit on my hands for long and had to throw my spanner in the works and challenge their responses, eventually after some discussion they actually came to realise that they all have differing professional needs and that these are not met on an individual level, oh dear, I’m sure I’d have been shot at dawn had someone in authority heard me sway the vote.

Glad to say I’m still alive to tell the tale ! !

The festive season

Happy New Year ! ! (Sorry it’s so late)

I had a fantastic holiday with Tim over Christmas and New Year. Christmas was very different this year as you can imagine. My first hot Christmas. It was amazing that Santa still managed to find us in Ghana and we had lots of presents to open on Christmas morning. We sat in bed and opened our pressies before taking a trip up Mount Gemi, where we could experience a 360^o view of the whole of the Volta. We met up with some other volunteers who were travelling around the Volta Region for a ‘Christmas Lunch,’ before phoning home to wish our families a Merry Christmas.

We visited all the places mentioned in my last blog and more. Some of my favourites were, the Wli waterfalls, a trip to the Atome monkey sanctuary and a stunning boat ride on the Volta itself. The walk to the waterfalls took around 45 mins, we were accompanied by a guide who was on his Christmas break from school. He was very knowledgeable about the falls and the surrounding area. Along the path we saw hundreds of different species of butterflies which unfortunately wouldn’t keep still long enough for us to take any photos.

The monkey sanctuary was set in  beautiful rainforest, our guide took us along a short path to go in search of the monkeys and this is where I encountered my first Ghanaian snake. We continued along the path while the guide made calling sounds to alert the monkeys we had food. It took a short while for the monkeys to respond but eventually they came bounding through the tree tops to greet us. Armed with bananas we waited for the monkeys to come close and sit on my shoulder to take the banana out of my hand.

The boat trip on the Volta was spectacular, we were taken around the lake in a huge canoe shaped boat and shown the magnificent scenery of the mountains and inlets along the way. We stopped at a few beaches to pick up some travellers and to drop off some stowaways before stopping to learn about and sample some local rum distilled on one of the small islands. It was very tasty although very strong, I hasten to add we didn’t purchase any stored only in second hand water bottles ! !

We moved down to the beach for New Year, where we visited Elmina castle and learnt about the slave trade along the coast over 200 years ago. We then  spent a few days taking a well deserved rest sunbathing on a beautiful sandy beach, swimming in the sea and reading our books. We returned to Accra where I had to say adios to Tim at the airport  and spent my last few days catching up with some shopping and attended a meeting with VSO.

A two day journey of taxi’s, buses and tro’s followed with an overnight in Kumasi before I finally hit home for a good night’s sleep in my ‘own’ bed ! !

Busy Days

Hi

Sorry I haven’t got round to blogging for a while, the last few weeks have provided me with quite a rollercoaster of emotions and I haven’t really felt like sitting down and capturing many of these moments.

I have however been quite busy over the last few weeks. I was involved in the planning and delivery of a phonics workshop involving 125 Head teachers from the district I’m working in. This was a true introduction into how things are done here in Ghana. We arrived at 8.45am for a 9am start, the cleaners were just starting their morning clean, a few teachers had also started to arrive and sit down, the main speaker arrived and started his presentation at 9.45am and the rest of the teachers joined bit by bit. It soon became clear that there were not going to be enough chairs for everyone to sit down. A rally to the district office to borrow the ‘funeral’ chairs and everyone was finally seated by 10.50am. The morning session overran and a 15min lunch break followed before it was our slot to deliver our presentation, during this time the teachers were given what they had really come for, their  T’n’T (Time and Travel) a sum of money given at each workshop, which unfortunately is for some the only reason they attend trainings. Not sure how much of our presentation on teamwork actually went in ! !

I was invited to join in on the ‘International day for persons with disabilities’ in the regional capital, Wa. This started at 8am with a lively band and lots of dancing outside the School for the Blind. The turnout was very humbling, children and adults with a various array of differing disabilities joined in the celebration.  We were tasked with filling out a number of questionnaires to raise the awareness of the number of persons with disabilities living in Ghana. We began a VERY long walk (about 8km) through Wa with lots of banners and plaques stating lots of interesting facts about how people with disabilities are perceived. Lots of music and dancing lined the streets resulting in a very enjoyable time. We finally reached our destination and were entertained with a traditional dance by students from the School for the Deaf.

Being isolated from the television, newspapers, magazines, decorations, shop windows, the cold weather, it hasn’t really felt like the usual run up to Christmas that I’m used to. I did manage to get myself invited to help out at one of the local schools, teaching them some Christmas carols. We’ve sang our hearts out to O’come all ye faithful and the little drummer boy as well as a song in Dagaare which of course I had to dip out of. A few schools came together in the local church at the beginning of December and put on a carol concert. I was also given a Ghanaian Christmas card too.

Last week saw a trip to Bolga for a ‘Christmas Party’ and a VSO conference. Only this trip to Bolga was not in the VSO pickup like my first trip here after moto training. The 7hour journey on the Bolga bus is an experience never to be repeated. The road between Wa and Bolga is all dirt road with the most uneven surface and full of potholes, you are flung about in your seat for the entire journey.  We waited in Wa from 4am just to buy our ticket, the bus finally leaves at around 6am. The bus itself leaves a lot to be desired, you sit in rows of 5 with a seat the width of a 30cm ruler, therefore you spend the journey with someone more or less sat on your knee, with their smelly armpits and elbows in your face. We hadn’t been on the road for more than 2 hours and we broke down in a small village in the middle of nowhere at about 8.15am. But don’t worry folks we’ll have it fixed in 10 mins when the mechanic arrives. Yeah you guessed it he had to come the 2 hour journey from Wa. So we sat and we sat and we sat. No water, food, no toilet, an old man for entertainment and blazing sun. A fairly ingenious young guy managed to find / dig groundnuts. He even managed to roast them under some dry hay, they were delicious and very well received. We were finally back on the road by about 1.30pm. (5 hours later) When we finally arrived in Tumu, just over half way of our journey, I unfortunately had to experience my very first ladies urinal, not a pleasant one. We eventually arrived in Bolga about 6.30pm and then boarded a tro to Zebilla for the party to begin. Another potholed road, tarred this time though ! !  A great party and a good chance to meet up with volunteers who arrived in country at the same time, as well as a chance to meet some of the old timers.

We also had a meeting of all those volunteers that do the same job as me throughout Ghana. This was a good learning experience, finding out what others have been doing in their placements so far, sharing successes and difficulties within their jobs and motivating each other to try new things.

The return journey from Bolga on Wednesday thankfully went without any hiccups.

While I was in Bolga my housemate returned to England for Christmas, I hear you have had a good dusting of snow, a huge contrast to the 30^oc heat we are experiencing here, although night times are starting to get chilly and I even had to get my blanket out last night ! !

This weekend has also been busy, I met up with a friend in Jirapa on Saturday for another Christmas party where we were in charge of the mulled wine. (A very new experience for the Ghanaians – ‘You drink this wine hot ?’) We partied into the late hours and arrived home around 9.30pm (a late night in Ghana) We were both up bright and early to attend the 8.30am Mass at the local church in Jirapa, this is the only Mass read in English. We were hoping to go and have a good sing along to all the Christmas carols so near to Christmas, not a carol in sight. Apparently they save the carols for the service on Christmas Eve. It was nice to see how church is done Ghanaian style and I’m sure I’ll probably make it to more services in the New Year.

Well this week sees the arrival of Tim to Ghana, it seems like I have been counting down the days forever. We’re going to be travelling up the Volta Region over Christmas and hope to visit a village on Christmas Day and see how a traditional Christmas is celebrated in Ghana. We have planned visits to see the traditional Kente cloth being made, a visit to the Wli waterfalls, a trip to the monkey sanctuary, an afternoon watching beads being made and finally a trip to Kakum National Park, where we will do a canopy walk through the trees. We will then spend a week along Cape Coast on the beach for New Year, lots of volunteers will be there to see the New Year in together.

I hope to report of all these adventures in my blog on my return in January.

It's my birthday

My birthday started early this year with friends round to celebrate on Saturday. I invited all the volunteers living in the Upper West round for lunch. Bringing with them lots of tasty biscuits as presents which will be appreciated with my morning coffee over the next few days.

We started first thing to make or shall I say I helped to make a very flavoursome tomato soup (Tomatoes are more or less our staple food and all that is available most days in Nadowli market) and Adrienne very kindly baked a delicious pineapple upside down cake sporting 3 and 4 candles to represent me turning my 34 years ! ! After blowing out my candles and making my wish, we tucked in and finished off the cake between us.

Today started with lots of texts and a wonderful video on Facebook from my family back home. (lots of tears shed) I opened the few cards that had arrived last week from family and a lovely present from my housemate, a new cloth bag, a beaded bracelet she had made and a bar of luxurious black honey soap. Thoroughly spoilt.

I took the day off and my friend arrived to pick me up around 9am and we rode our moto’s to Wa, (the largest town in the Upper West) We shopped til we dropped around the market and bought some treats in the point and shout. We then went for the most delicious meal at a hotel to celebrate. Chicken and real potato chips, it’s amazing how exciting chips have become since arriving in Ghana. Yam is a poor substitute I’m afraid.

So that I didn’t miss home too much on my birthday it even managed to rain for 10 mins during lunch, a true November birthday after all.

JIM

As part of my induction to working as a volunteer here in Ghana, VSO ‘arrange’ a tripartite meeting between themselves, the volunteer and the work placement. ‘Arrange’ I say in inverted commas, there was more arranging on my part. I had an email from VSO asking me to find a venue, invite the Director of Education, the Assistant Directors, the Circuit Supervisors, Head teachers etc. Photocopy resources, I was assured that they would provide a snack for those attending. Adrienne advised me to check on the latter, so I emailed to check if I needed to arrange this too about a week before, no reply. Presuming that it had been arranged I emailed again to check, the night before I received a reply advising me to arrange a packed lunch for 20 people. How do you arrange chicken and rice for 20 people with 24hours notice, easy, panic, then ask one of the ladies in the office ! !

Having written up on a flip chart the objectives provided in the initial placement overview I received before I came to Ghana, I was ready for the meeting to begin. The meeting was due to start at 9.30am, by 10am three people had arrived. The remainder rolled in as the morning went on. The Director arrived at 10.15am and spent most of her time on her mobile phone. (mobile phones in Ghana don’t have a silent button or off switch ! ! or so it would seem.)

The Honourable Chief then arrived to greet the Director, along with his police escort. The meeting was halted and we all stood to attention.

The meeting finally got started at about 10.45am. After introductions, my objectives were reviewed, people split into groups and action plans constructed for the work I am to do over the next 10mths.(Although I think they think I’m here for the next 10 years) The meeting finished by 1pm and lunch arrived promptly and was enjoyed by everyone involved.

 A very productive morning by anyone’s standards.

Lie in ? ? ?

What does a girl have to do to get a lie in ?

Since arriving in Ghana a lie in has never been on the cards. For those of you who know me well, you’ll know how important sleep is to me ! !

I wake every morning to a dawn chorus of cockerels, pigs, goats and sheep all calling out for their babies. Either that or they have been told I’m in town. From 5 am onwards it’s a fight to stay asleep, the cockerel seems to have taken up permanent residence outside my bedroom window. I decided that this weekend I was going to try hard to ignore their morning calls and finally try for a lie in.

Amazingly I wasn’t woken at 5am by the usual dawn chorus, but instead I was woken by the booming voice of our landlord’s son and his friend at 6.15am coming to start work on the drainage channels around our house. (During the wet season water has been eroding the walls and making them damp.) They then proceeded to talk at full volume for the next 3 hours.(Ghanaians don’t seem to know what the word whisper means) Along with their shouting from one end of the house to the other, came the hammering,  banging, clattering and an argument in Dagaare. The only solution was to get up and that was the end to my chances of a lie in. By the time I was up and dressed they had left for the day.

I’ll try again next weekend ! !

I'm being used ! !

I’m finally beginning to be used for my skills.

Schools here in the village are very under resources by any standards, most schools have only a room for each class, most have small desks with a bench attached which is used for upto 3 children to sit at. The bench being about 1m in length. No electricity, text books etc. Therefore they only have a chalkboard which the teacher uses to teach the lessons, drawing pictures to demonstrate. To teach ICT the teacher has to draw the computer on the board and occasionally they also have 1 textbook with coloured pictures to show the children what a computer actually looks like. No physical computer being present. This is where my skills came in.

A local Head has just been given a laptop by her brother and didn’t know anything about computers, so asked if I could go down and show her how to use it. I introduced her to the basic skills and uploaded a simple program that has been designed to be used by children in Ghanaian schools. From this she has now decided that she would like me to go into her school to help take groups out with her to teach ICT using an actual computer. I await her call ! !

To thank us for going down and helping her with some new skills, she invited us to the local spot (bar) for drinks. It was really nice to be able get to know a Head and begin to build both professional and social relationships here in the village.