Ghana Service Placement

I have anxiously been awaiting my service placement for Ghana, and I am so excited to share that I will be teaching at the St Teresa's Girls Demonstration Primary School. This is the only all-girls primary school in Hohoe, so most women of the community who qualify have their education through this unit.  The St Teresa's Girls Demonstration School was established by the Roman Catholic Mission and is under the Catholic Education Unit as a demonstration school for St Teresa's Training College.  The school includes Kindergarten and grades 1-6.  There is also a junior high school attached to the Training College with collaboration between all school units.  Many subjects are taught including Math, Science, English, Civic Education, Religious and Moral Studies, Drama, Music, and Creative Arts. 

My volunteer activities will include: teaching conversational English, teaching simple Arithmetic, playing games and other outdoor activities, teaching basic hygiene, teaching children 1:1, assisting in grading papers and organizing learning activities, and organizing projects and activities for the children.  CCS provides all of the supplies for arts and crafts, but volunteers are asked to bring "Show and Tell" items including family photos and things representative of your daily life....I am thinking that my running shoes will be a big piece of my show and tell activity as they tell a neat story of the miles that Brad and I have traveled together.

We are asked to brainstorm ideas for recreational activities, games, and lessons for children.  My mother-in-law, Janet, who has her Doctorate in Education, has been a great source of information as she has spent her life's work focusing on Childhood Education, and my sister-in-law, Jenny, who has her Masters in Counseling, is an outstanding Elementary School Counselor...I have learned many songs and stories through them that may be ideal for use during this amazing placement!

In just one week, the Ghana bunch will meet in Hohoe! 

Preparing For Ghana

Wow! In exactly one week, our first Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad team will be assembling in Hohoe, Ghana to start our service program. I am so humbled, honored, and blessed by this opportunity. I secured my Visa quickly through a travel Visa expeditor agency, A Briggs. I had my multiple entry tourist Visa in under a week with non-rush service; I only had to submit four Visa application forms, four passport photos, flight itinerary, and of course my passport. Very simple, efficient, and reliable!


Lilly has partnered with Cross Cultural Solutions, a leader in international volunteerism.  Visit their informative website for more details about service programs across the globe.

After speaking to our Ghana CCS program coordinator, Megan, she answered many of my travel preparation/expectations questions. Here are a few things to consider:

• We will have internet access at the local internet cafe 10 minutes away from Home-Base; you can also purchase USB plug-and play modems/cards for about $35 dollars depending on minutes purchased. There is cell phone service in Hohoe, but will need to check with current cell provider to receive international service (sim card.)
• It is recommended to bring International/British 220V adapter/converter if you plan to power your laptop, iPod, cell phone etc
• All clothes in Ghana are washed by hand; this will be a fun, cultural experience. Because May falls during the rainy season, it is advised to bring just enough clothes if weather is humid and clothes take longer to air-dry. An iron is available at Home-Base if you wish to iron to avoid insects.
• Although Bath Towels will be provided, you may want to bring a washcloth(s)
• Raincoat is advised

I have started reading several recommended resources to learn more about the culture and customs: Bradt Guide Ghana, Changes, The Art of Crossing Cultures, Craig Sorti, Ghana - Culture Smart!, Once Upon A Time in Ghana, and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Thank You, Susan and Dr. Shuman for bringing this beautiful book to my attention; wonderfully written and inspirational!!)

If you would like to check out our Home-Base in Ghana or learn more about CCS service placements....you can search Cross Cultural Solutions Ghana at youtube.com....very cool and powerful!

I am currently immersing myself in the local language of Ewe. More to come....

Court

Preparing for Africa

Less than two months ago, I learned that I had been chosen by Lilly to serve as a Lilly Hearts Abroad Ambassador in Ghana.  Wow....completely humbled and honored.  I will embark on this amazing journey in just two weeks with a team of Lilly Hearts Abroad Ambassadors from around the world to serve as a compassionate corporate citizen partner in Hohoe, Ghana.  What does that mean? – I will have the incredible opportunity to work together with my Lilly colleagues to truly connect with a global community and gain an important understanding of the real challenges faced by those in other countries.

I am so grateful and blessed to have the chance to give time, energy, and offer skills that can change the lives of others who are need of a helping hand – and as you may have guessed – I can only imagine the personal transformation that I will experience as I immerse myself in this cultural exchange.  It is so easy to forget how fortunate we are to have access to medications, clean drinking water, and vaccinations at our local Travel Health Center.  Common for us – not so common for many.  

After my two plus week service experience in West Africa, I will be joining Brad in Tanzania for a two week safari.  Our visit to Tanzania will start in Kilimanjaro and we will make our way through the Serengeti.  This will be an amazing opportunity to enjoy the wildlife of East Africa and give back to the communities by spending time in village schools and/or orphanages.

Part of the preparation for my service experience in Ghana has been reading about the local customs and culture and researching the environment.  Here a few facts:

Location:  Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.

Land Boundaries:  Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, and Togo 877 km

Geography:  Size 239,460 sq km, slightly less than Oregon, US. Ghana has a tropical climate; it is warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north. Ghana's terrain consists of mostly low plains with a dissected plateau in the south-central area. Its lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at 0 m and its highest point is Mount Afadjato standing at 880 m. Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

Population:  Just over 21 million people live in Ghana. 3.1% of the population is believed to have HIV/AIDS. Literacy rate is just under 75%.

Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe (main language of Hohoe, Ghana), and Ga.

Brad and I look forward to sharing our journeys! xxxooo