tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76113924432693383272024-03-14T06:40:23.591+00:00Ghana 2010 - Akwaaba / ZaareMichelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-19098568028587514962010-04-18T21:09:00.001+01:002010-04-18T21:11:58.160+01:00Week 8 and 9: 14 – 28 MarchThe highlights of this fortnight were visiting the schools that are going to participate in the Global School Partnerships programme and going to Mole National Park.<br />
<strong>Global School Partnerships (GSP)</strong><br />
The GSP schools are a representative group from across the Talensi-Nabdam district. Eighteen schools are looking to partner schools in Milton Keynes and four will be partnering schools in Haverhill, Suffolk. The schools in Haverhill have already been identified and include Walton High’s Leading Edge partner school Castle Manor Business and Enterprise College. I will be working with colleagues on my return to identify another eight schools in Milton Keynes.<br />
<br />
Both primary and Junior High Schools are involved in the programme. If successful, the initiative will provide excellent learning opportunities for the children and in staff in both countries.<br />
<br />
Below are some of the children and schools in Talensi-Nabdam that will be taking part in the programme.<br />
<br />
<strong>Takano Junior High School and Pwalugu Primary School</strong><br />
These schools are just off the Tamale Road to the south of Bolgatanga. Just over a thousand children attend the two schools that share the same site.<br />
<br />
Students in both the Junior High School and Primary School sit in rows at dual desks. This, and large class sizes, encourages teaching to be very didactic and students’ are usually very passive in their learning.<br />
The students in all the schools visited were exceptionally well behaved and incredibly patient. It is not unusual for students to sit in their classrooms waiting for their teacher to turn up. I came across one class without a teacher and asked where their teacher was - they pointed outside at a teacher asleep under a tree! Teacher absenteeism is a major problem, but due to the centralised system headteachers are powerless to do anything about it. It appears that regardless of how unprofessional or incompetent a teacher is, they cannot be dismissed. The worst that can happen is a transfer to another school.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjUW9NT9GXtsDgawt-V4bYyp2-SkpLyaWqvgfnR8kklwQWGk4qxH_uT3HBIvKltFDmJe-9HVaBZGFl4TyT6-ihDUOlwAnIcufzFKWvvhbs1CfGm2xWzyCT4w3clFOfu2myA15GzkFNt4/s1600/Takano+JHS+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjUW9NT9GXtsDgawt-V4bYyp2-SkpLyaWqvgfnR8kklwQWGk4qxH_uT3HBIvKltFDmJe-9HVaBZGFl4TyT6-ihDUOlwAnIcufzFKWvvhbs1CfGm2xWzyCT4w3clFOfu2myA15GzkFNt4/s320/Takano+JHS+1.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>The headteacher of Takano JHS had a good sense of humour and insisted upon showing me his school’s computer lab. As you can see from the photos below, the name above the door is as far as it goes!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF_Gfi-bKduMYdSSHWoiBUQod1PALFBaGYcy55fvh58HjIlx3x-iC_L82iSqoBtDQDMC8PyBrgj_1PsSeR5CA0pMPLZn7rfAyZ-WuEXYB2PT8DGneZawuwgvm7vhnztHFosbkVq8ogSE/s1600/Takano+JHS+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF_Gfi-bKduMYdSSHWoiBUQod1PALFBaGYcy55fvh58HjIlx3x-iC_L82iSqoBtDQDMC8PyBrgj_1PsSeR5CA0pMPLZn7rfAyZ-WuEXYB2PT8DGneZawuwgvm7vhnztHFosbkVq8ogSE/s320/Takano+JHS+2.jpg" wt="true" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOpULEtSFiBOAhVae-4QtAp49mlSJnvOpI28F0x1wWE3ptvXGPihpFREyiLGOmsopj9IXGQcieyDK2cIX8THSwyLlpRu-W22XiGni-0CL2Z0G9T_iT9OLqI9Byjv9Sd3TRkAUdZsw1AA/s320/Takano+JHS+3.jpg" wt="true" /></div><br />
A problem across the district is the recent delivery of new desks – you can see them piled up at the back of this classroom.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjJEexF2yA9kJ8SP-KjbsdAoYMQ_1prCzNDNmz7oem6OYNo1Kaic8dr-jQdvnQtR6N4_sZlmeoxA4HetA152U6NIQTuCD3HU31euDZlbGBNb98N6Kks94yYzMS_mOW2NdSt8QlCv_3fg/s320/Takano+JHS+4.jpg" wt="true" /></div>Unfortunately the contractor the government commissioned to provide the desks used green wood and as it dried the furniture fell apart. Schools can’t get rid of the broken furniture until the District Auditor has visited to write the desks off!<br />
<br />
The building stock in the District is inadequate to meet the growing demand for education. As mentioned earlier in my blog, as a result many children are taught outside under trees. A number of schools in the GSP programme have problems with their buildings. Pwalugu Primary School has to teach a number of its classes in buildings that are called pavilions. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lJqV48DWBtqu6CxAe4LHdQbhJkoU5Z4YG9KKfA6yt_l0Swm7OcAW30XC9bx1HFlnC2aAQHtMYEwYoA-KmGiexL6qO-Z-SPP3CYfeOPE4tG5FocNJgypZ_T2tkdDmvAensg-C5yzFmLI/s1600/Pwalugu+Primary+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lJqV48DWBtqu6CxAe4LHdQbhJkoU5Z4YG9KKfA6yt_l0Swm7OcAW30XC9bx1HFlnC2aAQHtMYEwYoA-KmGiexL6qO-Z-SPP3CYfeOPE4tG5FocNJgypZ_T2tkdDmvAensg-C5yzFmLI/s320/Pwalugu+Primary+1.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
This is especially unfortunate because the Headteacher has made a real effort to ensure that the proper classrooms provide a good learning environment for the children as seen by the displays on the wall below. Displays on the walls of classrooms are very unusual in Ghanaian schools, but they can make an enormous difference to the room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qo0GPTzcsjd-TpG5di4meUosJ9-j20we9vRO8Jfoie6S7WKWPwNWO5f2Sdouy7quLsSytcPcJfoEmJJMOjsFmp3TAPciA6loAv2FDGx4ifO_Ang4V6u493B8EIZLyKN7oAL7J_0lBIw/s1600/Pwalugu+Primary+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qo0GPTzcsjd-TpG5di4meUosJ9-j20we9vRO8Jfoie6S7WKWPwNWO5f2Sdouy7quLsSytcPcJfoEmJJMOjsFmp3TAPciA6loAv2FDGx4ifO_Ang4V6u493B8EIZLyKN7oAL7J_0lBIw/s320/Pwalugu+Primary+2.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Tengzuk Primary School</strong><br />
Tengzuk is a village not far from the GES office in the Tongo Hills. It is famous for its shrine and the whistling noise in the made by the wind in the surrounding hills. All visitors must remove all the clothes on the upper part of their body and leave them as an offering to the ancestors. Needless to say, I was not going to visit any shrine that required me to go bare all!<br />
<br />
Tengzuk Primary School has some major issues with its buildings. During the storms of 2007 the roof was ripped off and despite assurances from the District Assembly they are still waiting for it to be repaired. However, notwithstanding the lack of roof, lessons still go on in the classrooms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR8rLNIBDoIspLUGXECU5HlTC_CCwhXvbpjOLbcowW6nROW_pRmpcenLqoIWpN9f0vqsGUNFs-768SfF5suCAygAOTMw2I8wSrGP71ojDb_ycZIwxwDGujZa7XiGuFbY4ECCqRH_TeMc/s1600/Tengzuk+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR8rLNIBDoIspLUGXECU5HlTC_CCwhXvbpjOLbcowW6nROW_pRmpcenLqoIWpN9f0vqsGUNFs-768SfF5suCAygAOTMw2I8wSrGP71ojDb_ycZIwxwDGujZa7XiGuFbY4ECCqRH_TeMc/s320/Tengzuk+2.jpg" wt="true" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN471FwqVVBb7pK4WTpzsJnF35BMZ_hmV-RuVmt6aaYBhBwSpcGl_uv2ESyOMI8SQRIzOMDQhtRpl2dHdUldcM9LiUqyMQ-6XgN1l6V0yy4OC5V6MXH37RcsGzDC_i24wZ6ON_y381Cs0/s320/Tengzuk+1.jpg" wt="true" /></div><br />
The success of the campaign that encouraged parents to send their children to school has been very successful across the District. However, this has put a lot of pressure on school accommodation and led to increased class sizes. This is especially the case in kindergarten and primary schools. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6UeDrDDNUakpCxJGl1YMwSGmwhshXMk9yuXlezy2FmCh385Gn5qKbc-_tovwS5-R0S4A1Wo-TvE_e56ejUrxBaDHMM0E2lZm6dNAsf0mgiu-uKwsACcQSQ1XZwgK-Uvs-Ep4K7qhuy8/s320/Tengzuk+3.jpg" wt="true" /></div><br />
The problem with accommodation was only one of the challenges facing the Headteachers of the schools in the GSP programme. Other issues included the lack of trained teachers and insufficient teaching and learning materials. Hopefully, the partnership will be able to help with some of these issues.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Mole National Park</strong><br />
Over the weekend I met up with Janet and Karen, the other Headteachers who went to Ghana with me, for a very pleasant long weekend at Mole National Park. Mole is Ghana’s largest national park and is located in the Northern Region which s to the south of the Upper East Region. Due to the problems with the car hire company and the condition of the roads it took all day to travel to the Park. However, the journey was worth it for the opportunity to view the animals in their natural environment and for the air conditioning in my hotel room!<br />
<br />
Some of the wildlife we encountered on our safaris is shown below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgH9y_bkbY8AC89BxSgy99Wgkr99v5bKK8xV6cL3TV3mf48_p3jzZx4PViMhhEw7_Iju9AC6A_3duCAvsnQYv1qox7ImzRniZz3_1_0etduUmuVnSoQ4vLPAQpk5yujWM0Xhsersn8x4/s1600/Mole+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgH9y_bkbY8AC89BxSgy99Wgkr99v5bKK8xV6cL3TV3mf48_p3jzZx4PViMhhEw7_Iju9AC6A_3duCAvsnQYv1qox7ImzRniZz3_1_0etduUmuVnSoQ4vLPAQpk5yujWM0Xhsersn8x4/s320/Mole+2.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxu31DuhtGODI5KTtmV1UdgOACjQYH8eZcUIAGVVXESgkamLepW7l_CTdZOXATtDO0Ho1KTRVSKP9EGfRXJX08Qe2CoNoBEiGqQXefd_hEBDdTnI_SAuUEUZMHX96O7vhOgeG_gfgcn4/s1600/Mole+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxu31DuhtGODI5KTtmV1UdgOACjQYH8eZcUIAGVVXESgkamLepW7l_CTdZOXATtDO0Ho1KTRVSKP9EGfRXJX08Qe2CoNoBEiGqQXefd_hEBDdTnI_SAuUEUZMHX96O7vhOgeG_gfgcn4/s320/Mole+1.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jpg87NBgXpt1UFLPhi1auZG2hsRPTI4QbrTj9CcKiGw5kqOOH3Vy7qljV5GWExcfp_GM8qTNUk4TzyYf7o6JFbKDvv-Ue-mnJll6xWxrIa8PJGI0gEaiutg0CbTMGXANJrx9G-dmv_A/s1600/Mole+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jpg87NBgXpt1UFLPhi1auZG2hsRPTI4QbrTj9CcKiGw5kqOOH3Vy7qljV5GWExcfp_GM8qTNUk4TzyYf7o6JFbKDvv-Ue-mnJll6xWxrIa8PJGI0gEaiutg0CbTMGXANJrx9G-dmv_A/s320/Mole+4.jpg" wt="true" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Iwru2M1-ok8ubB2Jc3Vrea2m-ml98tsm9xUh17I8Vle5-uPxaWBCZ8lJDY_bhu76LlYI_Kh0Ys7nFuOUVnZvw9ViHumMAiXBen8dWt8tA2AhDUW44OwF6zOsb3CkoiX-E55s8D6pF5I/s320/Mole+3.jpg" wt="true" /></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-22424905947679108912010-04-09T22:22:00.000+01:002010-04-09T22:22:43.455+01:00Week 7: 7 – 13 MarchThis week was spent planning for the Global School Partnerships (GSP) workshop held on Thursday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTbe52AKCsi1vullFcfG8xP878gMH2c5RwfuemHIVS3OybVbz5u3VLH_bEQukuwmQBYPVyt7JUoY0T8qvtDp8ebyCRD4VzPpdJUMGRDEFpB5Reh1J2Yn6DPB-onFzGP1jW83u5PF-Vtc/s1600/globalschools-logo-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTbe52AKCsi1vullFcfG8xP878gMH2c5RwfuemHIVS3OybVbz5u3VLH_bEQukuwmQBYPVyt7JUoY0T8qvtDp8ebyCRD4VzPpdJUMGRDEFpB5Reh1J2Yn6DPB-onFzGP1jW83u5PF-Vtc/s320/globalschools-logo-web.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>The British Council’s Global School Partnerships programme links schools in the UK with schools in other parts of the world. The aim is to promote the awareness of global issues across the curriculum. Partner schools work together on developing joint projects based on five conceptual areas: social justice and equality; diversity; globalisation and interdependence; sustainability; peace and conflict.<br />
<br />
The Talensi-Nabdam GES Director, Francis Ayaaba, and the Director of Children’s and Young People’s Services in Milton Keynes, Gail Tolley, have agreed to develop a Local Authority wide partnership. In addition to the four MK-TN GSP clusters, there will also be a link to Walton High’s Leading Edge Partner School in Haverhill, Suffolk, with four of the Ghanaian schools being partnered with schools there.<br />
<br />
Feedback on the workshop was very positive, with a lot of excitement about the possibilities the partnership offers for the children and staff in both countries. <br />
<br />
<strong>Sirigu Art & Pottery Centre</strong><br />
<br />
At the weekend I visited the Art and Pottery Centre at a village called Sirigu close to the Burkina Faso border. The centre was set up a few years ago to create opportunities for local women to sell their art and craft work. Since then it has diversified and also offers good quality guesthouse accommodation and tours of local compound houses.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4J5odKUydCG1jeDN-KOSd6h_ybg6zmrIhAb_jqY38JUZBW7cEBQwTepuAn_QBb_z71e7z_Nz-h1T5aA4KGGz-xOO4iIZIBuAFCWM4SDBWhS35m0iX9mhU_maS5khbdnw9IGSRYOb_zs/s1600/Sirigu+Guest+accommodation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4J5odKUydCG1jeDN-KOSd6h_ybg6zmrIhAb_jqY38JUZBW7cEBQwTepuAn_QBb_z71e7z_Nz-h1T5aA4KGGz-xOO4iIZIBuAFCWM4SDBWhS35m0iX9mhU_maS5khbdnw9IGSRYOb_zs/s320/Sirigu+Guest+accommodation.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
This area of Ghana is famous for its beautifully painted houses. On the walls inside the Art Centre’s restaurant are some examples of the different designs used by local people to decorate their homes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjvU8TtWPZ9x3okHPZ-jM2xWYtmIkAfFTIJF8FKYN_qqWPJbtlZOUma4iW_G6V9UBEJbWtcnilagznslwqo03K50ard8StOI1yRDoH8yz8i40Wn1APDLZ33VmNuz8XFVXF16docxOcv4/s1600/Sirigu+restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjvU8TtWPZ9x3okHPZ-jM2xWYtmIkAfFTIJF8FKYN_qqWPJbtlZOUma4iW_G6V9UBEJbWtcnilagznslwqo03K50ard8StOI1yRDoH8yz8i40Wn1APDLZ33VmNuz8XFVXF16docxOcv4/s320/Sirigu+restaurant.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>All the materials used to create the patterns and images are natural and found locally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyv_ft2BFVsc_3ia_-ghgtRWndXIzH4pyWI6Jk-gDxoxp0-qO52WcKOC-iCPi0SEJlOnxcvP_8vgXmCoig46lx06tIa87NJannxDzo5wPQfqdjE8wWwO8oymno2uzLb6vrkVCB5nfsZQ/s1600/Sirigu+materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyv_ft2BFVsc_3ia_-ghgtRWndXIzH4pyWI6Jk-gDxoxp0-qO52WcKOC-iCPi0SEJlOnxcvP_8vgXmCoig46lx06tIa87NJannxDzo5wPQfqdjE8wWwO8oymno2uzLb6vrkVCB5nfsZQ/s320/Sirigu+materials.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>On the short walk to the compound home we were visiting, we came across women involved in activities that have not changed over the years. The girl below is pounding millet to separate out the seed from the husk. This is hard work in temperatures of well over 40 degrees. The millet us used to make T-Z, one of the staple local dishes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjDRlG9HifdSdHsSoe1IGCzGzMpkImeu8GUk3mWGNtBrRgA0Ude7pAgrz0NjUIWGhOuoppM3FWHB6vWZKEwwPPG4P1qf41htwb1Ty7PeACuMR6MFbtVT65-lFihruf7ywo_IWY7c8rS0/s1600/Sirigu+pounding+millet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjDRlG9HifdSdHsSoe1IGCzGzMpkImeu8GUk3mWGNtBrRgA0Ude7pAgrz0NjUIWGhOuoppM3FWHB6vWZKEwwPPG4P1qf41htwb1Ty7PeACuMR6MFbtVT65-lFihruf7ywo_IWY7c8rS0/s320/Sirigu+pounding+millet.jpg" wt="true" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEqeRRCCF488QYnDvLmqYAaTGNofTInBJn2YDuAJ8u9w_hwCtQyHeVwSDsod_mNZXcYl2JsXUYNrN1ow96HrD6KS231cw-rVdMzFSvKHWome8krUd5SJJvayrRecNoRinN4rOfjSEb74/s320/Sirigu+pounding+millet+2.jpg" wt="true" /></div><br />
The woman below is stirring a large bowl of pounded ground nuts to extract the oil. The ground nuts are grown on the farm to make ground nut oil and paste for the family. Any surplus will be sold at the local market. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47yMT1M3JKGBQu93n3p30uFruE2r68siG0Dr27KeOyo-k78EyoT7-SNIBajyoQiXicXjNIIOSb80P6Tu8i1xEpcfHDTAPk1Cd4ci7Ly3GJf9UNmwQRRDiXOqjkR_xgVoTc8pzhwNtjcQ/s1600/Sirigu+making+ground+nut+oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47yMT1M3JKGBQu93n3p30uFruE2r68siG0Dr27KeOyo-k78EyoT7-SNIBajyoQiXicXjNIIOSb80P6Tu8i1xEpcfHDTAPk1Cd4ci7Ly3GJf9UNmwQRRDiXOqjkR_xgVoTc8pzhwNtjcQ/s320/Sirigu+making+ground+nut+oil.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>In the north of Ghana you will pass many traditionally built compound homes. Visiting one of them gave a fascinating insight into many people’s lives in this part of Ghana.<br />
The different areas of the home are arranged around a courtyard. This is where the family cook and eat and where the laundry is done and hung out to dry. The large pot below is brewing the local alcoholic drink called Pito.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2bjd_WlESgxtahIZSabuDz4DJ-_LqKYXolynDLG1tasA1jflm3GUOb08hvSK5TW11ulcSuK2g0f8mnQIWs0_UO7z0L1S8BAYlDRlIFCIJP_TX6498kuiuEO3zGM63oiuAd-zWs5amVE/s1600/Sirigu+compound+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2bjd_WlESgxtahIZSabuDz4DJ-_LqKYXolynDLG1tasA1jflm3GUOb08hvSK5TW11ulcSuK2g0f8mnQIWs0_UO7z0L1S8BAYlDRlIFCIJP_TX6498kuiuEO3zGM63oiuAd-zWs5amVE/s320/Sirigu+compound+home.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIzT08AnciMl-_gSwNUiZ1NV-_Kt4m5C9yKruvkaiA9s1CsQI45TCUQ_ES10Os8Ed-9kCcHMX8lxeHSs5HTjpRYdOwKP-oD7FYpL4Sho4vWLs04WEKpupDzVAA2UvPJUpV-CHG89GXZY/s1600/Sirigu+Pito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIzT08AnciMl-_gSwNUiZ1NV-_Kt4m5C9yKruvkaiA9s1CsQI45TCUQ_ES10Os8Ed-9kCcHMX8lxeHSs5HTjpRYdOwKP-oD7FYpL4Sho4vWLs04WEKpupDzVAA2UvPJUpV-CHG89GXZY/s320/Sirigu+Pito.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>There is also a manger area to keep the farm animals safe at night and a separate grain store which is accessed by a ladder made from the branch of a tree.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw4uyW8F3m1KKyytKLmBDiopHHBGfDvxfO32A6J26561sAoOWbP5YZw1sNuDN_ngH2NP7KIE2VkcmjsaH94HX2snNCt-LqMT25H9O9YaiCyiYSuRXs_RQqqNnBtGAmI0SdxXVahaYDnM/s320/Sirigu+compound+home+2.jpg" wt="true" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTOT2gL-3Eid5VIa0gebtFL9EP7u91CyllFqt16PYdW9OgzYv3wQOd36DNA6IZAz2Jh5nmDPka9eB1OwcPF24KGqG4g1cXJY07mzn99T9VrZaNFpxWqspBgub8us8BEKiS8IceIVkyWw/s1600/Sirigu+grain+store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTOT2gL-3Eid5VIa0gebtFL9EP7u91CyllFqt16PYdW9OgzYv3wQOd36DNA6IZAz2Jh5nmDPka9eB1OwcPF24KGqG4g1cXJY07mzn99T9VrZaNFpxWqspBgub8us8BEKiS8IceIVkyWw/s320/Sirigu+grain+store.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We were invited into one of the rooms that surrounded the courtyard. It was beautifully decorated on the outside and was entered via a small opening. Our guide explained that in the past this was for defensive purposes as this area was regularly raided by slave traders. Any attackers entering the room would have to enter head first, making them very vulnerable to attack by the people taking refuge inside. In addition, entering a very dark room from the bright sunlight would also make them temporarily blinded as their eyes adjusted to the darkness. The entrance to this room is now larger than in the past, but you can still see how it would have been a useful defensive measure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJnzedXKVM1etiY1TPFvn84xasZiZPealbE-d9bC36XBNJGxOLewk3GLxRcTKD8mhu14bqqI5c7mFSQ6NWP8k9hyOqqeehNFvzMd1ZEVklULBU0QQDuZv_4i4V_hv991II6xPp7j-mLw/s1600/Sirigu+decorated+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJnzedXKVM1etiY1TPFvn84xasZiZPealbE-d9bC36XBNJGxOLewk3GLxRcTKD8mhu14bqqI5c7mFSQ6NWP8k9hyOqqeehNFvzMd1ZEVklULBU0QQDuZv_4i4V_hv991II6xPp7j-mLw/s320/Sirigu+decorated+home.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd7aD8BMKrzxy6TafUrKZaoaziGu8wlKe07-tDlZtTbjHEzTdDLxbgyn2wOMfu9c1zkFqZhzYSdYLA7a-ieQAFpmwyRDlQW-iww1M75A8bwgAHci6Mtjc2HVTVJgnyg1x6rk1Qck836w/s1600/Sirigu+home+exit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd7aD8BMKrzxy6TafUrKZaoaziGu8wlKe07-tDlZtTbjHEzTdDLxbgyn2wOMfu9c1zkFqZhzYSdYLA7a-ieQAFpmwyRDlQW-iww1M75A8bwgAHci6Mtjc2HVTVJgnyg1x6rk1Qck836w/s320/Sirigu+home+exit.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Inside the room an old lady was busy grinding millet (and a few ants). Despite the temperature outside being well over 40 degrees the room was surprisingly cool. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierdOLmDFkripTmj60V2e9G8X5IXXJVxvbrWNyBGDBwicqhehRg4G6X5qYexUH9k511topQOvpH7xxfIYWh-7l5C3WE-7qEAsC-ehnxwYzyb4moEfsIX3bAq5S5ibK1BBd7TC9TTe2E9Y/s1600/Sirigu+grinding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierdOLmDFkripTmj60V2e9G8X5IXXJVxvbrWNyBGDBwicqhehRg4G6X5qYexUH9k511topQOvpH7xxfIYWh-7l5C3WE-7qEAsC-ehnxwYzyb4moEfsIX3bAq5S5ibK1BBd7TC9TTe2E9Y/s320/Sirigu+grinding.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
This room was also where the women of the family stored the special stacking pots that are given to them when they marry. Only the woman who owns the pot is allowed to look inside or remove any of its contents. Local people believe that something very unpleasant will happen to anyone who dares to look inside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWwBf7KWsuHdYyUuOypPhBuIdpBBXMy3DUmWLz7_q9Ikvoqw1faDieYhcDsXDerjSUJmj6kwIqHbjjlxiafk0pJ94R4qH5B4AVrXIaHDbDEirUlD5SfoMbgjDtLV-qqJLyjQRio9ip70/s1600/Sirigu+Women%27s+pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWwBf7KWsuHdYyUuOypPhBuIdpBBXMy3DUmWLz7_q9Ikvoqw1faDieYhcDsXDerjSUJmj6kwIqHbjjlxiafk0pJ94R4qH5B4AVrXIaHDbDEirUlD5SfoMbgjDtLV-qqJLyjQRio9ip70/s320/Sirigu+Women%27s+pots.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Just opposite the Sirigu Art Centre is the best decorated public toilet block I have ever encountered. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5i97Ao4UJHFaYmITFK8SuVhiQO4syV-MaNpNnAaeqejzfTtb_Cs6GgfkqGibiWrqltx3sm-R0WE8RKLSBJwa2t_fr4jkC_UW0VAQO6z5Fr6WEtt8Rj8Q45wOvrVbtpxYOHyfLbXe-lI/s1600/Sirigu+toilets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5i97Ao4UJHFaYmITFK8SuVhiQO4syV-MaNpNnAaeqejzfTtb_Cs6GgfkqGibiWrqltx3sm-R0WE8RKLSBJwa2t_fr4jkC_UW0VAQO6z5Fr6WEtt8Rj8Q45wOvrVbtpxYOHyfLbXe-lI/s320/Sirigu+toilets.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Unfortunately when we visited Sirigu Art Centre many people were not around as an important local supporter of the project had recently died and her funeral was that day. Attending funerals at the weekend appears to be almost a national pastime. I have heard more than one news report commenting on the negative impact funerals are having on the country (especially education) due to the number of working days that are lost. In this part if Ghana, and possibly elsewhere, burials and funerals are separate events with funerals taking place months or even years after a person has died and been buried. The delay allows the family to save for the funeral as they can be very expensive affairs that last several days. My taxi driver, Adams, is very critical of this practice and has often said that the same people who spend lavishly on funerals often say they cannot afford school uniforms or pens and pencils for their children to go to school.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedpU28aN81mdPH34GHf0r45gUhSKl9gB1Yy1Hv3-P_ZZUugQbCyBHkKfiwD_RKxi79IgsJcXx46_1Vhp2-M5vCYA8bK8sXEBlchMryoODLP0acEsQwAACUfbYY1vJo1HmX4IEVnT8Hw8/s1600/Sirigu+funeral+announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedpU28aN81mdPH34GHf0r45gUhSKl9gB1Yy1Hv3-P_ZZUugQbCyBHkKfiwD_RKxi79IgsJcXx46_1Vhp2-M5vCYA8bK8sXEBlchMryoODLP0acEsQwAACUfbYY1vJo1HmX4IEVnT8Hw8/s320/Sirigu+funeral+announcement.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-86205301102129243752010-03-28T13:13:00.000+01:002010-03-28T13:13:07.268+01:006 March - Independence DayOn 6 March 1957, the Gold Coast was the first African colony to gain independence from the British resulting in the creation of the Republic of Ghana. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgH21ag-xqhhspQH5pqQbMFTJ3OiUH3o-Vd7yWkdVXL5Vl1SfkfQtnLgsuzP207_bBtyDzue_d-gQcz48O9ri63xTVWsiTCdW0BS8WpptUCIr5dxYd9TRzr1Dn9R-2hPeNYj33j5AWas/s1600/Gold+Coast+flag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgH21ag-xqhhspQH5pqQbMFTJ3OiUH3o-Vd7yWkdVXL5Vl1SfkfQtnLgsuzP207_bBtyDzue_d-gQcz48O9ri63xTVWsiTCdW0BS8WpptUCIr5dxYd9TRzr1Dn9R-2hPeNYj33j5AWas/s320/Gold+Coast+flag.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRiSmajGmEGqeVa3LH2NjYtRYaTaL-5wSjzA4qtZKFQZ5ocL_T_YWvE_di4LLukAtc0Rpl02MMCDFYLwOi9oQXw5x8MMICLb3eawqhMNL9yjaoLI_5oqqnOXJ7-E06k8w_aFOHz06rn0/s1600/ghana-flag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRiSmajGmEGqeVa3LH2NjYtRYaTaL-5wSjzA4qtZKFQZ5ocL_T_YWvE_di4LLukAtc0Rpl02MMCDFYLwOi9oQXw5x8MMICLb3eawqhMNL9yjaoLI_5oqqnOXJ7-E06k8w_aFOHz06rn0/s320/ghana-flag.gif" /></a></div><br />
Like most flags, the Republic of Ghana’s flag is very symbolic. The red stripe is a reminder of the blood of those who died in the struggle for independence; the gold represents the country’s mineral wealth, whilst the green reflects the fertility of the land and the lush vegetation in the south of the country. The single black five pointed star symbolises African unity.<br />
<br />
Ghanaians have an intriguing attitude towards their colonial past. I have yet to meet anyone with an outwardly hostile view of their colonial past. When people they find out I am British they often comment “our colonial masters” without a hint of irony. Ghanaians are, however, very proud of their independence and national identity and frequently refer to the positive way their country is portrayed internationally.<br />
<br />
6th March is celebrated by people all over the country with cultural celebrations and marches by school children. Talensi-Nabdam is no exception and in the weeks leading up to the big day children practice their marching and finalise their displays.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_oDj4Ln4FnguGrwFSn_tfA7wgiBIOwM9kPRW_qQ30tWoM1XG7vv4DxQN3hWKTGpxioixWtJByXnlsYsJbr_qAxezkoIKxMfyTwk8Y1Sl3Q7XSAWpmn7xi_ddwGSowq__avnoRBX1Q8A/s1600/Gym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_oDj4Ln4FnguGrwFSn_tfA7wgiBIOwM9kPRW_qQ30tWoM1XG7vv4DxQN3hWKTGpxioixWtJByXnlsYsJbr_qAxezkoIKxMfyTwk8Y1Sl3Q7XSAWpmn7xi_ddwGSowq__avnoRBX1Q8A/s320/Gym.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The celebrations for the district of Talensi-Nabdam were to take place at the Mission Field in Tongo. The programme for the day indicated an early start, but proceedings eventually got underway at 10 a.m. with the arrival of the local Chiefs and dignitaries. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but found the day to be most enjoyable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWHqFx4n0yZoHY9uvJWFc8Fq4iroGyWTZAnhY6Waq2sJF8gLsydJNC07F-9C8ZzGGG9bpg2-8ru_JFbIwiLbUPdOtVwY2eb_tMk1QRbDoaqJPoNJm7cFlEMkNFAe1rogztp6fAadu8VQ/s1600/Dignatries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWHqFx4n0yZoHY9uvJWFc8Fq4iroGyWTZAnhY6Waq2sJF8gLsydJNC07F-9C8ZzGGG9bpg2-8ru_JFbIwiLbUPdOtVwY2eb_tMk1QRbDoaqJPoNJm7cFlEMkNFAe1rogztp6fAadu8VQ/s320/Dignatries.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3UaFJXnQ53_mh4BFnoShEn_Fq0estH6exkhI5j37Iy9UYi0rpbjdrTiOFuJ4Nlk3xsvcioYeH4tcdfZjn_DCiI4Qzz2G4xDjK6wwqnzylqeN6rBAj2xAF4Be5zim8AxXIzevWfyfen8/s1600/Chiefs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3UaFJXnQ53_mh4BFnoShEn_Fq0estH6exkhI5j37Iy9UYi0rpbjdrTiOFuJ4Nlk3xsvcioYeH4tcdfZjn_DCiI4Qzz2G4xDjK6wwqnzylqeN6rBAj2xAF4Be5zim8AxXIzevWfyfen8/s320/Chiefs.jpg" /></a></div><br />
After the national anthem and speeches there was a cultural display performed by the children.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS1OleQgHm7dslNNADv81QUSlDZlcNAvyX-qjB6LTPI8VgRK2pzeyXrgq2FTYiBKR67bk9LmZalFmRpKDGb7edsnRXItcAL4dwE8FMQV9weFDArgMayhGt8N-WSwFUNS6UCk7t01qz_o/s1600/Culture+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhS1OleQgHm7dslNNADv81QUSlDZlcNAvyX-qjB6LTPI8VgRK2pzeyXrgq2FTYiBKR67bk9LmZalFmRpKDGb7edsnRXItcAL4dwE8FMQV9weFDArgMayhGt8N-WSwFUNS6UCk7t01qz_o/s320/Culture+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUckZpo-jaY2AlVbht1BgknzRQvXsazS0LfAjSmoKzOROWxdanX6CT6wl62sXg1tM6RU1p89BGRgxWPJnMhwPpgEKcf24zTHdifmGAaOAINSQvaAxNE_7L8p-IQCSUc0NLF8Xvtl2o6g/s1600/Culture+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUckZpo-jaY2AlVbht1BgknzRQvXsazS0LfAjSmoKzOROWxdanX6CT6wl62sXg1tM6RU1p89BGRgxWPJnMhwPpgEKcf24zTHdifmGAaOAINSQvaAxNE_7L8p-IQCSUc0NLF8Xvtl2o6g/s320/Culture+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSnXRmlZHuLy5q_lyWJOwiuv2ebCbAW7pBVMI5IOtT7aDqiiDVLXUIqlfi1SQzKvfZjaTv-ybKYLZ2AHgRPv4w_RJkSmCnQQD4GkqkoEPMc1jm9VKWR82F4pLJDsZT12joKgtcECn5nY/s1600/Gym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSnXRmlZHuLy5q_lyWJOwiuv2ebCbAW7pBVMI5IOtT7aDqiiDVLXUIqlfi1SQzKvfZjaTv-ybKYLZ2AHgRPv4w_RJkSmCnQQD4GkqkoEPMc1jm9VKWR82F4pLJDsZT12joKgtcECn5nY/s320/Gym.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The students representing schools from across the District began their march past at about midday – this means they had been sitting in the heat of the sun, without any shade or water, for four hours! Despite this, the students marched with great pride and a surprising amount of energy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjXo_sCmGuG-yySQfx9tL1r5SAhA6L-xy86JXk_YuRcDQ1OSvyF4mvfpYx4pv9LhlmEj8vw0B5KU_iam6RzIvNcmpa4YAu55WMEJUsFPYADaRtC72k5DpHPVsB4Tc2dSqKiNQ_qBDrdg/s1600/Girls+marching+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjXo_sCmGuG-yySQfx9tL1r5SAhA6L-xy86JXk_YuRcDQ1OSvyF4mvfpYx4pv9LhlmEj8vw0B5KU_iam6RzIvNcmpa4YAu55WMEJUsFPYADaRtC72k5DpHPVsB4Tc2dSqKiNQ_qBDrdg/s320/Girls+marching+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YYUmOef4bZYBxaqYb2RoNih_1xZqcqPDuYM8xGpiSKokU9fpNDloWjUqWENoAeKZIba-4wsZ7OEFBi0GPv1ge-mlDKKMGsdn4WA9hN47bEW__x3oJBx6oZcFtHP09CSm8sp5oxASy0A/s1600/Boys+marching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YYUmOef4bZYBxaqYb2RoNih_1xZqcqPDuYM8xGpiSKokU9fpNDloWjUqWENoAeKZIba-4wsZ7OEFBi0GPv1ge-mlDKKMGsdn4WA9hN47bEW__x3oJBx6oZcFtHP09CSm8sp5oxASy0A/s320/Boys+marching.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXhd6oBvFfqBleFN-e_89XdT2Reoox2pbbLwONgx4e2G-rkrh2q8pJJZuxp7VQOJlW-4XaUm0vyX13axwwvhI8lNJTndKGoEsAc7cp_hE4fg3iwvm9OXhNN5GniQoUjtNV2wfbv-fKLQ/s1600/Taking+the+salute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXhd6oBvFfqBleFN-e_89XdT2Reoox2pbbLwONgx4e2G-rkrh2q8pJJZuxp7VQOJlW-4XaUm0vyX13axwwvhI8lNJTndKGoEsAc7cp_hE4fg3iwvm9OXhNN5GniQoUjtNV2wfbv-fKLQ/s320/Taking+the+salute.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Some adults also marched, including teachers, hairdressers, refuse collectors and tailors and seamstresses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZKMJEryumcAWmh7jng-u7WQnJRdqouKdJ77VsgT3hXE-4P5DBPOyK8Dveyxv1eJ0NqlQTbY1lUv00AT-w7MI-aXVUtegjzhnShwv2iNkNE8MLXZLCpuFozzwBntPH0NemnoKggpRpVw/s1600/Refuse+collectors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZKMJEryumcAWmh7jng-u7WQnJRdqouKdJ77VsgT3hXE-4P5DBPOyK8Dveyxv1eJ0NqlQTbY1lUv00AT-w7MI-aXVUtegjzhnShwv2iNkNE8MLXZLCpuFozzwBntPH0NemnoKggpRpVw/s320/Refuse+collectors.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl-ggGIXZOkeY-vEb-n_Y5iVAubdtfMdERWicMdBmCjE3oEiVA8rkIKhzdZKcdvi1LyeyTSP8MbKa5HIdDSnAqGAnEYF5X_u8UKtZhWaJNvpZb0igFwDhnXdrZm6LvpmLRhHdYan2MPQ/s1600/Teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl-ggGIXZOkeY-vEb-n_Y5iVAubdtfMdERWicMdBmCjE3oEiVA8rkIKhzdZKcdvi1LyeyTSP8MbKa5HIdDSnAqGAnEYF5X_u8UKtZhWaJNvpZb0igFwDhnXdrZm6LvpmLRhHdYan2MPQ/s320/Teachers.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Independence Day Parade is organised by the Ghana Education Service and it uses this event to publically acknowledge the work of individuals and groups that have contributed in some way to improving educational opportunities for young people in the District. You can imagine my surprise when I heard the Director announce that I was one of those to be honoured for the work I was doing in relation to establishing links between schools in Talensi-Nabdam and Milton Keynes and the setting up of an ICT Centre.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bMucIsuqCHuTd7nd8Ym8Nyn05uh0bkllJ8iSnsWo0a-3R2_L7GKMojtJn9WRlgAIA83TG10ZEpnCrvJfqLzWE3kLy5axr-X16vgBWWf1AcqBaGeselHxcil-WFkQVeL-HSYU6WPuInY/s1600/Receiving+certificate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bMucIsuqCHuTd7nd8Ym8Nyn05uh0bkllJ8iSnsWo0a-3R2_L7GKMojtJn9WRlgAIA83TG10ZEpnCrvJfqLzWE3kLy5axr-X16vgBWWf1AcqBaGeselHxcil-WFkQVeL-HSYU6WPuInY/s320/Receiving+certificate.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2fyDVnhYbezIRDeOceP49Y6dAA4IRdpiq1gQjHkC11Rm_cME_sqETdalOWA4euIzqPOSeremdq001JdyFY_F5kdCQ8aHmgrRtSd7xGgCONU9ca_09DVcKbcD5QwaPYZcJQjunpZlPXE/s1600/Certificate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2fyDVnhYbezIRDeOceP49Y6dAA4IRdpiq1gQjHkC11Rm_cME_sqETdalOWA4euIzqPOSeremdq001JdyFY_F5kdCQ8aHmgrRtSd7xGgCONU9ca_09DVcKbcD5QwaPYZcJQjunpZlPXE/s320/Certificate.jpg" /></a></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-56356642616938922632010-03-12T14:29:00.076+00:002010-03-25T22:02:50.149+00:00Week 5 & 6: 22 February - 5 MarchMany thanks for the feedback on the Blog, it is much appreciated. In response to some of the questions I have received from students about what life is like for young people living in northern Ghana, I have enlisted the help of the two students below. They borrowed my camera and have taken some photographs to illustrate aspects of their lives. The first part of their entry is below, but more will be added to this posting by the end of next week. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNtSJf6ITa4-qIE1gIsG4MDA3q53yCiSn3-IZLvnyfpZvykDo9xtn2ajrgyuiDO0scnTlW09DKw6yjqHx17lLEWh7jO4z5mDiHfHTM6RFd9Jer6ENj7A9z-HMeU9zsufuNbiVOttZErU/s400/P&J.jpg" vt="true" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Peter and Jessica</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Hello - my English name is <strong>Jessica</strong>, but I also have an African name which is <strong>Badipeth</strong> which means “do not stumble and fall”.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My name is <strong>Peter</strong>. My African name is <strong>Tindanzor</strong> which means “friend to the owner of the land”.</div><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Jessica:</strong> I am 13 years old. I have two sisters. One sister is older than me and the other younger. I also have three older brothers. I live with my Mother and Father. My Father is a Police Inspector in Tongo and my Mother sells chilled Pure Water. I am in JHS1 at St Martin’s Catholic School in Tongo. This is me in class.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33TviUpOD9DmOgvDoU1Pgo0pbGHirbX6uyYPjXir_Rfn7Nzs3UZwqET-N0zqBHY_pADdUg6_kn3Scy1VRZYVXvRy61j06WFZug3i73eRrB5s58laPuZiPwq1xqsJPh2i9nfmfb91QQks/s1600-h/Jessica+in+class.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33TviUpOD9DmOgvDoU1Pgo0pbGHirbX6uyYPjXir_Rfn7Nzs3UZwqET-N0zqBHY_pADdUg6_kn3Scy1VRZYVXvRy61j06WFZug3i73eRrB5s58laPuZiPwq1xqsJPh2i9nfmfb91QQks/s320/Jessica+in+class.JPG" vt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Peter:</strong> I am 15 years old. I don’t have any sisters, just three brothers – two are older than me and one is younger. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHgqR0u6aw1TE8k00Cl1VjkkjB_Q1C3YJ6u5dTQabDZfxSyLo5OzP3iA3VM09Ucxl1Ye8WNs7_34M0kBLg2Oed3nEuWcpwdlj7I45lpKOaUprwukWp1AN7xGygMOhkegwFNTPtKG2tuo/s1600-h/Peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHgqR0u6aw1TE8k00Cl1VjkkjB_Q1C3YJ6u5dTQabDZfxSyLo5OzP3iA3VM09Ucxl1Ye8WNs7_34M0kBLg2Oed3nEuWcpwdlj7I45lpKOaUprwukWp1AN7xGygMOhkegwFNTPtKG2tuo/s320/Peter.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Father is a farmer and he grows millet, maize and okra on the farm. We also have five cows, three ducks, pigs and six donkeys. The donkeys are used to carry firewood and to plough the land. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfU36j9YzqqmVhH8NRb5yxpBBSKnkLmoj89skMN_zpr3fuxKE5TjrdN2WlaarUSCMxSg4BM8a5sWcQYVW8BVhURJjJ3kx-3tSzbJERhDSdQeJ9tqXqNYH4Axuk6Gi5sndL1wlQoCBpNQA/s1600-h/Cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfU36j9YzqqmVhH8NRb5yxpBBSKnkLmoj89skMN_zpr3fuxKE5TjrdN2WlaarUSCMxSg4BM8a5sWcQYVW8BVhURJjJ3kx-3tSzbJERhDSdQeJ9tqXqNYH4Axuk6Gi5sndL1wlQoCBpNQA/s320/Cows.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NNudiRyHgliGhAtdYxUVGUBEURqFk2YKLJt6RdsWUFaVNaOd9XPOMtkOImCgVnq7K_IIPt10k35FcHNrLGgFAsr4XG20KLdwFnl6-3VRoP6VfmNIc-rJFVy9J0TfJWTuToTCieHFroA/s1600-h/Donkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NNudiRyHgliGhAtdYxUVGUBEURqFk2YKLJt6RdsWUFaVNaOd9XPOMtkOImCgVnq7K_IIPt10k35FcHNrLGgFAsr4XG20KLdwFnl6-3VRoP6VfmNIc-rJFVy9J0TfJWTuToTCieHFroA/s320/Donkeys.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> We have two puppies at home that will be used as guard dogs. We also have five cats, hens, turkeys and pigs. The dogs are my favourite as I don’t like cats very much.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUhpYDw2VRbQWrCLcPviEomaLo3c4jJjhfINrAXmqWgzZaenebwOhsFmaP08IWXBvKtMAuhO-xeibz8Du4c-FLJDkGqxnTPE9LbsGrl8B-pbD60Wqw2x257XMx8bPLwmYh4mwcdHR3iw/s1600-h/Pigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUhpYDw2VRbQWrCLcPviEomaLo3c4jJjhfINrAXmqWgzZaenebwOhsFmaP08IWXBvKtMAuhO-xeibz8Du4c-FLJDkGqxnTPE9LbsGrl8B-pbD60Wqw2x257XMx8bPLwmYh4mwcdHR3iw/s320/Pigs.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMUtlneybhqY0vY9f9oUBdqsBM7RLd-wru6N0V3dzVip12JH6YabwBagT8j9njR6PFHeLq-ICre-86ALeibu-cF7GWXDIG7ySU_ur_LnzIqGTyZQ3IZALU1iFOF2Qm2FFxNPhI27bCMY/s1600-h/Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMUtlneybhqY0vY9f9oUBdqsBM7RLd-wru6N0V3dzVip12JH6YabwBagT8j9njR6PFHeLq-ICre-86ALeibu-cF7GWXDIG7ySU_ur_LnzIqGTyZQ3IZALU1iFOF2Qm2FFxNPhI27bCMY/s320/Turkey.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> My house is called Yindanyir which means “the landlord’s house”. <br />
<br />
<strong>Peter:</strong> My house’s name is Yinbilyir which means “the house belonging to the twin that was born second”. Both my house and Jessica’s house have a similar traditional design. It is a circular compound house with a courtyard in the middle – this is where the family eats and spends most of its time. I took the snap below from the Tongo Hills. It shows the type of homes that are typical in this part of Ghana.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeQF1airHVBRDv74O_CL9t0h6iNHltnBdRla-cFRXDBfjTskCnQ9sKzVw9RpAMG2y9ZNMXuszrgNCUiu3JFLUJz1OmN30XHqVm8XLxy1DjZI370D4haP2JVLBTxquO6K6yWPZFm0Bj0s/s1600-h/View+of+Tongo+homes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeQF1airHVBRDv74O_CL9t0h6iNHltnBdRla-cFRXDBfjTskCnQ9sKzVw9RpAMG2y9ZNMXuszrgNCUiu3JFLUJz1OmN30XHqVm8XLxy1DjZI370D4haP2JVLBTxquO6K6yWPZFm0Bj0s/s320/View+of+Tongo+homes.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><strong>Peter:</strong> There are rooms surrounding the courtyard and a manger for the animals. The different rooms include a barn for storing food and bedrooms for parents, grandparents and the children. There is also a cooking room called a danboog. Cooking is done on an open fire using wood for fuel. Three stones are used at the edge of the fire and the wood is arranged in a triangular pattern. The cooking pot hangs above the fire. My home does not have lights and everyone in the village has to fetch their water from a bore hole.<br />
<br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> Below are some snaps of my home. From left to right they show: the house from the outside; the courtyard and the kitchen. Most homes don’t have lights, but we do which means we can have a fridge and television.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK5O_ZZ7f5dATtXaGRxnfCp6F95pG8pwUqdRe8KRiaM84x7k5m4j-u7Jn0Myk82JLg5ZY9OgSQWZTpDo2uuwmRy3N-B_AY2rhUrKZnpOgfHQx5u42nqivh6-MaJDGRg5Tj_5pzsODcEU/s1600-h/Jessica's+home+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK5O_ZZ7f5dATtXaGRxnfCp6F95pG8pwUqdRe8KRiaM84x7k5m4j-u7Jn0Myk82JLg5ZY9OgSQWZTpDo2uuwmRy3N-B_AY2rhUrKZnpOgfHQx5u42nqivh6-MaJDGRg5Tj_5pzsODcEU/s320/Jessica's+home+1.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FLeWEJkddLxj_24Jn02alS-kx4ol4ssHhdUiP_IZ0ZZ4XsPZN8JnoXbHgNEDPuEdQvxDQnkxApHCFHjeRsBWM_9KWu6_CDodJY3xb12eFcTGCQMWe9KXaiexBxKsWvkivpXUvMrsENA/s1600-h/Jessica's+courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FLeWEJkddLxj_24Jn02alS-kx4ol4ssHhdUiP_IZ0ZZ4XsPZN8JnoXbHgNEDPuEdQvxDQnkxApHCFHjeRsBWM_9KWu6_CDodJY3xb12eFcTGCQMWe9KXaiexBxKsWvkivpXUvMrsENA/s320/Jessica's+courtyard.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ0ZRzzWbOelAdxxjtnW9jWYwq_2TMf-29WQIs0bbWesawXy740PCV9o0a5Ljh2Ho8slUp7MqNRMziUZcLDYmZ3QkrhAe5tTssGyHCNeXd_wzzhhyphenhyphen8woG_W2lN5kzgZeAbWjHxJQ-YIo/s1600-h/Jessica's+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ0ZRzzWbOelAdxxjtnW9jWYwq_2TMf-29WQIs0bbWesawXy740PCV9o0a5Ljh2Ho8slUp7MqNRMziUZcLDYmZ3QkrhAe5tTssGyHCNeXd_wzzhhyphenhyphen8woG_W2lN5kzgZeAbWjHxJQ-YIo/s320/Jessica's+kitchen.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Peter:</strong> We live in Tongo, at the foot of the Tongo Hills. This area is famous for its shrines and festivals. Below is a snap of me and a friend at Boare during the recent Golbo Festival. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKTeVggXsOKfchz3seNSdPGCKM7nGZdvXTCJmELANeNO-sZ-VXIY9UBsYkw6sNDOUlepHgTvlLzhDErAywortQKnADZo6VPiF42YWCCuuNu-lQRMp4ezhyZ0hhs_o6ZB10N_tGXxaX8U/s1600-h/Boare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKTeVggXsOKfchz3seNSdPGCKM7nGZdvXTCJmELANeNO-sZ-VXIY9UBsYkw6sNDOUlepHgTvlLzhDErAywortQKnADZo6VPiF42YWCCuuNu-lQRMp4ezhyZ0hhs_o6ZB10N_tGXxaX8U/s320/Boare.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
During the festival people are not allowed to wear shirts. Traditionally people wear skins instead to cover them, but now most people wear towels. During the festival animals are sacrificed at Wakii Shrine. This is in the hope that there will be peace during the festival. The festival is a time when people can make new friends and meet a partner, but marriage is not allowed at this time. There is a lot of dancing and music. If someone has done something bad, then their name is used in a song. They have to be there and dance to the song because if they refuse they will die or won’t be able to have children.<br />
<br />
All the local landowners also gather during the festival at the Tenzuk Shrine. Sacrifices take place and they pray to the gods that next year the farms will be productive, babies are healthy, the rains will come and there will be plenty of jobs for people to do.<br />
<br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> We have two shrines in our home. The shrine below gives the name to a new born baby.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau-RvcWV2ZzNtc84GKrWrpkLCnroJD4Jp5xILealn5KliVVG_bIeeVlHw8R3NPVW78KpmsyIILB3rWHy6Y4vFicqouB6yjoyegGhofJp_yz3JAbQYBmV6JcQpaVE_YogNezmM-Ps7XZ4/s1600-h/Shrine+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau-RvcWV2ZzNtc84GKrWrpkLCnroJD4Jp5xILealn5KliVVG_bIeeVlHw8R3NPVW78KpmsyIILB3rWHy6Y4vFicqouB6yjoyegGhofJp_yz3JAbQYBmV6JcQpaVE_YogNezmM-Ps7XZ4/s320/Shrine+1.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
The other shrine is for the blood of Guinea Fowl that have been sacrificed. If the meat of the sacrificed animal is eaten with the blood it brings bad luck on the person.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SNUMHeaQTX5aVFtJbFvQsYw-7WrFuCwSNyFh7CWTOhuv2kWWoEphuxU9FoytSUM9WKddHayNWB4xECE0b5lOR37AIAnTufXIVIOc2t38FHe7Bv28LhAxObbRdh8xM7B5tjJ-sIk8WW0/s1600-h/Shrine+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SNUMHeaQTX5aVFtJbFvQsYw-7WrFuCwSNyFh7CWTOhuv2kWWoEphuxU9FoytSUM9WKddHayNWB4xECE0b5lOR37AIAnTufXIVIOc2t38FHe7Bv28LhAxObbRdh8xM7B5tjJ-sIk8WW0/s320/Shrine+2.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
The men below are my Grandfather and Uncle. My Grandfather is the priest and he and my Uncle are at the Musori Shrine. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpAPxcT1CMsx5WsCZS16XDDYLZEC-8dmkjvLyeud3co1QJKw7zwFJcGw32NY8HMjJfiuXwZWWKPriKj4G0UpzOvIqkPbxpBWk0bXpwZW0H5jIfD535ckwOSwc1Qca4rz-fzT0S1hihhg/s1600-h/Musori+Shrine+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpAPxcT1CMsx5WsCZS16XDDYLZEC-8dmkjvLyeud3co1QJKw7zwFJcGw32NY8HMjJfiuXwZWWKPriKj4G0UpzOvIqkPbxpBWk0bXpwZW0H5jIfD535ckwOSwc1Qca4rz-fzT0S1hihhg/s320/Musori+Shrine+1.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Qbwvn-axV7ZRIQBy_FVUJsXWhbaZN_8RKl6zvSI6KA9Ior8qDf-yVvYNsoySE0ppUtid-sFi3qtNnCYa-tpprx5F3d_hbffDZsM4SNKw6aDNrPJcv4dKLeXNScGA8rW_wbf4BebB5hA/s1600-h/Musori+Shrine+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Qbwvn-axV7ZRIQBy_FVUJsXWhbaZN_8RKl6zvSI6KA9Ior8qDf-yVvYNsoySE0ppUtid-sFi3qtNnCYa-tpprx5F3d_hbffDZsM4SNKw6aDNrPJcv4dKLeXNScGA8rW_wbf4BebB5hA/s320/Musori+Shrine+2.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
The animals sacrificed at this shrine include fowls, cattle and goats. It is a shrine to our forefathers who settled here many years ago. The founder had run away from his older brother who was going to kill him. The place where he built his house is called Puhig and is shown in the pictures below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTTKp8awAyZbLRkpeqeIbnJnUhMFiVCy-75rMESi9sfsbDjR6laTRQJ1DSXXGpTnm0sWge4LMe20-LXmdSZw_aM1ApFJmaKeiixvLNcPvSzEU3PfTdZ1w6vXjJseQh_R2PxUsiHRx9zk/s1600-h/Puhig+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTTKp8awAyZbLRkpeqeIbnJnUhMFiVCy-75rMESi9sfsbDjR6laTRQJ1DSXXGpTnm0sWge4LMe20-LXmdSZw_aM1ApFJmaKeiixvLNcPvSzEU3PfTdZ1w6vXjJseQh_R2PxUsiHRx9zk/s320/Puhig+1.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvzYas2mTNasw5-hPjJ-Zb2Uc-E7p3DMzYZALhBWv-ZL5EcHngg3pTyPS6Sn51zLQmRMXteFB-ajlUZjdUICPL8uRCJrZCQlLFylSU9sgF-iSMlE6EbSc1VnJT97Z45Q00-zRKZJPRn0/s1600-h/Puhig+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvzYas2mTNasw5-hPjJ-Zb2Uc-E7p3DMzYZALhBWv-ZL5EcHngg3pTyPS6Sn51zLQmRMXteFB-ajlUZjdUICPL8uRCJrZCQlLFylSU9sgF-iSMlE6EbSc1VnJT97Z45Q00-zRKZJPRn0/s320/Puhig+2.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
The Gingang Festival is held at this place every September to honour our ancestors. The place is the land on which our Great Grandfather was buried. Grass does not grow here there even during the rainy season.<br />
<br />
Only my Father still follows traditional beliefs. Me, my Mum, brothers and sisters are all Catholic and go to Church on Sunday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_UUbmA6nGh8UgP8DkR9bDGQQY2szAdRlwBgPiPeor1fszVaZSWCbOLivvFVGWACBv5687wUYBu9zwSGMvqI-rpCHoQktL6MYVxQ-_tmfFBw1cK4hSk7VK-c71pFhNT_fqQsqf8AI9oI/s1600-h/Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_UUbmA6nGh8UgP8DkR9bDGQQY2szAdRlwBgPiPeor1fszVaZSWCbOLivvFVGWACBv5687wUYBu9zwSGMvqI-rpCHoQktL6MYVxQ-_tmfFBw1cK4hSk7VK-c71pFhNT_fqQsqf8AI9oI/s320/Church.jpg" vt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lHQDwEt73JdsitP7OgydYzRTezCMKwq1dYxpR2vC50JCkLOQJ8tXaGiIpQ5JbpDY8HyoFOgNSjVHxBj5Org1YuI1FvlstBhJscAeU8-oykKyU4i3-eYclAhzShvAl6Rz7_hEjskdi9s/s1600-h/Mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lHQDwEt73JdsitP7OgydYzRTezCMKwq1dYxpR2vC50JCkLOQJ8tXaGiIpQ5JbpDY8HyoFOgNSjVHxBj5Org1YuI1FvlstBhJscAeU8-oykKyU4i3-eYclAhzShvAl6Rz7_hEjskdi9s/s320/Mary.jpg" vt="true" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Peter:</strong> All my family still follow the traditional beliefs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>A typical school day</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> I get up at about 5am and usually have left over TZ for breakfast. All children have to do jobs before going to school. I sweep the courtyard, wash the bowls and fetch the water from the bore hole. After this, I take a bath and dress for school.<br />
<br />
<strong>Peter:</strong> My morning is very similar to Jessica’s, except boys are also responsible for opening the mangers and tending to the animals. Quite often the bore hole we usually use is not working - when this happens we have to walk a long way to the next one fetch water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3ZTBBuTce2SndHQzT_UOpyNFsLypmoSDVplZWonjBR2NrN2X47OvSUFgRpFgm0ifP6bZCPIzJK1ir5KP1DWbxkbDJxiHzzvFSKezIYMvwH07-mTi3qJYW4KLJds5HDMwpgG68mm6mHg/s1600/Sweeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3ZTBBuTce2SndHQzT_UOpyNFsLypmoSDVplZWonjBR2NrN2X47OvSUFgRpFgm0ifP6bZCPIzJK1ir5KP1DWbxkbDJxiHzzvFSKezIYMvwH07-mTi3qJYW4KLJds5HDMwpgG68mm6mHg/s320/Sweeping.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3282EZJOnHNnGOV8sDDkzh8ruJKTthVGR_u1UOUjQ9PtqyKGrljIBBbamTustHRVIBSqJPqAZCDNbOLjj8C2w445TqQpXC2aZj8zTT1i-q0w7tTj4R7dvxK25KrshwKtBwcS1izewFQ/s1600/Cleaning+dishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3282EZJOnHNnGOV8sDDkzh8ruJKTthVGR_u1UOUjQ9PtqyKGrljIBBbamTustHRVIBSqJPqAZCDNbOLjj8C2w445TqQpXC2aZj8zTT1i-q0w7tTj4R7dvxK25KrshwKtBwcS1izewFQ/s320/Cleaning+dishes.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm6A8Qw2BoM8lp_kDG4CVj3ozhhTnxb6nU4mva11YcD_rv11DN3A4hiX48IU2fuesdrF91jhLzC2reAVF76tCdPWOr2y4JvC1Sp4JyXFAQ7Ekb7eacOh4zVHFsqwJF5mhL9xb00MRsyo/s1600/Pumping+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm6A8Qw2BoM8lp_kDG4CVj3ozhhTnxb6nU4mva11YcD_rv11DN3A4hiX48IU2fuesdrF91jhLzC2reAVF76tCdPWOr2y4JvC1Sp4JyXFAQ7Ekb7eacOh4zVHFsqwJF5mhL9xb00MRsyo/s320/Pumping+water.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcTAe4CjOzNRC1rIQTLyIkejnm_pBcGzGYkuv9_-ZnvpLotcr-OS94pLAZ9-iNknE-YIdzgJC3Nh00h9ZAfxlCoPNDRvEUa_hkqVu4lxJHQetYns0KWhxrRV_tBHu3ZhEMG64sd3ipD0/s1600/Carrying+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcTAe4CjOzNRC1rIQTLyIkejnm_pBcGzGYkuv9_-ZnvpLotcr-OS94pLAZ9-iNknE-YIdzgJC3Nh00h9ZAfxlCoPNDRvEUa_hkqVu4lxJHQetYns0KWhxrRV_tBHu3ZhEMG64sd3ipD0/s320/Carrying+water.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> Pupils arrive at school at 6 a.m. and school finishes at 2p.m.. Before lessons, everyone has to help sweep the compound, clean the desks, water the flowers and fetch water. The girls also have to wash the teachers’ cups and bowls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3EYdWxo93rvaRzsg5B4ulLOcZuC7qj0wA_MFhv-zNxtkD_atgcoIMX1QzrNzQIqtd-U_eZSvA9a7Hg9Wy38u4JK3VzRuFN23vWUNDiomkhLh0yERE4C5j815lNRAxjaCpR5ARumwRc0/s1600/Bore+hole+gathering+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3EYdWxo93rvaRzsg5B4ulLOcZuC7qj0wA_MFhv-zNxtkD_atgcoIMX1QzrNzQIqtd-U_eZSvA9a7Hg9Wy38u4JK3VzRuFN23vWUNDiomkhLh0yERE4C5j815lNRAxjaCpR5ARumwRc0/s320/Bore+hole+gathering+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Peter:</strong> Morning assembly starts at 7.30 a.m.. We sing the national anthem and say the pledge. Assembly finishes with prayers. If you are late for school you have to stay behind at the end of the day and pick stones. The stones are put in large piles and the school sells them to raise money. If you are often late you are sometimes given 3 canes – this is with a ruler across the back of your hand.<br />
<br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> There are three classes at my Junior High School. I am in JHS1 and there are 62 students in my class. My favourite subject is English. I really like reading story books and writing and want to be a journalist. My least favourite subject is Basic Design. I don’t like the slowness involved and having to do things very accurately with the ruler.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuBhqT_hiTbrMsj9aRLfx3Tj22BsfxralXVwO1_MWp2xOs9Y6sc7M3sodkt4T06x8eTqrV4Q_Sky81ngBP5w5URmev64zJTYHrwhcNY_MgzQi7bO-5NQoLEaXnYkBkBtLFPduzjfsrPM/s1600/Classroom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuBhqT_hiTbrMsj9aRLfx3Tj22BsfxralXVwO1_MWp2xOs9Y6sc7M3sodkt4T06x8eTqrV4Q_Sky81ngBP5w5URmev64zJTYHrwhcNY_MgzQi7bO-5NQoLEaXnYkBkBtLFPduzjfsrPM/s320/Classroom+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXHiYE9lBWaGkZ-Wxuy5ihyByma1SSIBddefRfadBF6mAan8IJ7JgBwb6rdP7dJ_2RTnhHPJZGvbPWGiXER_ddGraowAOSA6uiHnwnY9h6anN4_6QryfQhtllTr3YQHZAcBBDSoNOVFw/s1600/NOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXHiYE9lBWaGkZ-Wxuy5ihyByma1SSIBddefRfadBF6mAan8IJ7JgBwb6rdP7dJ_2RTnhHPJZGvbPWGiXER_ddGraowAOSA6uiHnwnY9h6anN4_6QryfQhtllTr3YQHZAcBBDSoNOVFw/s320/NOR.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><strong>Peter:</strong> We study Mathematics; Integrated Science; English; Basic Design; ICT; Art; Social Studies and Religious and Moral Education at my school. Girls also do Home Economics. My favourite subject is Maths. I like working with numbers, but I don’t like writing. I want to be an accountant when I leave school. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu2ctX4Tn7VjQiTGTrW_KNfoVIwFjqDG5sDq_P0Si65vgYyu0nqpm4AU7u7tVtfPN8Z_DK5WSgx9dYfL5a2UtYTeAJC0EzT0F1h6rIYkaqKINJ3Jqa8HmGoIGVpNWUd-dSsSnMAFJvGE/s1600/Peter+in+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu2ctX4Tn7VjQiTGTrW_KNfoVIwFjqDG5sDq_P0Si65vgYyu0nqpm4AU7u7tVtfPN8Z_DK5WSgx9dYfL5a2UtYTeAJC0EzT0F1h6rIYkaqKINJ3Jqa8HmGoIGVpNWUd-dSsSnMAFJvGE/s320/Peter+in+class.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>Jessica:</strong> We get homework regularly. The piece of homework we were given today was a comprehension exercise. We have been given a passage from the story of Ananse spider and have to answer five questions about the extract to show we understand it. We get given a piece of homework one day and have to hand it in the next.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY4LpfKzUGWJCiLj2B38vR7SjW7RNKtSBKwbdFXJ6T9qkD7Y6PFKXLVdFQpX3J9GRhUKPrJ8-yCQRz_g9TqB-9P6czmH1dPLCBvh_EJAhe28oZUwfc3WHBt_CgH6B_pVroriy2PLirVs/s1600/Timetable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY4LpfKzUGWJCiLj2B38vR7SjW7RNKtSBKwbdFXJ6T9qkD7Y6PFKXLVdFQpX3J9GRhUKPrJ8-yCQRz_g9TqB-9P6czmH1dPLCBvh_EJAhe28oZUwfc3WHBt_CgH6B_pVroriy2PLirVs/s320/Timetable.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw0j_muy8yeabTBeBEIF9fqGHHYnoqwBRmXZlQcx0za9xQxuYDgGD5gZLtMzLyUAFzVtHKHd109GChRJ1HwkKZHcQ2BdtceimxiKlZEyWHg65AW_whKasiXfbhkvvCX8-2wyUIYvS_rU/s1600/ICT+lesson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw0j_muy8yeabTBeBEIF9fqGHHYnoqwBRmXZlQcx0za9xQxuYDgGD5gZLtMzLyUAFzVtHKHd109GChRJ1HwkKZHcQ2BdtceimxiKlZEyWHg65AW_whKasiXfbhkvvCX8-2wyUIYvS_rU/s320/ICT+lesson.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><strong>Peter:</strong> If a student misbehaves in class they have to kneel down at the front of the class facing the wall or they might be sent out. In the cold season we might also be caned.<br />
<br />
<strong>Jessica:</strong> We don’t have any after school clubs, but some students have to stay behind for extra lessons. After school I have to fetch more water. The number of times I have to go to the bore hole depends on how much water we need. I also study and do my homework and because I am a girl I have to help my mother cook the meal. When I have spare time I really like playing Ampe – only girls play this. It involves clapping and jumping to make up different dances.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EwTwYz_RMdcA1zDR_UnI_LKJBuuUDEOlboZRtaG-4nT9ISG2h0172pr9xHrgpfJj2U9zvt_Qb0SFyhhQmVQjKOzEYeSaWM_ze2WC-W1nbykYB54Qi0I4a4coKjSXQx131_Gyk_63ork/s1600/Jessica+carrying+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EwTwYz_RMdcA1zDR_UnI_LKJBuuUDEOlboZRtaG-4nT9ISG2h0172pr9xHrgpfJj2U9zvt_Qb0SFyhhQmVQjKOzEYeSaWM_ze2WC-W1nbykYB54Qi0I4a4coKjSXQx131_Gyk_63ork/s320/Jessica+carrying+water.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_bFTHdl-8MW6vlCb2Xf90tiFxzzwPwwCxrGYJD3Mdx4E65lbSya8wB0AoYEbpqHmNyG2QqKEnyj_xpv-N_3pdqgkJH6OwV40hqLRQ2q5qt5K8Me1pb3kIeCLgHa_QMkDbjT9Wm0wRj0/s1600/Jessica+filling+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_bFTHdl-8MW6vlCb2Xf90tiFxzzwPwwCxrGYJD3Mdx4E65lbSya8wB0AoYEbpqHmNyG2QqKEnyj_xpv-N_3pdqgkJH6OwV40hqLRQ2q5qt5K8Me1pb3kIeCLgHa_QMkDbjT9Wm0wRj0/s320/Jessica+filling+bottle.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Peter:</strong> After school I also have to fetch water and do my homework, but because I am a boy I don’t have to help in the house. This means I have time to play football and Oware with my friends. Oware is a game for two players and involves getting seeds into holes – it is great fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0svI-CVl6uPIHAJz4m8hzYd0BenIHNsZBJuW4fkdQ8v5vFrknElDzlgjx3ezUwKRCjN9XBsgyIQvFAgCF0BN1rMB4gYRNWmZE9pQJ-G8f20nIFA2Jdc10Ud2dmI8mbBmzMYjGLNSogyE/s1600/Football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0svI-CVl6uPIHAJz4m8hzYd0BenIHNsZBJuW4fkdQ8v5vFrknElDzlgjx3ezUwKRCjN9XBsgyIQvFAgCF0BN1rMB4gYRNWmZE9pQJ-G8f20nIFA2Jdc10Ud2dmI8mbBmzMYjGLNSogyE/s320/Football.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The above account was written with input from two of Jessica’s and Peter’s classmates. They also gave generously of their time and made some excellent contributions to the discussion about the issues covered above.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDj5iET6_6CJTie3WufqxNrD7ZTtqedshyphenhyphenrIzAnWZVrhAWvIwoUlca_WsPuqsrjETo9p6QgjmrKEYF-y8-IuNvnQLijys9IgqwBJPpnP5wkiJXAVXFz9K3bR6qUFmH0zJgI4iWfkX4qc/s1600/Blog+helpers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDj5iET6_6CJTie3WufqxNrD7ZTtqedshyphenhyphenrIzAnWZVrhAWvIwoUlca_WsPuqsrjETo9p6QgjmrKEYF-y8-IuNvnQLijys9IgqwBJPpnP5wkiJXAVXFz9K3bR6qUFmH0zJgI4iWfkX4qc/s320/Blog+helpers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>On the Domestic Front</strong></div><br />
I do hope you have enjoyed the insight Jessica and Peter have given into aspects of their lives – I certainly found it a pleasure working with them on putting this post together.<br />
<br />
On 28 February my housemate, Christina, took delivery of a 7 week old puppy – his name for now is Puppy.<br />
<br />
As you can see from the photo, he has beautiful blue eyes and in true puppy style started off very timid but is getting more adventurous by the day. At times he already forgets the fact that he is not alpha dog in this pack!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWvp1S3hIydK27Mre7EK3T-bh45y10T_QUc6ik7bpVOY29JvqHoonxrwP0DD1Sm0K8CRcYQv57XxMOysbcMCwjwtuzUDm-ESTKguWOd5bPFwhZjlqWEIdK3a0wXDI6TZ7zhiIHvxy8HA/s1600/Dog_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWvp1S3hIydK27Mre7EK3T-bh45y10T_QUc6ik7bpVOY29JvqHoonxrwP0DD1Sm0K8CRcYQv57XxMOysbcMCwjwtuzUDm-ESTKguWOd5bPFwhZjlqWEIdK3a0wXDI6TZ7zhiIHvxy8HA/s320/Dog_1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyR-DJyOxCI9Uoee_rFGJ9cB6xdXDLcQHNzMi9KdenF_5qilSVzaHuLbr6KsMDPr_8SnhmiyXw6kIWe47FXly597KNJlOyudr8gSFM5F6y5rrqFclyf1shq0p3CahPDTTtD7U0XYNuXY/s1600/Me_and_dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyR-DJyOxCI9Uoee_rFGJ9cB6xdXDLcQHNzMi9KdenF_5qilSVzaHuLbr6KsMDPr_8SnhmiyXw6kIWe47FXly597KNJlOyudr8gSFM5F6y5rrqFclyf1shq0p3CahPDTTtD7U0XYNuXY/s320/Me_and_dog.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The acquisition of the puppy has also revealed some interesting cultural differences. Local Muslims do not have dogs as pets, they only keep them for security and hunting and Ghanaians who have seen the photo of Puppy having his first bath thought it a very strange thing to do to a dog. I have also discovered that dog meat is a delicacy in this part of Ghana, with a special area of the market trading both cooked and raw dog meat. Hopefully this is not a fate that awaits Puppy when Christina returns to the Republic of Ireland later this year.Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-48257618165291944602010-03-04T21:37:00.002+00:002010-03-20T21:54:34.567+00:00Week Four: 15th – 21st February 2010Having clarified my role last week, I have asked the eight Circuit Supervisors to complete an assessment of the training needs for the headteachers of the Junior High Schools in their circuit using a grid designed for this purpose. I have asked for completed returns next week – it will be interesting to see how many I receive. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I attended a School Performance Assessment Meeting (SPAM) for Nangodi Circuit on Tuesday. These meeting are attended by a representative group of students, parents, community leaders, teachers and the headteachers. They meet with the Circuit Supervisor and another officer from GES to look at how well the Junior High Schools in the area are performing and identify issues that need to be addressed to bring about improvement. The meeting started at just after 11am and continued until after 4pm without a break. Needless to say, by the end of the meeting the room was very hot and people were very thirsty, hungry and tired!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlosAc0W8JgKl6T2MNi1Lv0Wc9hnYwGe3Z4ygRpdBBLvYpvszU2BeLUEB8zllb7Yw_FcJqqr10lPipuERvouN3DUHQ_NpUnLDOy3wmtwafdPKVkNmLhg_J0vMFBv3oa7zwI0-ROfwtMk/s1600-h/Spam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlosAc0W8JgKl6T2MNi1Lv0Wc9hnYwGe3Z4ygRpdBBLvYpvszU2BeLUEB8zllb7Yw_FcJqqr10lPipuERvouN3DUHQ_NpUnLDOy3wmtwafdPKVkNmLhg_J0vMFBv3oa7zwI0-ROfwtMk/s320/Spam1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFOydKfZXnpIeyKYgpQ5CjfZr7JvxlFvkVCN-H2zgCxMxSNtjTgVcRWSqCVfhlTVnDbabIHkcJsrtYjGpdEFf-i0tjnyVV_92nvIi61UiI2WUSXWhd9qcWCpbMQT_hxH3BFTPo1gFpGU/s1600-h/Spam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFOydKfZXnpIeyKYgpQ5CjfZr7JvxlFvkVCN-H2zgCxMxSNtjTgVcRWSqCVfhlTVnDbabIHkcJsrtYjGpdEFf-i0tjnyVV_92nvIi61UiI2WUSXWhd9qcWCpbMQT_hxH3BFTPo1gFpGU/s320/Spam2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YGhzNyzHySS_xOq3xsS6VQWNhv_3JUooIXzkaoxA_pvdNZfKDY8zYvH_18L_UQeDPYWyAty8DjBDMepOow4WSNKnv_C9zXfNsyU5c1YO23NAF-6yK0EXGGrR-DTy6wSLpGx44lpImfI/s1600-h/Spam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YGhzNyzHySS_xOq3xsS6VQWNhv_3JUooIXzkaoxA_pvdNZfKDY8zYvH_18L_UQeDPYWyAty8DjBDMepOow4WSNKnv_C9zXfNsyU5c1YO23NAF-6yK0EXGGrR-DTy6wSLpGx44lpImfI/s320/Spam3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03nv0lymDPeyeQAR4Kd7PxyTi-bYFLN_0BUKQHg_GuNTeI2vFPcd8uo_fDBjY-m_R1gWM01IcVhqUj2F17OeQXLpZwY4zWIqMm5vXkyIr7DZxRjQdH7dNoy2INZLGHRN2lFTqoI0L5OM/s1600-h/Spam4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03nv0lymDPeyeQAR4Kd7PxyTi-bYFLN_0BUKQHg_GuNTeI2vFPcd8uo_fDBjY-m_R1gWM01IcVhqUj2F17OeQXLpZwY4zWIqMm5vXkyIr7DZxRjQdH7dNoy2INZLGHRN2lFTqoI0L5OM/s320/Spam4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It was interesting to hear the different views. Each group came in for its own share of criticism from the other parties present. Unfortunately, after taking a considerable amount of time to come up with a long list of problems, people were too tired to think creatively about possible solutions. The photo below shows the concerns voiced by the teachers (left) and the parents (right). I must admit, I don’t agree with the teachers when they suggest that beating the children will help improve standards!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtrN0Jzzjmf_mK0n6kYEsTVUPMN_C5Xo5oOVf5FOBUhR8mO8Q1Yjd_5pWQe09mr8N53xaeGsd86FBYeh2RbLSUpeoMMkheIrjflJz_DJOOox4ManN6xzJhemVUdF9jxS1E8tt7gs9JtY/s1600-h/Spam5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtrN0Jzzjmf_mK0n6kYEsTVUPMN_C5Xo5oOVf5FOBUhR8mO8Q1Yjd_5pWQe09mr8N53xaeGsd86FBYeh2RbLSUpeoMMkheIrjflJz_DJOOox4ManN6xzJhemVUdF9jxS1E8tt7gs9JtY/s640/Spam5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The other major talking point this week is the change in the weather – it has become even hotter! Despite it not yet being March – the hottest month of the year – the temperature has now climbed to well over 44 degrees throughout the day. It is now expected to stay like this until the beginning of April when the first rains usually begin. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5HqR4aMACWe-aR4UI2oi8JpjaaiLG3h2OysJhaw2yKZMIb5EaQF9Fm29fxyrqFRKTM4W_-EJABaVJnNpb_fHvGpl9vgq4qf8D1w_TRGjsXUyytrSbc_P7Ai3H9yB7ALeyzXbAjCjTrs/s1600-h/Temperature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5HqR4aMACWe-aR4UI2oi8JpjaaiLG3h2OysJhaw2yKZMIb5EaQF9Fm29fxyrqFRKTM4W_-EJABaVJnNpb_fHvGpl9vgq4qf8D1w_TRGjsXUyytrSbc_P7Ai3H9yB7ALeyzXbAjCjTrs/s320/Temperature.jpg" /></a></div><br />
If it wasn’t difficult enough sleeping in the heat of the night under a mosquito net that largely negates the cooling effect of the ceiling fan, the arrival of the chap below as a mate for our hen has made sure that everyone is awake bright and early. So long as they are happy together, that is all that matters!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnyce87R7vDW54idzPBJW2BYYYfuzRzTzhlkTZ6BAkrSWmdeQw0eq5O8mCa74muS_aP3wyelnWCXHu_a8BMk66tHNla_tT6BLZZQOuZ72OEKUYhyexOeh9qcbcQrlffMCPStOFUZ_n-4/s1600-h/Chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnyce87R7vDW54idzPBJW2BYYYfuzRzTzhlkTZ6BAkrSWmdeQw0eq5O8mCa74muS_aP3wyelnWCXHu_a8BMk66tHNla_tT6BLZZQOuZ72OEKUYhyexOeh9qcbcQrlffMCPStOFUZ_n-4/s320/Chicken.jpg" /></a></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-90553665544955832212010-02-14T22:03:00.001+00:002010-02-14T22:05:20.590+00:00Week Three: 8th – 14th February 2010Having spent two weeks getting to know the people in the GES Office and the issues affecting the District, I spent this week clarifying the things I am expected to do during my placement. I also found out more about the role of headteachers in Ghana and the support they receive. <br />
<br />
One of the major differences between headteachers in Ghana and England is the lack of control they have over just about everything, including the recruitment of staff. The pay of headteachers is also not substantially different from that of classroom teachers. Indeed, I have been told they receive just GHc1 (43p) a month more. The role is more one of management - implementing policies decided by others and completing GES returns - rather than leadership.<br />
<br />
As mentioned in my previous blog, students usually have to buy their own exercise books, but the District sometimes acquires some for distribution. As you can see from the list posted on the GES notice board, there are not enough to for every student to have one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96ph43T8o7JPjEEntCo3ucEODmNqU_qKxEP9E9rsADRLX8-oqq4OwIo3hSufjzqU4HWnS3zychOxZh2iZQG-8DbLwTRJiWNuyzmNINpYdX3Bqh66qkWiZqbqkgKUkNUIRdK1KM9sF2u0/s1600-h/Exercise+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96ph43T8o7JPjEEntCo3ucEODmNqU_qKxEP9E9rsADRLX8-oqq4OwIo3hSufjzqU4HWnS3zychOxZh2iZQG-8DbLwTRJiWNuyzmNINpYdX3Bqh66qkWiZqbqkgKUkNUIRdK1KM9sF2u0/s320/Exercise+books.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My VSO role is that of Head Teacher Support Officer, but Talensi-Nabdam does not yet have a Management Support Officer so I have been asked to provide some general management support to the GES staff as well. The Director at first suggested that I might like to work with the administration staff and look at their filing system as letters and other information apparently often goes missing. I suggested that this was not the best use of my skills – and those of you who work closely with me will know what I mean by this!<br />
<br />
The areas I will be focusing on are:<br />
• providing up to 5 headteachers with individualised support<br />
• running two workshops for JHS headteachers on the aspects of leadership and management that they have identified as training priorities<br />
• investigating the opportunities and challenges associated with linking Talensi-Nabdam schools with schools in MK/UK<br />
• reviewing the District’s strategic planning for infrastructure development<br />
<br />
During the week I also attended three meetings. One of these was a Senior Management Team meeting and for this we were joined by representatives from the two other TENI districts as Talensi-Nabdam was being held up as an example of good practice. I was told that the meeting was to be held at the Teachers’ Resource Centre at 9am. When I arrived there I was told after waiting 30 minutes that the meeting had moved to a nearby hotel! Information such as venue and start time is often overlooked.<br />
<br />
The third meeting I went to was one for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working in the District and is a classic example of the flexible start time of meetings. So as not to have a similar problem to the one experienced earlier in the week, I checked with the person calling the meeting where it was to be held and at what time it was scheduled to start. I was told the meeting was scheduled for 9am so would probably start at 10am. I duly arrived at 9am just in case the meeting started on time – the meeting eventually began at 11.15am!<br />
<br />
I am finding the notice below, which is on the entrance doors to the GES offices, increasingly ironic as I experience firsthand many Ghanaian’s approach to time keeping!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-87uY-uAd3O0lY_iPMmip2axcGlY3s28ZKQM58zLJItQpl8Vy8tOIkvq_YvrfJho8TzBMD9gw0xaeAwyzgsXTlDQ23DvlAQ10DnDHRNbNLXtnuxiGbxZXKFS8atcRl6N2GkhxrJJA9Ws/s1600-h/Punctuality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-87uY-uAd3O0lY_iPMmip2axcGlY3s28ZKQM58zLJItQpl8Vy8tOIkvq_YvrfJho8TzBMD9gw0xaeAwyzgsXTlDQ23DvlAQ10DnDHRNbNLXtnuxiGbxZXKFS8atcRl6N2GkhxrJJA9Ws/s320/Punctuality.jpg" /></a></div><br />
However, the delayed start proved to be quite fortuitous as it gave me an opportunity to discuss with the Director the possibility of using the Teachers’ Resource Centre as an ICT Centre. He explained that this was one of his ambitions and we discussed how such a centre would be run and the challenges of operating such a centre. The space itself has potential and I intend to explore the feasibility of setting up such a centre, because as explained in Week 2’s blog, ICT in schools throughout the District is virtually nonexistent. A centre would give students the opportunity to develop their skills and internet access would facilitate partnerships with schools in the UK.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNAN0YTKzII0dBBb6J15n0Tn0-A_eOMEDo0jIR7rytZ2KVnkcvxI_GdvFm9gg2yJoieWtyWpgD8aGPheSbCN5LtCxCRkzjKsL06Cjpn_sO1dPyd64tzR9I3whXlZ_r-_w8inJFowhA8o/s1600-h/Computer_room_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNAN0YTKzII0dBBb6J15n0Tn0-A_eOMEDo0jIR7rytZ2KVnkcvxI_GdvFm9gg2yJoieWtyWpgD8aGPheSbCN5LtCxCRkzjKsL06Cjpn_sO1dPyd64tzR9I3whXlZ_r-_w8inJFowhA8o/s320/Computer_room_1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4_QSpggcINkNFMx41kiP0vQvWk6tGp0xodau47WQfuH5mzYrOb0yLMKOpn6hs8s9Lswg9UwbfXkk2dD5OAV2_G1ZTmt9jVrwMS3qQXvYHgIXfoIi5Kl62KNRhu1h3SWmIcuJKotCuHQ/s1600-h/Computer_room_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4_QSpggcINkNFMx41kiP0vQvWk6tGp0xodau47WQfuH5mzYrOb0yLMKOpn6hs8s9Lswg9UwbfXkk2dD5OAV2_G1ZTmt9jVrwMS3qQXvYHgIXfoIi5Kl62KNRhu1h3SWmIcuJKotCuHQ/s320/Computer_room_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The NGO meeting was real eye opener as to the problems the District faces in realising its strategic plans. It appears that nearly all NGOs come with their own agenda and the District either goes along with this or it does not get the support. In some cases there is even duplication as a result of a lack of NGO co-ordination – clearly not a good use of scarce resources. This is all the wrong way round. The District should set out its priorities and then NGOs should see how they can support with the District co-ordinating activities. It is obvious that overseas governments, including the British Government, are funding NGO initiatives to support getting more children into schools, especially girls, and promoting the empowerment of local communities, but it appears that no NGO or overseas government is addressing in any substantial way the infrastructure short comings which is hindering the delivery of high quality education fit for the 21st Century. More needs to be done to address this if the world community is to capitalise on the currently untapped human potential that undoubtedly exists.<br />
<br />
On the domestic front, it is good to see the mangos growing on the trees in the garden. Hopefully they will be ripe enough to eat before I leave.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8gN2UvQLup4DQq3kp8Z7zUgrk45bYb2KcpuFatB-wpWUZ_Lrad3fNq4ZA4m1gmiOcZTqhsiUBctzK6myZouRMXDRe6r_FYC9LiR-j1D5S0ImqCJLrYEEsC0FuMpBcR7vZiicIkUUmYw/s1600-h/Mangos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8gN2UvQLup4DQq3kp8Z7zUgrk45bYb2KcpuFatB-wpWUZ_Lrad3fNq4ZA4m1gmiOcZTqhsiUBctzK6myZouRMXDRe6r_FYC9LiR-j1D5S0ImqCJLrYEEsC0FuMpBcR7vZiicIkUUmYw/s320/Mangos.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My weekend was enlivened by some monkey sitting! Monkey (that’s his name) is a green monkey. He is currently being looked after by a VSO volunteer, Anthony, and his wife who is a vet. Anthony is in a band and a fellow band member bought the monkey from a boy at the side of the road in Kumasi. The boy claimed that the monkey had been abandoned. I suspect this wasn’t the truth. In likelihood the baby monkey was taken after its mother was deliberately killed, or the monkey was forcefully taken. Whilst monkey is very cute and extremely tame and friendly, there is no escaping the fact that he would be much better off with his own kind in the forest. Monkeys are very social animals and need lots of company and attention. He loves being groomed and dislikes being left. When a human baby clings it is quite easy to loosen the grip of its two hands, but with a monkey you have to get it to let go with its hands, feet and tail!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MmCsRxmeLMxX1IBvMyVCLaTAH_rsoRuArG8yT6Huvz713U_Ngy0JoAHOambauZwByKB1Q4xF7uykF1Y0xJa09cD4j3MVbikE9A9KjVuwv_NMwkcF6Tt7qg4vEwT-49u4Q1qzQIVA250/s1600-h/Me_and_my_friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MmCsRxmeLMxX1IBvMyVCLaTAH_rsoRuArG8yT6Huvz713U_Ngy0JoAHOambauZwByKB1Q4xF7uykF1Y0xJa09cD4j3MVbikE9A9KjVuwv_NMwkcF6Tt7qg4vEwT-49u4Q1qzQIVA250/s320/Me_and_my_friend.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqPfSnGRYescs3p7_6Saa7herm2lMP2M6ZRY3UhWiQ6ho-_thJEGJK0TJVzrVDoso_OvobEWGr7rubGOKxEPYdIFEQaZAUR_CAoIA0hvD2p56ZjHlxbpqeGnjmnBwEDnmiwWn9ByNS0s/s1600-h/Monkey_and_Christina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqPfSnGRYescs3p7_6Saa7herm2lMP2M6ZRY3UhWiQ6ho-_thJEGJK0TJVzrVDoso_OvobEWGr7rubGOKxEPYdIFEQaZAUR_CAoIA0hvD2p56ZjHlxbpqeGnjmnBwEDnmiwWn9ByNS0s/s320/Monkey_and_Christina.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVl98sANvav6QLKN-3pJY9keCmMxRBSfjWM1lOPwOKcnJjFprpGWGYN5GUiluR3UWQ5iwFPW8t9nq5GZt5uQ_nXbU9Hgo3sOMcaJOKLrjwM_-XJ4a9mQvTQUB7lViAn6jBGGfgmb34aM/s1600-h/Monkey_at_breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVl98sANvav6QLKN-3pJY9keCmMxRBSfjWM1lOPwOKcnJjFprpGWGYN5GUiluR3UWQ5iwFPW8t9nq5GZt5uQ_nXbU9Hgo3sOMcaJOKLrjwM_-XJ4a9mQvTQUB7lViAn6jBGGfgmb34aM/s320/Monkey_at_breakfast.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Tired monkey!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBbR3CJvP-xYrKodqGUyjcB55JCqj-bJ1BLWtxXYkOcOvuDxlkVqNd0XCFUXmG2pZtX48Hu8HVg0Pl2mgSfZiMTdqciorSBxftpPhCiBMES5FoGpGSylrZA965AhLe-0dVmEgNhM05o0/s1600-h/Monkey_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBbR3CJvP-xYrKodqGUyjcB55JCqj-bJ1BLWtxXYkOcOvuDxlkVqNd0XCFUXmG2pZtX48Hu8HVg0Pl2mgSfZiMTdqciorSBxftpPhCiBMES5FoGpGSylrZA965AhLe-0dVmEgNhM05o0/s320/Monkey_3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l8fXUYakx4N4iBo7S51V0WNrLCcaUE4jEh1nRKdJooiTp1aV4nGRP3rD3DG6KkLb9KwRJPidkrysmfCuJ5ERjRB8AqQ5EmEDpq449SSKJYHe17JyK931B3P8g_VFzIWYhwzpu0uV_ag/s1600-h/Monkey_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l8fXUYakx4N4iBo7S51V0WNrLCcaUE4jEh1nRKdJooiTp1aV4nGRP3rD3DG6KkLb9KwRJPidkrysmfCuJ5ERjRB8AqQ5EmEDpq449SSKJYHe17JyK931B3P8g_VFzIWYhwzpu0uV_ag/s320/Monkey_4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5crTVReW_USrwhkEHac1dl2zawOWGzKYTPHg3CQoquCYdbzUcCU9mdTXjd2pJDkXrq6aENueLPr2_NSHS-tk8M6KBWrEl0rbvLuYzhVeA7iOnovaAT62-EpvlMeKi6_PfqkzSW9ki6Q/s1600-h/Monkey_hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5crTVReW_USrwhkEHac1dl2zawOWGzKYTPHg3CQoquCYdbzUcCU9mdTXjd2pJDkXrq6aENueLPr2_NSHS-tk8M6KBWrEl0rbvLuYzhVeA7iOnovaAT62-EpvlMeKi6_PfqkzSW9ki6Q/s320/Monkey_hand.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The hope is that in the near future Monkey will be able to go to a sanctuary so he can have more appropriate playmates. If this doesn’t work out I may have to bring him back to England and co-opt him onto the Senior Team!Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-38642338345087377622010-02-14T17:14:00.001+00:002010-02-14T17:16:19.678+00:00Week Two: 1st – 7th February 2010I spent most of this week familiarising myself with the District’s strategic plans and the schemes of work that teachers will be delivering this term.<br />
<br />
The strategic plan identifies the District’s main priorities and builds upon the Ministry of Education’s Mission Statement – a copy of this is on the Director’s office door.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Ks_AmQNvTr_SKLWmNLConsmhSl-EiuaJjKXmT4hyphenhyphen-yuVAnkQbQEv3kXGZYtrsBhchrs7cNFFxB34pbM3IsrDIorZS9Sf-zSn4L75Vs_E2ujsp6kZv9ndXaRkU8y4HHTR89ij53x8yA/s1600-h/Mission_Statement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Ks_AmQNvTr_SKLWmNLConsmhSl-EiuaJjKXmT4hyphenhyphen-yuVAnkQbQEv3kXGZYtrsBhchrs7cNFFxB34pbM3IsrDIorZS9Sf-zSn4L75Vs_E2ujsp6kZv9ndXaRkU8y4HHTR89ij53x8yA/s320/Mission_Statement.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The strategic plan has four thematic areas that relate to: the quality of education; equitable access to education; management for efficiency; science, technology and vocational education and training. <br />
<br />
The Millennium Goal of ensuring all children across the world receive free primary education has led to an increase in enrolment in Ghana that has placed an enormous strain on the existing infrastructure. The school building programme, as well as teacher recruitment and training, is lagging way behind demand. This means that class sizes are extremely large, especially in the kindergarten and early primary years. For the 2009-10 academic year, the teacher (trained and untrained) student ratios for the different stages of education are as follows:<br />
Kindergarten (KG) 117<br />
Primary 46<br />
Junior High School 21 <br />
<br />
Insufficient classroom space has also resulted in an increase in the number of children being taught in “schools under tress”. In the Talensi-Nabdam District there are forty-two such schools.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0As6pnv7WnfEH7UO2ZGkbRfCL91yMoJNW9jx-Ac6oGmeggE1GsB1NuqQD3CMRGTn1F5UBWmlH40a0W3rwuHG2NMEi31_dyFVFAFD_hgZyozoR3WEys9zBKljn8tMQsm9VVxHyLY9DXg/s1600-h/School_under_trees_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0As6pnv7WnfEH7UO2ZGkbRfCL91yMoJNW9jx-Ac6oGmeggE1GsB1NuqQD3CMRGTn1F5UBWmlH40a0W3rwuHG2NMEi31_dyFVFAFD_hgZyozoR3WEys9zBKljn8tMQsm9VVxHyLY9DXg/s320/School_under_trees_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As well as the “schools under trees”, there are also eleven schools that have dilapidated buildings. Some of these are dangerous and should really be demolished.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfmVmbnpf3AoePjf2c9p9tbFgiKL2pMXMlDYcpZrbhojvFqpP_yxvcBNknrrKdm3txOs1NxL-PMkM6o5H8IP6ArKF3jOo7hvhdw1y91hvu3PEjuitB1HNiGLxLZey5HkchkJ1SN4xWIA/s320/Dilapidated_school_1.jpg" /></div><br />
In addition to the lack of classrooms, there are 24 schools in the District that do not have any sanitary facilities, i.e. toilets, for either the children or staff to use and despite temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees at this time of year, there are still schools where children do not have access to drinking water.<br />
<br />
Recently, the Government of Ghana quite rightly recognised the importance of ICT to the country’s future development and declared that ICT would now be a compulsory subject in all Basic Schools. Great in theory. However, this is a major challenge for a District that only has 5 schools with electricity (out of a total of 144 schools) and of these five only two have a couple of computers between them! Some classrooms do not even have a chalkboard. As a result teachers have to make do with whatever is available.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ9bgvGpBzn3lyKdmYPIJGEP-IKgMyKxfXSQ2zx2ptFEbVeAQJ24EoH26aXpnqHVCAQl5RTcP3uNUudaTp7_5mtBaPq5XoArVz0xlQM_xOtdiVvRRZpnMgzuBhh-CKUo-Maa4H7lR9hQ/s1600-h/Chalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ9bgvGpBzn3lyKdmYPIJGEP-IKgMyKxfXSQ2zx2ptFEbVeAQJ24EoH26aXpnqHVCAQl5RTcP3uNUudaTp7_5mtBaPq5XoArVz0xlQM_xOtdiVvRRZpnMgzuBhh-CKUo-Maa4H7lR9hQ/s320/Chalkboard.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />
I met one Headteacher this week who explained that his school’s roof needed repairing – obviously a situation I could empathise with. However, his roof didn’t need repairing because of poor workmanship, but because vampire bats were getting into the roof space and urinating over the textbooks!<br />
<br />
Some communities are trying to address the shortage of classrooms themeselves, but whist it is possible for them to make the walls using traditioal methods and volunteer labour at no cost, money is needed to buy the materials for the roof. Also, as you can see from the images below, the lack of windows for light and ventilation in traditional mud classrooms means the structures are not as conducive to good learning as properly built classrooms.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_kXbZNDO2Bd82CbtL-Z49_088yXs-jFMp78-RUu9y__srNneiJA0lASTrSXe7SMRGCY3HBOhGANxRUZ1pg3JalnWIkyQjZC4NL7qSQxlCPDcBGxf4CLmG7aszY0YV7X1Rq28YDK17U8/s1600-h/Community_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_kXbZNDO2Bd82CbtL-Z49_088yXs-jFMp78-RUu9y__srNneiJA0lASTrSXe7SMRGCY3HBOhGANxRUZ1pg3JalnWIkyQjZC4NL7qSQxlCPDcBGxf4CLmG7aszY0YV7X1Rq28YDK17U8/s320/Community_2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QJPZISAG16pn8pAuIGvGZv6DdKbvjx_ymkRww6PqRJdIdAZLV0yizWOwZMRY2xI3P9nR7G3rGuCJJm_DSRXC4s_T63YxkxQOWtn03UVtkNPD2-UAf1o8VnmOz6VR2LCoPgLpG3_FR7c/s1600-h/Community_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QJPZISAG16pn8pAuIGvGZv6DdKbvjx_ymkRww6PqRJdIdAZLV0yizWOwZMRY2xI3P9nR7G3rGuCJJm_DSRXC4s_T63YxkxQOWtn03UVtkNPD2-UAf1o8VnmOz6VR2LCoPgLpG3_FR7c/s320/Community_3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Despite Basic School education being free in Ghana, it is still a significant burden for many families to send their children to school. Uniform, exercise books and equipment have to be purchased, and of course if the child is at school then they are not around to help with the many other things that need to be done. As a result the drop-out rate is high, especially amongst girls. It appears that the Millennium Goal of ensuring all children receive a free primary school education has not been fully thought through by international policy makers, as the infrastructure has not been put in place to ensure that children going to school are able to receive the quality of education needed to genuinely make a difference to their life chances – despite the best effort of some of their teachers.Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-35455408341451884942010-02-09T23:27:00.001+00:002010-02-09T23:29:07.402+00:00Week One: 25th – 31st January 2010The first week of my placement was spent in meetings, getting to know the different roles of colleagues in the GES (Ghana Education Service) office and learning yet more acronyms! Everyone made me feel extremely welcome and they were very patient in answering my many questions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I will be based at the Talensi-Nabdam District GES offices in Tongo. A building and location far removed from the workplace I left in January.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEikvpxzesavNwilzVTX6kH9A1-QNeaAcVDm0-2ZPCGk1X7LTB9rmiiY4_p1pKvbgDUiPXZTyfgAXpP_3vDBnfuGX9BN1KZRhwTJCL8K4fairu1bFMHf38nUqtT3ZWfnuaeK5BJnqle-4/s1600-h/Talensi_Nabdam_office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEikvpxzesavNwilzVTX6kH9A1-QNeaAcVDm0-2ZPCGk1X7LTB9rmiiY4_p1pKvbgDUiPXZTyfgAXpP_3vDBnfuGX9BN1KZRhwTJCL8K4fairu1bFMHf38nUqtT3ZWfnuaeK5BJnqle-4/s320/Talensi_Nabdam_office.jpg" /></a><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnW1A04DLGf65C29sIw-eulx9wQ0teiZB8pfW18NL6sR_e1XUQgcba_rjhMRKSF07_IRAY3OwcdKnjdQ1P7shfk8YqFR86u9W_FMTIvuDZ5k5QTUrQRCtZRozTNn7rEoYzRxISB6lSOM/s320/Wallton_High_Jan_10.jpg" /></div><br />
The offices are in what were once three classrooms belonging to the Junior High School (JHS) that shares the site along with a primary school. The 167 JHS students are now taught in three classrooms rather than the six they used to have. That makes an average of 56 students per room. The classrooms are about the same size as an average room at Walton High.<br />
<br />
The photographs below show the scene around the GES office.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfMUumuEQQFXSf_E-9GTvK98MbDDRz8lJqAzpu0uI5yOva_GQEKAugMuptc4xSDEuVZ3DF5gmHq8yf4LiKUoft9awY01tQ3aFm60gFWwDtjtGwIfi5ThMxIRe8WDThxRHZAcR5bv92vI/s1600-h/School_on_office_site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfMUumuEQQFXSf_E-9GTvK98MbDDRz8lJqAzpu0uI5yOva_GQEKAugMuptc4xSDEuVZ3DF5gmHq8yf4LiKUoft9awY01tQ3aFm60gFWwDtjtGwIfi5ThMxIRe8WDThxRHZAcR5bv92vI/s320/School_on_office_site.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-0ufz3dvjbV6HZDAASROUF5cb09yzoAs6AX_EYsKPjP4uJfNbI4ZTTz-7qot2UGFyxAqX1wPcQ2XOZBY-zlySL8zYxdWv0YdjyYWSBzaJHA2emJGHuGdI7OfosmNjLe-jhOuGTy3_iA/s1600-h/GES_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-0ufz3dvjbV6HZDAASROUF5cb09yzoAs6AX_EYsKPjP4uJfNbI4ZTTz-7qot2UGFyxAqX1wPcQ2XOZBY-zlySL8zYxdWv0YdjyYWSBzaJHA2emJGHuGdI7OfosmNjLe-jhOuGTy3_iA/s320/GES_1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The site is very close to the Tongo Hills and although it is a harsh environment for people and animals, especially in the dry season, the landscape has its own beauty.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z5TwLw2Wf9ScK7cXHbrmlks_yGH9tZBAaSGSgyhOxaqQNu9BS5oozKGqrCUbPJxEDc7wfHYVtGVE_NclKtKOr92eLfncWwYZ7gqBs_CEnhwV1zK5HUW3R62WMp1ANDNifYmwlN5_rqQ/s320/TongoHills.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWK6yfR9wQUIOUWo2Wi6EX7ZcHJ3HOBINJicryRQGNJgRLsSm7u76Rw5rNEfopk8DhmcFykGqwyj6dJqwyPXoc_IZiC8YlQGLYk_QgHKvFUgKoxUbyvDBn36U2CT6qF75t2xsgpm9VbM/s320/Outside_office.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI311aVV7uUBIdXMM32yLcz6xqbkMcuanWSEjDIhSpzGr3pNlrGIngonponu2gnqSh1Pe68Y345SZW5l_YsqIBW3xOEzOaC66IOM_SeycCMc7IgAtJ4TJ0OuGkQ2RRoWClgW55tuRLJg/s1600-h/Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimI311aVV7uUBIdXMM32yLcz6xqbkMcuanWSEjDIhSpzGr3pNlrGIngonponu2gnqSh1Pe68Y345SZW5l_YsqIBW3xOEzOaC66IOM_SeycCMc7IgAtJ4TJ0OuGkQ2RRoWClgW55tuRLJg/s320/Hills.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Senior Team meeting I attended on Monday had some interesting differences to those at Walton High. Our meetings do not start with a prayer and usually begin at the scheduled time (once people have got their tea and coffee that is) and I have yet to notice anyone resting their eyes during one of my meetings! Also, it would be extremely unusual for a meeting at Walton High to be interrupted by a mobile phone going off and someone then answering it. In GES meetings this is quite common. Indeed, one big difference I have noticed generally is the priority people give to answering their mobile phone over virtually anything else they might be doing at the time.<br />
<br />
The weekly Monday meeting is used as an opportunity for all the GES officers to report back on their activities the previous week and to inform others of the things they plan to do in the coming week – especially if this had implications for other people’s responsibilities. An example of this is the SHEP (School Health Education Programme) officer notifying the meeting that there had been an outbreak of anthrax in some of the villages in the District and asked anyone visiting schools to look out for children with possible symptoms to ensure they received any health care they need as soon as possible. <br />
<br />
The lack of ICT also leads to different ways of working. Whereas we would usually use Outlook to organise meetings and share information, the GES staff write events and other information of common interest on the blackboard at the front of the room because very few officers have access to PCs or laptops and those that are available are not networked and do not have internet access. As people are often visiting school, mobile phones are an essential part of people’s working life.<br />
<br />
The Director of Talensi-Nabdam, Mr Francis Ayaaba often puts up a “Thought for the day”. On my first Monday it was: “There are two things to aim for in life, first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it; only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second.”<br />
<br />
Getting to the Talensi-Nabdam District from where I am living in Bolga is already proving a challenge. At the moment I have decided the easiest way round this is to get a taxi. The return trip costs 20GHc a day (c. £8.60) which is quite a lot considering my daily allowance is 10GHc. The journey takes about 25 minutes and much of it is over some pretty rough roads. <br />
<br />
Most of the people who live in the area are subsistence farmers and live in traditionally built homes.<br />
<br />
Below are some of the scenes I pass on the way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjhGlW2VPDhZPvOXOurAPd7KTBdY3Eu73dprLiHPS6enxW_pH3F-RLDzcz7ucPzqeSX_juHT9wnK3O75TW3iXpvUfbW3raFV_kDeq_2CjHc82YLDWVKOwWP7U2wIIJZKEJFI3MDFpeEI/s1600-h/Scene_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjhGlW2VPDhZPvOXOurAPd7KTBdY3Eu73dprLiHPS6enxW_pH3F-RLDzcz7ucPzqeSX_juHT9wnK3O75TW3iXpvUfbW3raFV_kDeq_2CjHc82YLDWVKOwWP7U2wIIJZKEJFI3MDFpeEI/s320/Scene_4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk4wrcgpGA0M0vReNclPdMk6AxhZsfij9ZagmOVjo2Ykwg1dyjpMvnEo4hwt8mheqLHMLQUqiGxDmbnM9sErycmUerzPBbLJlqRO-BFm70FURG0K-D3dFpqAl_ELwyseKIzPv-RSuB8w/s1600-h/Goats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk4wrcgpGA0M0vReNclPdMk6AxhZsfij9ZagmOVjo2Ykwg1dyjpMvnEo4hwt8mheqLHMLQUqiGxDmbnM9sErycmUerzPBbLJlqRO-BFm70FURG0K-D3dFpqAl_ELwyseKIzPv-RSuB8w/s320/Goats.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeZDh1BOQPEQ1IRZNxL3eqZdftK3UCLI38mWHIYe_TRI0lHExZokJGrVXx4shisWx455XldIe_lh9pyKIrl04d1d7ROVM5lzIYc9Y2a6AM8Z_hy2WjF10nI01L99rS7FagI-_v2pjFzg/s1600-h/Scene_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeZDh1BOQPEQ1IRZNxL3eqZdftK3UCLI38mWHIYe_TRI0lHExZokJGrVXx4shisWx455XldIe_lh9pyKIrl04d1d7ROVM5lzIYc9Y2a6AM8Z_hy2WjF10nI01L99rS7FagI-_v2pjFzg/s320/Scene_1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcz9uxGQyXdkPOgQ5lMq0yKeF2dgI1hgi9JoCyK2MWPkp1hPzMn1SuyES-38rMUtkZ9uF44dO7w94SPR6etgfYACSnD4Ve9ERnStcHbv56JsnKPesS2dHSjDZEN2YiYNmxQnt-hcZiS0/s1600-h/Scene_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcz9uxGQyXdkPOgQ5lMq0yKeF2dgI1hgi9JoCyK2MWPkp1hPzMn1SuyES-38rMUtkZ9uF44dO7w94SPR6etgfYACSnD4Ve9ERnStcHbv56JsnKPesS2dHSjDZEN2YiYNmxQnt-hcZiS0/s320/Scene_3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG5XQ-4ZUY5mORJBuBuBZCb5FQl-YiHuZin3QPtJTDpA4wMU6JXIaWTz1_6n4S90O8KCeOBkUq__kDskkqDs9Lries7hg5r6QpVPI0jCkCikJ3fyLfGmXYGeY9c0ULA_EbWFKq0HDT5Q/s1600-h/Scene_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG5XQ-4ZUY5mORJBuBuBZCb5FQl-YiHuZin3QPtJTDpA4wMU6JXIaWTz1_6n4S90O8KCeOBkUq__kDskkqDs9Lries7hg5r6QpVPI0jCkCikJ3fyLfGmXYGeY9c0ULA_EbWFKq0HDT5Q/s320/Scene_2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS_h1_L63nfrK45oA4C0Lh435kHVtK8l7o9FunD3HiEqWU1knw1dMXtR3JxwbnYWcQJClwQeP2pwFQwSeZ4ATkXOyUkJO75g12UTEDz56KCng3pBXwFNF_WM0vt95lIHmjOFf_915jrw/s1600-h/Tree_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS_h1_L63nfrK45oA4C0Lh435kHVtK8l7o9FunD3HiEqWU1knw1dMXtR3JxwbnYWcQJClwQeP2pwFQwSeZ4ATkXOyUkJO75g12UTEDz56KCng3pBXwFNF_WM0vt95lIHmjOFf_915jrw/s320/Tree_2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyOH1LL8yabSLogTy4l43tpw78CKH6Uw5dKhLOv8wEk_EInMNfPZzVvEuM1ucc3kgsPSFhQxswuxpuVfS1sSmvjYPxpyIPHy-tIqNwBVrKQzs0L4WVA9q78GHibq30CvdiUcEDXbHXTA/s1600-h/Tree_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyOH1LL8yabSLogTy4l43tpw78CKH6Uw5dKhLOv8wEk_EInMNfPZzVvEuM1ucc3kgsPSFhQxswuxpuVfS1sSmvjYPxpyIPHy-tIqNwBVrKQzs0L4WVA9q78GHibq30CvdiUcEDXbHXTA/s320/Tree_1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>African Cup of Nations</strong></div>This week was full of football talk. In true footballer supporter style, Ghanians had forgotten their highly critical comments of their team's performance against the Ivory Coast and were now hoping for success againast their arch rivals, Nigeria.<br />
<br />
The Black Star's very close 1-0 win was greeted by great jubilation in the streets as Bolga as people took to the streets to celebrate - anyone would have thought they had won the competition!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qzPR2N6niSio_wRCffjywL7ZFy-9srLRGo2s5G5QAillZat0wCpn1GjjxMiNBdGhyphenhyphen7CQ8js5oazfUpmuYVnbcdsDUa_-OC6FRdwlyE25sR4eyAegfjKyU1dr9eygx87OjX_sBw5EoBw/s1600-h/Football_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qzPR2N6niSio_wRCffjywL7ZFy-9srLRGo2s5G5QAillZat0wCpn1GjjxMiNBdGhyphenhyphen7CQ8js5oazfUpmuYVnbcdsDUa_-OC6FRdwlyE25sR4eyAegfjKyU1dr9eygx87OjX_sBw5EoBw/s320/Football_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I watched the final in a place that had two TVs - the one on the left was showing the Ghana v Egypt final, whereas the TV on the right was showing the Arsenal v Man Utd game. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiko1z2XWjAMSrtc6FxzUTTNAEfKKFZ8dbqi0D6fiJr0wG7Zgw3DRvK8MlJP5uxO6vebjEr73zoAJaAf6MYoVj2gjzL299FuCYK4CmwYlCdebg-vFXbNAsmT4I9bVdr7FqhRiBgAK7mRgo/s1600-h/Football_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiko1z2XWjAMSrtc6FxzUTTNAEfKKFZ8dbqi0D6fiJr0wG7Zgw3DRvK8MlJP5uxO6vebjEr73zoAJaAf6MYoVj2gjzL299FuCYK4CmwYlCdebg-vFXbNAsmT4I9bVdr7FqhRiBgAK7mRgo/s320/Football_3.jpg" /></a></div>The venue was small and packed with about 150 young and exclusively male Ghanians - most of whom were wearing Man Utd shirts! It was a doubly bad afternoon for me as both my teams lost! As it was a Muslim establishment, I couldn't even console myself with a beer!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-jYgKs40LwOqUOWJoC7OUQ6G5zQ7-yMHTHHMSt0WZ3Dzdw2kE_uZckSWG4SnyLOpRph_yVvUCP8OgmxTUHoK2jJQpdTR84UkCwhxB1zWVNTqJif03AU3XZyq_ZCG7olWt0O5Tk_G3I4/s1600-h/Football_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-jYgKs40LwOqUOWJoC7OUQ6G5zQ7-yMHTHHMSt0WZ3Dzdw2kE_uZckSWG4SnyLOpRph_yVvUCP8OgmxTUHoK2jJQpdTR84UkCwhxB1zWVNTqJif03AU3XZyq_ZCG7olWt0O5Tk_G3I4/s320/Football_2.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ghanaians were gracious in defeat, despite being somewhat unlucky. Every Ghanaian I spoke to was pleased with their team's performance - which is more than I could say for Arsenal's!</div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-78161444910126178782010-02-05T19:47:00.000+00:002010-02-05T19:47:09.969+00:00Day 14: Sunday, 24 January 2010 - My new home in BolgatangaMy first day in Bolgatanga, or Bolga as it is known locally, was one of unpacking, resting and getting to know my new housemate, Christina.<br />
<br />
Christina is from Ireland and has been a volunteer since November 2009. Her placement is for one, or possibly two, years. She is a primary teacher by profession and is working as a Teacher Support Officer (TSO) in the same Ghana Education Service (GES) District where I will be a Headteacher Teacher Support Officer (HTSO). <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The house we are staying in is large, with five bedrooms. It has a walled garden which has Paw Paw and mangos growing in it. The lawn’s not too great though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjvhDoqDmTqih8AnBK8FLvTl72ZO0RWgSCNfm-kj_BMSjwFhBNtbZCJuKumf0wyFvzt0FVdRWOiNMIA55NgshOCOcNsyo1OQFhnUmOFpLP9-IhZamuHz2DoCqlNI0okQhq4tWPyvalpY/s1600-h/Bolga_home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjvhDoqDmTqih8AnBK8FLvTl72ZO0RWgSCNfm-kj_BMSjwFhBNtbZCJuKumf0wyFvzt0FVdRWOiNMIA55NgshOCOcNsyo1OQFhnUmOFpLP9-IhZamuHz2DoCqlNI0okQhq4tWPyvalpY/s320/Bolga_home.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYtrdurUmuV3a7jwaKkRY0n0-yIP4AySEXU1V9U1WEte8qNsEYMH14VHBrhM8fDops-tv6qU490jlOsMFbPW0bGtUS02C84_D33Y1df_D1b32qB1csdyfKYAqlV5g6J62VeKX0QAd19U/s1600-h/Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYtrdurUmuV3a7jwaKkRY0n0-yIP4AySEXU1V9U1WEte8qNsEYMH14VHBrhM8fDops-tv6qU490jlOsMFbPW0bGtUS02C84_D33Y1df_D1b32qB1csdyfKYAqlV5g6J62VeKX0QAd19U/s320/Garden.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There is a large living room (which for security reasons houses both Christina’s motorbike and her cycle), a long hallway, and a large kitchen that in estate agent speak “has potential”.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLHqAfKX-E83DE5QDV2qeYxoS7V4SmUOAG6jr_SQdR4aS1nlq1yQR_I2t8r99B4fdS8ESJVvOK7P0yb5ZsqkBg62Jf5kBpTYLVln0N71M2-5dN7Nrk-5MBIAHW-SKIRXU5xml-QGix_o/s1600-h/Living_room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLHqAfKX-E83DE5QDV2qeYxoS7V4SmUOAG6jr_SQdR4aS1nlq1yQR_I2t8r99B4fdS8ESJVvOK7P0yb5ZsqkBg62Jf5kBpTYLVln0N71M2-5dN7Nrk-5MBIAHW-SKIRXU5xml-QGix_o/s320/Living_room.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3wZxnlmnLKlGCDHZ02QbPuZaCtAbhRnJNBij256x-LebW5GlNfc-tANA8EfjGtVb-LsE804A2D2V89I1cP7T0JpyqX681kjTPk9KLLCyrkvo1wsdGHwlkYOXKrhUOhMv34LH3C5c0zE/s1600-h/Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3wZxnlmnLKlGCDHZ02QbPuZaCtAbhRnJNBij256x-LebW5GlNfc-tANA8EfjGtVb-LsE804A2D2V89I1cP7T0JpyqX681kjTPk9KLLCyrkvo1wsdGHwlkYOXKrhUOhMv34LH3C5c0zE/s320/Hall.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoSxOsc9tk18uK74dXPvWMS0gwmmUFH9qz7xHaz0Oy8IlbyYfwNgN6Rb93wM11lYWsc1tDJCivtJSW_GRoCtQGtI3dtwCTg7t6rdDEqQlxTQU3CgPVhosbCfFRaHuewh6NwkGy1NP8O0/s1600-h/Kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoSxOsc9tk18uK74dXPvWMS0gwmmUFH9qz7xHaz0Oy8IlbyYfwNgN6Rb93wM11lYWsc1tDJCivtJSW_GRoCtQGtI3dtwCTg7t6rdDEqQlxTQU3CgPVhosbCfFRaHuewh6NwkGy1NP8O0/s320/Kitchen.jpg" /></a></div><br />
For those of you that obsess about such things, you will be pleased to know we have a flushing toilet (in fact there are two in the house as Christina’s room has an en-suite) and the shower is in a wet room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9392E4s0R_MluWr21d68DbKO4dHzxjU-8ySgR0-Wh8-H3U_t7p3jHLyYzcpIWd7eklzF04K0baOyZSBdbIrq95Jq1wWmT1pvbgXzqxGrlBKQ4Ee12YpnYB-fL1h4NjfA4va-OT4LaPI/s1600-h/Toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9392E4s0R_MluWr21d68DbKO4dHzxjU-8ySgR0-Wh8-H3U_t7p3jHLyYzcpIWd7eklzF04K0baOyZSBdbIrq95Jq1wWmT1pvbgXzqxGrlBKQ4Ee12YpnYB-fL1h4NjfA4va-OT4LaPI/s320/Toilet.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I am getting used to the cold shower in the morning, and at the end of a hot and sweaty day it is just what you need!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mPskMcwkaT3WFKnOxIvc4VVMs4w0Z88hNu4RBwGyDjLmTGvOCdejto1Kh0iM7ZQJObxQUimchx1WtD1JqAJ9EqMfyaLMGcHD5qMvtYt3M8dNdHRY2bWK4tKYmm8IR1zWR8p5Wgi9bVM/s1600-h/Shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mPskMcwkaT3WFKnOxIvc4VVMs4w0Z88hNu4RBwGyDjLmTGvOCdejto1Kh0iM7ZQJObxQUimchx1WtD1JqAJ9EqMfyaLMGcHD5qMvtYt3M8dNdHRY2bWK4tKYmm8IR1zWR8p5Wgi9bVM/s320/Shower.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My bedroom is a nice size, and yes I did tidy before taking this photo! <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TUhJmcHmb_8iTbp56vwxg2P4Rb2Ctc2hpXpKChU7Sd2OkTAnkqc52OJOJQks1YziHgasmSZoMHSUeDHARvybQ9Z-NM6blIvfAbj_x0xMW345_91HUuwv2C2sQdvjH_xkfWdq89roiJk/s1600-h/Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TUhJmcHmb_8iTbp56vwxg2P4Rb2Ctc2hpXpKChU7Sd2OkTAnkqc52OJOJQks1YziHgasmSZoMHSUeDHARvybQ9Z-NM6blIvfAbj_x0xMW345_91HUuwv2C2sQdvjH_xkfWdq89roiJk/s320/Bedroom.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The bedroom even has its own baby gecko to eat those unwanted insects! This little chap (he is about two inches long) is often seen on the walls, but this is him on the ceiling above my bed. Fortunately, he seems to have a good grip so there should be no falling on me in the night! My biggest concern is that unlike the larger geckos in the house (they grow up to about 7 inches) that stick exclusively to the walls and ceilings this little fellow often walks across the floor. So far it is only its quick movement that has stopped him being trodden on.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqw5jSPB60Z9zUHpKU3e9-tjlz9E6v9CUfKe3WpUHOtN-9Mh_cPXyExNPWOcU13T7rtyJDUVB6t_Yd_-etDoqAypQDectYpTKEtag0EuPay5CqAhdqq6mxe9yVg62Hn0ZraKGHfnrX-s/s1600-h/Gecko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqw5jSPB60Z9zUHpKU3e9-tjlz9E6v9CUfKe3WpUHOtN-9Mh_cPXyExNPWOcU13T7rtyJDUVB6t_Yd_-etDoqAypQDectYpTKEtag0EuPay5CqAhdqq6mxe9yVg62Hn0ZraKGHfnrX-s/s320/Gecko.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My only complaint about the house is that the central heating appears to be stuck on the very high setting, as it has yet to fall below 29 degrees in my bedroom!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-19495575133133788062010-02-05T17:21:00.000+00:002010-02-05T17:21:01.305+00:00Day 13: The journey north – Saturday, 23 January 2010A 6.30am start enabled us to avoid much of the Accra traffic, but unfortunately a lorry had overturned on a section of unmade road leading to a long tailback. This, and the long sections of unmade roads, made the journey north a long one. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA9IXzzLmiYRqsXLASzYFEXas83B89hKpCID_tCbSxCNkc1_4GchAHiTsbJlxH5KyHJ_8h4xwG4GNmjv8Hwvm0iOzSTruUZGO80KwdgM_R0v1La0SUbPkq2oOo27vg-mCbrFs3vcBSaU/s1600-h/Unmade+road+north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA9IXzzLmiYRqsXLASzYFEXas83B89hKpCID_tCbSxCNkc1_4GchAHiTsbJlxH5KyHJ_8h4xwG4GNmjv8Hwvm0iOzSTruUZGO80KwdgM_R0v1La0SUbPkq2oOo27vg-mCbrFs3vcBSaU/s320/Unmade+road+north.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In fact, we could have flown from Accra to Heathrow and back again in the same amount of time it took us to travel from Accra to Bolgatanga.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dust on some of the roads made driving very difficult.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG3ghfq7yi61-O1UV-ziHgrw2G-ZXI6RVscvvPIVP9wOo9ABzGC98bIwo5yTO6L_rtd2SQRWUOtEF_LK9BxhRrNjcWvenIMX3KzsWLRqYQxk1_FaCK4JfxK42xFAxODtA12mDzz1O0LM/s1600-h/Dust_Travelling_north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG3ghfq7yi61-O1UV-ziHgrw2G-ZXI6RVscvvPIVP9wOo9ABzGC98bIwo5yTO6L_rtd2SQRWUOtEF_LK9BxhRrNjcWvenIMX3KzsWLRqYQxk1_FaCK4JfxK42xFAxODtA12mDzz1O0LM/s320/Dust_Travelling_north.jpg" /></a></div><br />
However, it must be even more difficult for the people who live along side these unmade roads because, as you can see from the colour of the leaves on the tree and the roofs of people’s homes in the photo below, the dust covered homes and vegetation for a distance of at least 50m from the road.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKqNOLs7-5AG-_oJmrxY0sT4yfrw4wCUxzBEiystxhIV5SOA5Ux89yrotm-yaMLxRB0uEAn1iq1HyRT57x2zgrvImwA7Upcg8kPeC5Zg_1f7cyivSVE_fF8WM2WAooo0bTQmxRnNjZ94/s1600-h/Dust_on_homes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKqNOLs7-5AG-_oJmrxY0sT4yfrw4wCUxzBEiystxhIV5SOA5Ux89yrotm-yaMLxRB0uEAn1iq1HyRT57x2zgrvImwA7Upcg8kPeC5Zg_1f7cyivSVE_fF8WM2WAooo0bTQmxRnNjZ94/s320/Dust_on_homes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As it was a Saturday, we passed many people on their way to funerals. Mourners in Ghana, especially in the south, traditionally wear red and black.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3QUU0Nt-f2RujH3Z86e_mXTVPJ7W81NewPyKqDWUdwfT34M9EUP-Xx1kyJZmd_YPkPH_odezhfRoN4du2jhrohoYZgk2ZhTAXFz0fnRhs3YpwLzs4R5uS_2kFbH6EIt6qw5bBT4c_Po/s1600-h/Mourners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3QUU0Nt-f2RujH3Z86e_mXTVPJ7W81NewPyKqDWUdwfT34M9EUP-Xx1kyJZmd_YPkPH_odezhfRoN4du2jhrohoYZgk2ZhTAXFz0fnRhs3YpwLzs4R5uS_2kFbH6EIt6qw5bBT4c_Po/s320/Mourners.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Another aspect of life on Ghana’s roads we were becoming used to, are the slogans people put across the rear windows of their vehicles. Most are religious in nature.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdulsj6m9ht3N_N2RXm5OpSCJJbbX5SU061EPD8FatJigwoQlyZBr1onPnXyygwIlo_jq8nNDGuzWeGriiiYfmXwnAS7M6b1TNBIXjLBGXdcR8zBpf71QYrdiAP9SZEn-rPS6yTHFUlAo/s1600-h/Religious_sayings_cars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdulsj6m9ht3N_N2RXm5OpSCJJbbX5SU061EPD8FatJigwoQlyZBr1onPnXyygwIlo_jq8nNDGuzWeGriiiYfmXwnAS7M6b1TNBIXjLBGXdcR8zBpf71QYrdiAP9SZEn-rPS6yTHFUlAo/s320/Religious_sayings_cars.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Whilst others relate to something else many Ghanaian hold dear.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIKFW4rAxN1ZuhyphenhyphenhUEqKjR1VKr-7YVGj2NQqatow2-hszsfcV4hk2-tzOI3V0LNLAoE_VOv51EZUoqAxgN8PsRGDInec6DYD5k4FscSd3OFxG_Raua84qMbWMhctJv8SenYMV9AGzViw/s1600-h/Lampard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIKFW4rAxN1ZuhyphenhyphenhUEqKjR1VKr-7YVGj2NQqatow2-hszsfcV4hk2-tzOI3V0LNLAoE_VOv51EZUoqAxgN8PsRGDInec6DYD5k4FscSd3OFxG_Raua84qMbWMhctJv8SenYMV9AGzViw/s320/Lampard.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We even saw one taxi with Tony Blair written across the back – I’m not too sure what that was all about!<br />
<br />
Having first crossed the Black Volta River<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg4To7X9CbChUuSXl4Abpk8au4kPZHxicrXnj2vWR8pG7z-6xEBR1NA3dogtXG4r__wrhOEbtq9zOuHpX-YBdSVEfba_SRZhF-4HRcNf9okbHkz9C27q-j3caOHXRl1jPrCoZDffJx_o/s1600-h/Black_Volta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg4To7X9CbChUuSXl4Abpk8au4kPZHxicrXnj2vWR8pG7z-6xEBR1NA3dogtXG4r__wrhOEbtq9zOuHpX-YBdSVEfba_SRZhF-4HRcNf9okbHkz9C27q-j3caOHXRl1jPrCoZDffJx_o/s320/Black_Volta.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We then crossed the White Volta before stopping for a bite to eat in Tamale at about 4.30pm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt9t_LFc7seJAkgi0lXr6ixgiZEj95VAwrBzxvnVy9hz3G20C7r2EkbmTyYV_YMBroY4jpQVXtP0r0TJ9cGWd43Dcc9DbFGXHtOrxGu3FQjvGaGU2N6VBDt4OuTx0n1RQQh_IL7Wycmg/s1600-h/White_Volta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt9t_LFc7seJAkgi0lXr6ixgiZEj95VAwrBzxvnVy9hz3G20C7r2EkbmTyYV_YMBroY4jpQVXtP0r0TJ9cGWd43Dcc9DbFGXHtOrxGu3FQjvGaGU2N6VBDt4OuTx0n1RQQh_IL7Wycmg/s320/White_Volta.jpg" /></a></div><br />
After Tamale the road north was mainly surfaced (except for the large pot holes that is) and very straight. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nVon6nRIr9wtSqmg8VJN5__FG8MlOu85zt5uRiWsR_cMiIV9EGO0F_5iTaPBxCV3a56s-cJNS7O8fHAgE9bmkWBaa1jirUlLHVnjbRq84p8R-VNXDfrsgP1WMx4fJIQHx5xdzcwZnFI/s1600-h/Road_north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nVon6nRIr9wtSqmg8VJN5__FG8MlOu85zt5uRiWsR_cMiIV9EGO0F_5iTaPBxCV3a56s-cJNS7O8fHAgE9bmkWBaa1jirUlLHVnjbRq84p8R-VNXDfrsgP1WMx4fJIQHx5xdzcwZnFI/s320/Road_north.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It was interesting to note the change in scenery as we headed for the much hotter and drier north and what a contrast the grass savannah was to the much lusher tropical south.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OCgQwyMlBcQlvhjG-yNP5nUMRF0i0CtSo4vASuo2ZzkZZCdgSs5bk3f0gNzVA9SfQir73YtshdIzWwZ-VOhvtejQ6dXa6JVwwmjCL7_IC8d6Qj4brRc7AwS9Tx5_9ZyRGfNcRkpAtR4/s1600-h/Scenery_north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OCgQwyMlBcQlvhjG-yNP5nUMRF0i0CtSo4vASuo2ZzkZZCdgSs5bk3f0gNzVA9SfQir73YtshdIzWwZ-VOhvtejQ6dXa6JVwwmjCL7_IC8d6Qj4brRc7AwS9Tx5_9ZyRGfNcRkpAtR4/s320/Scenery_north.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Approximately fourteen hours after starting out from Accra, we eventually arrived in Bolgatanga. Our driver, Isaha, had done a tremendous job of getting us here safely. Driving on Ghana’s roads requires total concentration, so he must have been exhausted after such a long day.Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-50813985069955132902010-02-05T13:39:00.000+00:002010-02-05T13:39:26.931+00:00Day 9 - 12: VSO In Country Training - Tuesday, 19th January to Friday 22nd January 2010<strong>The Hotel</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
On 19th January we said our goodbyes to Mariam and Darligton who had looked after us so well at the villa and moved to the Hotel Byblos in central Accra. On the outside the hotel looked promising, but looks can be deceptive!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Y0lBQrJZFjjEaGkG3pSaqdow2nEEo04WUlzo8EsDsY3dBS3X4EzG-EqScjIF4WP40UNHFtHv_sA_yRXRK1g5dKXWW7gJfq5b6ql3xKgAOqS2kQ5649ECO4yyTQUdcIgEdRKDQSU0olI/s1600-h/Byblos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Y0lBQrJZFjjEaGkG3pSaqdow2nEEo04WUlzo8EsDsY3dBS3X4EzG-EqScjIF4WP40UNHFtHv_sA_yRXRK1g5dKXWW7gJfq5b6ql3xKgAOqS2kQ5649ECO4yyTQUdcIgEdRKDQSU0olI/s320/Byblos.jpg" /></a></div>On the inside the standard of accommodation and the level of customer service we experienced left a lot to be desired. Aspects of it were like Fawlty Towers on a bad day! Certainly not a hotel I would recommend anyone to use.<br />
<br />
The three of us were originally shown rooms in the annex area across the road from the main hotel. Shortly after lugging my very heavy cases up the steep stairs (there is no lift) one of the hotel staff came and told me I had to move to different room in the main building! Getting the cases down the steep stairs was even more difficult than getting them up them in the first place, which resulted in them being dropped and bounced down a number of stairs more than once – fortunately there wasn’t much in them to break!<br />
<br />
The new room I was allocated was just off the reception area – good news as it meant I would not have to carry the cases up yet more stairs. The bad news was that as soon as the door was opened there was an almost overpowering smell of damp coming from the room. Mosquitoes in the room were also a problem as the screening on the window was missing on one half and broken on the other. There were plenty of gaps in the window frame for these pesky insects to enter. That night I got no sleep due to the nauseating smell and noise from the air conditioning unit which had no control unit to turn it to the sleep setting. The next morning I had a splitting headache and felt quite nauseous. For those of you who know what I am like when I have had insufficient sleep, you can imagine what sort of mood I was in!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrbpvPB5VkvJZ4rb4j-tNDdEy9vmA3aMEMVr4jIUWnRVGYdivNRkftuOw2VfzQmscBqv309wBYFrP8CedT94-mbltGe5g2trrAu56gJKn0NATz23vxowLcnw3-5F1rNpPAgatulLmp2E/s1600-h/Damp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrbpvPB5VkvJZ4rb4j-tNDdEy9vmA3aMEMVr4jIUWnRVGYdivNRkftuOw2VfzQmscBqv309wBYFrP8CedT94-mbltGe5g2trrAu56gJKn0NATz23vxowLcnw3-5F1rNpPAgatulLmp2E/s320/Damp.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The shower did have hot water, but the shower curtain was useless and drainage was very poor. After a short period of time the water overflowed the shower and flooded the bathroom floor. The toilet flushed, but the seat was loose so it had to be used with care!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimlz-xPOznP7MsNFGCh57QOw1r9dFScjzHuoPm3No7x_e6Www2V0zk1Lowvl5iyOtPk1kKj4C0Y448ER-ZWyGcbEqrw5Msm1z7UWf6JZ2l73F0SuHveeCQv7Ox7BbrSuekN4zj1SjGr4/s1600-h/Shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimlz-xPOznP7MsNFGCh57QOw1r9dFScjzHuoPm3No7x_e6Www2V0zk1Lowvl5iyOtPk1kKj4C0Y448ER-ZWyGcbEqrw5Msm1z7UWf6JZ2l73F0SuHveeCQv7Ox7BbrSuekN4zj1SjGr4/s320/Shower.jpg" /></a></div><br />
For breakfast there was a choice of egg and bread or bread and egg! Not good for a person who has a problem with eating eggs!<br />
<br />
I asked to see the manager, but he wasn’t available. My colleagues in the annex had similar issues, but also had the added concern about the lack of security as the outside door to the annex did not lock so was open all night. The hotel’s annex is the building next to House of Spirits below. The pink building is a new expensive night club – Citizen Kofi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdaLI7jO_H_oai3jlBtN5BvGRdhGKqfkSXFTVTck9y-ViCFjzWKro4PTDRO7L1CilDQArwyUr1onBuH90MsbgFtPRsZii46yYg4rM9zH8h2N9ZkEVzAumnPOX1ek6RMANkHHsCo_g3Ao/s1600-h/Annex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdaLI7jO_H_oai3jlBtN5BvGRdhGKqfkSXFTVTck9y-ViCFjzWKro4PTDRO7L1CilDQArwyUr1onBuH90MsbgFtPRsZii46yYg4rM9zH8h2N9ZkEVzAumnPOX1ek6RMANkHHsCo_g3Ao/s320/Annex.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I think it is too easy to say “What do you expect in a developing country.” The fact is that we live in an ever shrinking world and tourism is a potential source of significant foreign income for countries like Ghana. However, people will only travel to such places if the essentials are right, i.e. basic cleanliness, maintenance and an acceptable level of customer care. I also believe that organisations such as VSO have a role to play in raising standards. Businesses should only receive their custom if certain standards are met and checks should be conducted to ensure minimum standards are maintained. Businesses that fail to meet these expectations should lose their custom until deficiencies are put right. Such action would support the overall raising of standards, which can only be in everyone’s interest.<br />
<br />
The irony of our experience at the hotel is that we calculated it would have been cheaper for VSO to have put us up at the villa than in this sub-standard hotel!<br />
<br />
<strong>Restaurants</strong><br />
<br />
Our experience of restaurants in Accra was similar to that of accommodation. The Lebanese restaurant attached to the hotel had shabby furniture, tatty menus, slow service and uninspiring food – needless to say we only ate there once. A short distance away there is an Italian restaurant, Leonardo’s, that has excellent decor and some of the best service I have experienced anywhere in the world. The food was also great and very reasonably priced. As we enjoyed our first meal there so much we returned the next day to sample something else from their extensive menu and to celebrate my birthday (and the fact that I was entering my 50th year!) a few days early.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk0gkjUqcf5OFUIhrGaI7KnPKuAdWiMfFp20dJ6kh0INA68SsYb459pA4vQjHOqiQiKmklHVjGzFoipXbyrCYn5VP3vGN-X-4ReDPRnn-fHJuUD4l-ieyEue1f3PYareo4ELs3tmjcnM/s1600-h/Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmk0gkjUqcf5OFUIhrGaI7KnPKuAdWiMfFp20dJ6kh0INA68SsYb459pA4vQjHOqiQiKmklHVjGzFoipXbyrCYn5VP3vGN-X-4ReDPRnn-fHJuUD4l-ieyEue1f3PYareo4ELs3tmjcnM/s320/Birthday.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong>In Country Training</strong><br />
<br />
As there were only the three of us that needed training, we had an intensive few days to cover all the things we need to know before heading north. <br />
<br />
Dora, who is responsible for the VSO education programme in Ghana, gave us a comprehensive overview of Ghanaian education system and the issues affecting education, whilst Eric informed us about the Tackling Education Needs Inclusively (TENI) project. We thought the UK was bad for acronyms, but I can assure you Ghanaians win hands down! Their guiding principle appears to be why use words when a string of letters will do! We also had a briefing on cultural practices from Nii and a health briefing that made us all want to return to the safety of the UK!Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-13126680269163470462010-02-05T10:18:00.004+00:002010-02-05T10:24:45.811+00:00Day 8: 18 January 2010 - University of Cape Coast<span id="goog_1265317105774"></span><span id="goog_1265317105775"></span>After an early start we arrived at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to find out more about initial teacher training in Ghana and the Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa programme. UCC’s campus must enjoy one of the most idyllic locations of any university in the world with its palm lined avenues, manicured grounds and panoramic views over the Gulf of Guinea coastline. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXzRBtK4NHtoVCr34nneCaJ7zWeJ_gaSaS_-Fj6C9P1qZYnbORC459fXJtJ1aOAFDnJlsi49vuE5PwokVjT734oF6CWEw8bBVLvWKV3SKUAEqm6_WC1jGMVM2k4PCyFBvE3LI_IJqINM/s320/UCC_2.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTZ0zD87Vt8rHRo9FUDk7b9sNzK93Cuiy4QbIO59YnxMczsySr1lT4AwXYIpTQ0GW-0fzvuL0Kx4E_Rl0ZsratMMF8tN5Fl5nnWwPlr6R4v-8zGTlGiSbR0viFCEhoriPALmn4Ur2F6U/s1600-h/UCC_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTZ0zD87Vt8rHRo9FUDk7b9sNzK93Cuiy4QbIO59YnxMczsySr1lT4AwXYIpTQ0GW-0fzvuL0Kx4E_Rl0ZsratMMF8tN5Fl5nnWwPlr6R4v-8zGTlGiSbR0viFCEhoriPALmn4Ur2F6U/s320/UCC_3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_PG0zgEPwy6DeUsl1EqogQJZAkZ2Ex0a5V_eS7Ytik9v10XiIXeCPIdVdMwtfJmcZFKTa9b-cG3sZ85Bf63aFP2o0gJGUKoY_xNAJU64W78dwSVe_EnadlSHJrPmGjgFfs2Deu4y63E/s1600-h/UCC_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_PG0zgEPwy6DeUsl1EqogQJZAkZ2Ex0a5V_eS7Ytik9v10XiIXeCPIdVdMwtfJmcZFKTa9b-cG3sZ85Bf63aFP2o0gJGUKoY_xNAJU64W78dwSVe_EnadlSHJrPmGjgFfs2Deu4y63E/s320/UCC_5.jpg" /></a></div>Our hosts from UCC’s Institute of Education, Might and Kwame, had arranged for us to meet a Tutor from a local teacher training college and a qualified teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPzYWm7KTSM2tVDvpF3qy8r7vJmSsBPGWq__l8HAwTOTTSG_0VF1i-5dWCQkoU66DchpMgQagZsx7vGYKvB4lUDLbwHaTZsznbLXoxGcFIDj3q9yKgM5OCLMHFR8GVY_b0Y8CRTycS38/s1600-h/UCC_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPzYWm7KTSM2tVDvpF3qy8r7vJmSsBPGWq__l8HAwTOTTSG_0VF1i-5dWCQkoU66DchpMgQagZsx7vGYKvB4lUDLbwHaTZsznbLXoxGcFIDj3q9yKgM5OCLMHFR8GVY_b0Y8CRTycS38/s320/UCC_4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We had an extremely useful meeting in which we found out about the course student teachers follow. It differs significantly from courses in England, as in Ghana trainee teachers do not go on teaching practice until the third year of their three year course. We also discovered that due to the shortage of teachers, nobody who remains on the course for the duration fails – regardless of how poor their classroom practice is! It also appears that due to the lack of status associated with teaching as a profession, it is often not the first choice for many of those who train to teach.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HJ4ETTda0Nxsy3FkjfxfITEPsHv-e8Dz242r8sFsYjiP7VGLwPayTeqwwu-_Lh_0f8yUJ8SfVejYRGIrHq5h_H5fD-MH-rc9tdVnkloNdmCAgaEGqLwdeIUyEytS9jMCaZ7dj7HNfq0/s1600-h/UCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HJ4ETTda0Nxsy3FkjfxfITEPsHv-e8Dz242r8sFsYjiP7VGLwPayTeqwwu-_Lh_0f8yUJ8SfVejYRGIrHq5h_H5fD-MH-rc9tdVnkloNdmCAgaEGqLwdeIUyEytS9jMCaZ7dj7HNfq0/s320/UCC.jpg" /></a></div>We had an enjoyable lunch at a nearby centre for Ghana’s Teachers’ Union. We approved of its motto!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M4aE_b351m0TVJqkwRSWvoGmhAwKJJtb9x5Y4qYytyBQlPwPTGgdB3uyrPqzaL5xfQwmoxHr1k3_ONg6ufPW-UCHL_IcMmnek0b99Dypb3u7cmf-VwipUm9gXW5cP0sMmpNlt318t3I/s1600-h/Teachers'_union.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9M4aE_b351m0TVJqkwRSWvoGmhAwKJJtb9x5Y4qYytyBQlPwPTGgdB3uyrPqzaL5xfQwmoxHr1k3_ONg6ufPW-UCHL_IcMmnek0b99Dypb3u7cmf-VwipUm9gXW5cP0sMmpNlt318t3I/s320/Teachers'_union.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-151990263612010972010-01-31T11:50:00.008+00:002010-01-31T14:10:36.379+00:00Day 6 & 7: 16-17 January<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On <strong>Day 6</strong>, Madam Gertrude insisted that we allow her seamstress to make a typically Ghanaian outfit for us. After selecting our preferred styles from numerous designs displayed on posters, measurements were taken. Our host even arranged for the finished articles to be delivered to the VSO office in Accra – photo to follow? </div><br />
The rest of the day was spent travelling back to the villa in Accra.<br />
<br />
On <strong>Day 7</strong> our driver, Darlington, had suggested we might like to go to the beach. What he forgot to tell us was we were going via the Shai Hills Resource Reserve. I had forgotten my water and Janet had dressed for the beach!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfp77yBMBEIvK13Scvjk54iODeVqQEtJr89LX2AS_zA-bygURB12uHoUhZ0SeVBBKmkr6-Zafv-EiSJ-pfyC5tzfUEdvVdJLXxJk12gp1owVgblzOxprBeMj_ftbxosmCJIg9c_NbpCs/s1600-h/Shai_hills_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfp77yBMBEIvK13Scvjk54iODeVqQEtJr89LX2AS_zA-bygURB12uHoUhZ0SeVBBKmkr6-Zafv-EiSJ-pfyC5tzfUEdvVdJLXxJk12gp1owVgblzOxprBeMj_ftbxosmCJIg9c_NbpCs/s320/Shai_hills_1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Reserve consists of a very striking range of rocky hills surrounded by coastal savannah. We saw many species of birds, including wild Guinea Fowl and Grey Hornbill, as well as bats, baboons and Kob antelopes.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPYzo39RdCpla0GU9VLKjYPeUuEXIzqJz_obX_0gFxsSMUH_6ZYffnAbIIANwg-ggIrgwH4nSnw-X0SZV2R-woxyccdD8gQ80h18OwgbfdT5DtImsOYII_YW-FyrxjcmmZiAdx9AJlnE/s1600-h/Shai_hills_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPYzo39RdCpla0GU9VLKjYPeUuEXIzqJz_obX_0gFxsSMUH_6ZYffnAbIIANwg-ggIrgwH4nSnw-X0SZV2R-woxyccdD8gQ80h18OwgbfdT5DtImsOYII_YW-FyrxjcmmZiAdx9AJlnE/s320/Shai_hills_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgcwkjcoIdgW6okmqWytHB7VMRma8tX7TfkGdLxBd_SBQoIuvg3zzjzSFbiqCUpciizQKqoJovelXADg87MraUi5zAbJutyFldmLO6pybT0i5fPkEJYZIgRs-zVieT5g6HYcsjBdEF1Y/s1600-h/Baboon_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgcwkjcoIdgW6okmqWytHB7VMRma8tX7TfkGdLxBd_SBQoIuvg3zzjzSFbiqCUpciizQKqoJovelXADg87MraUi5zAbJutyFldmLO6pybT0i5fPkEJYZIgRs-zVieT5g6HYcsjBdEF1Y/s320/Baboon_1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumTOZZCY6ZyNErxDyqpGA-upUpBuzrC0oK0kHFb-fXwCTF2bdOalMWh-WHA2mSomdvHfcb7xTjlNTzzcivREh67N6MQPk5Mwn6eiDBGhBQOvT6ls_r8PEnnnrygqDeW15bQdfPo5V3F4/s1600-h/Baboon_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumTOZZCY6ZyNErxDyqpGA-upUpBuzrC0oK0kHFb-fXwCTF2bdOalMWh-WHA2mSomdvHfcb7xTjlNTzzcivREh67N6MQPk5Mwn6eiDBGhBQOvT6ls_r8PEnnnrygqDeW15bQdfPo5V3F4/s320/Baboon_2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaqYpb-1HJmAWR_JU-1pogJiij17RrEWcG5IThU4Iyh1ofXgmHoV4YuEPY1If4zUrxv-i6jauOaZbYXDiLV7udfOELTd8w2_9_qorBNDJDbA3M0_s046-PuSNxnkQoT8bnqfBuUgcofE/s1600-h/Baboon_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaqYpb-1HJmAWR_JU-1pogJiij17RrEWcG5IThU4Iyh1ofXgmHoV4YuEPY1If4zUrxv-i6jauOaZbYXDiLV7udfOELTd8w2_9_qorBNDJDbA3M0_s046-PuSNxnkQoT8bnqfBuUgcofE/s320/Baboon_3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyOjvWOdIzQXTfawqPvGITBkH1KPk_oRNYOTcCc5EjS0ExTUme0vCt_y0hRccaRUDf7XFv9-zGJTNJbf2jEs_98SlT1VWPqWr1S3224dD8-VIPOtplAwTKnyqKuiLZM4GBllT7WxgF0E/s320/Guniea_fowl.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU0282rwInMogfT1HmvYLmm-0H_giXAuGqHX9-t4BKzfhaBzFwo5UGIZ-Bt0w9a8X7iAKeKcqeCVwmm5mvRMP7O_B-AQLlBCohd8vi4PHcGGiHF546TIuwFqi9t99a_whyphenhyphenWhDPSDhzW8/s1600-h/Antelope_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU0282rwInMogfT1HmvYLmm-0H_giXAuGqHX9-t4BKzfhaBzFwo5UGIZ-Bt0w9a8X7iAKeKcqeCVwmm5mvRMP7O_B-AQLlBCohd8vi4PHcGGiHF546TIuwFqi9t99a_whyphenhyphenWhDPSDhzW8/s320/Antelope_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This stick insect caused Janet to panic when it decided to hitch a ride – fortunately it was rescued by the guide before it came to any serious harm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFKho1vFfrIHeHISce1pYBCYqNToepAjWhACFX2hZkxkGdnet_2JjhjK-Ess36XMiESHggOHcppzNr5derxf6kKGz07Efv6tuXJEtkcy7p6m4mVRz45lyPrlLXH45QZbTgUlcad8NAwY/s1600-h/Stick_insect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFKho1vFfrIHeHISce1pYBCYqNToepAjWhACFX2hZkxkGdnet_2JjhjK-Ess36XMiESHggOHcppzNr5derxf6kKGz07Efv6tuXJEtkcy7p6m4mVRz45lyPrlLXH45QZbTgUlcad8NAwY/s320/Stick_insect.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Our guide also took us to the caves once inhabited by the Dangme Shai people. This tribe was removed from the land to make way for the Reserve. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ9eHk_UDCoxhyrtOQChSfkZaUWb9x-_iLf0S9j5-Uhyphenhyphen9Yup1yOMfRT6XzIDalYb-LHMoSk5X0mmKpK_-kcfoOve6QHseBr4trhyphenhyphen5slCVOI9JSICMUnvtPu9Zak0hUs_id96aOAGd_ew/s1600-h/428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ9eHk_UDCoxhyrtOQChSfkZaUWb9x-_iLf0S9j5-Uhyphenhyphen9Yup1yOMfRT6XzIDalYb-LHMoSk5X0mmKpK_-kcfoOve6QHseBr4trhyphenhyphen5slCVOI9JSICMUnvtPu9Zak0hUs_id96aOAGd_ew/s320/428.JPG" /></a></div><br />
In discussion we asked our guide, Michael, about his role. He explained that their job was to stop poaching and to show visitors around. We asked how many female guides there were on this Reserves and similar sites around the country. To his knowledge there weren’t any. He thought this was entirely appropriate as he did not feel that women would be able to cope with the physical demands of hiking through the savannah and camping over night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDZMsSTxwmFUgehwydpzxGXgDdGEQow8RHiecHDsI222AjI0pBGS58y1pQNbHYFeZ7jwdAb-9-VQgduOk8ar9skiQSYV5iu3ceVgz5wRdzj0ldKDkmrr2t90TFO5wcMWZ8EGOSljuO0U/s1600-h/Guide_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDZMsSTxwmFUgehwydpzxGXgDdGEQow8RHiecHDsI222AjI0pBGS58y1pQNbHYFeZ7jwdAb-9-VQgduOk8ar9skiQSYV5iu3ceVgz5wRdzj0ldKDkmrr2t90TFO5wcMWZ8EGOSljuO0U/s320/Guide_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
After a short hike that even we three women were able to manage, we entered one of the caves that were used in the past by the Chief of the Dangme Shai tribe and encountered hundreds of bats. The stench created by these mammals was very strong and the colony took flight as we approached. It was amazing to see how so many of these creatures were able to fly around in such a confined space without colliding with each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxuMIxSAM68UYkuaG6RL3Py1NjEEBtIgtY02XPTspq1SgJZYrX8FzgqxRPQuL5cb60GQ7jCkCRaHIWHhzeGh6OFO3NP0b9nqpsa99O-HYMhgQ2195pWD6WVArtwEIgDR8vqTzcgFt_CQ/s320/bat_cave_2.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ9o6lWwdn5GxgNOklNE4OcOPWRKzCzBTEBKe5hGdF8Gd3IfotOG7c3RgiEhpw-x__xxf0PK0TJohmp4_1vw6BA88cwdSxe_txMd-FzA7_lYJuok9N0gIkTfThrHSZh-E_sBEux2iFDo/s1600-h/Bat_cave_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ9o6lWwdn5GxgNOklNE4OcOPWRKzCzBTEBKe5hGdF8Gd3IfotOG7c3RgiEhpw-x__xxf0PK0TJohmp4_1vw6BA88cwdSxe_txMd-FzA7_lYJuok9N0gIkTfThrHSZh-E_sBEux2iFDo/s320/Bat_cave_3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>At one of the dams used to create watering holes for animals, there was a rustling in the bushes followed by a quick glimpse of a large gold and black snake - a rock python! Pythons are non-venomous and completely harmless – that is unless you are a small antelope or rodent, in which case they might crush you to death before swallowing you whole!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFUutm2nQzoXbpfKOArokd5yYf7rcwJDjsJncKUn2xhIdHtVDOUHh2LLZvkIUigdXZLSkB38jrQyCY_VKVro_1Orqry1ql6kN2Nagpe5J1GkrH7Up6yftiS0lZjZdHCivN7ga_zi0fpg/s320/watering_hole.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhH_4_OA7XFkKPEx_d8-oybDcn7Yw6GAZq01V8-NZNrozlaUrQLgdxNRQnfaDB7n15sHO7oKh272Ash7NEXLZ_JBeZfEISW-_JyFpfenW2Qm_BYbeUAlnsLiBU-0Maozh6CFTTNMUwNM/s1600-h/rock_python.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhH_4_OA7XFkKPEx_d8-oybDcn7Yw6GAZq01V8-NZNrozlaUrQLgdxNRQnfaDB7n15sHO7oKh272Ash7NEXLZ_JBeZfEISW-_JyFpfenW2Qm_BYbeUAlnsLiBU-0Maozh6CFTTNMUwNM/s320/rock_python.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In the Shai Hills ticket office I came across these exercise books – I don’t think this was the intended use of these resources!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd18tOWd5_2ppdlHm3Cl3-ACkZlhrqZ1R9chTNOelrAq20zT-HiR4YQc0cublfKDMCn3m90GuSoTO6cfDlP8bLN82Zg24vbxA5ulg6akchsd47gEFxoMmT0oUVv_iZSVkYeSqA-VPkMM/s1600-h/Exercise_books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd18tOWd5_2ppdlHm3Cl3-ACkZlhrqZ1R9chTNOelrAq20zT-HiR4YQc0cublfKDMCn3m90GuSoTO6cfDlP8bLN82Zg24vbxA5ulg6akchsd47gEFxoMmT0oUVv_iZSVkYeSqA-VPkMM/s320/Exercise_books.jpg" /></a></div><br />
At the end of our tour of Shai Hills Reserve we headed for the beach. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H3Y-r-ltxJjJhf-aKnFAjul1KfWXy0oEXtT3urBLoXR4O6ksWWDTIpzDuw5xPgtrwhDEYVlJFo6fP26_7yQuB9i1MMepBlEBtI8NrqCZkEp-ek0_f-DYBmFSan46TQtjyW2l72nHS90/s1600-h/Beach_road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H3Y-r-ltxJjJhf-aKnFAjul1KfWXy0oEXtT3urBLoXR4O6ksWWDTIpzDuw5xPgtrwhDEYVlJFo6fP26_7yQuB9i1MMepBlEBtI8NrqCZkEp-ek0_f-DYBmFSan46TQtjyW2l72nHS90/s320/Beach_road.jpg" /></a></div><br />
On the way back to Accra we listened to Arsenal defeat Bolton 2-0 on BBC World Service and were greeting by an amazing spectacle over the city’s night sky as literally hundreds of thousands of bats took to the night sky to head off to the surrounding countryside to feed overnight.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmQPiRW3l4YSxuLZfzTqTWDSdL_ThfC_pc5ufORWX2SbUthqE-R2f9a7LC8ev9t0sUdi7vsujZJU66mJqr_Zez7yeG5Eyh-W6xhSxd_jwmBhnuRkK7ZoGDx8fztdemmq0ZHolrkIF6IM/s320/Accra-bats-2.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-26865837766177184342010-01-30T15:56:00.001+00:002010-01-30T15:58:50.519+00:00Day 5: Friday, 15 January<strong>Kente cloth workshop</strong><br />
On the way to visit Walton High’s two partner schools, Jamasi Methodist Junior High School and Akrofonso District Assembly Junior High School, we stopped off at a Kente cloth workshop to see the fabric being woven by men in the traditional way. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN2ere-icnUt0gOz_P0iSKZ441sWbZenwKOSu5_cxwQLqVjspoU8G0tzpFFF2QZBSKagqYkEXGG4i6JKUtv0wZAVfthdL90n5bZgSOsW6ydZfeVNL1-wQExUdnpqIQFp49HaIazRS0YA/s1600-h/Kente_cloth_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN2ere-icnUt0gOz_P0iSKZ441sWbZenwKOSu5_cxwQLqVjspoU8G0tzpFFF2QZBSKagqYkEXGG4i6JKUtv0wZAVfthdL90n5bZgSOsW6ydZfeVNL1-wQExUdnpqIQFp49HaIazRS0YA/s320/Kente_cloth_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Kente cloth is worn by the Akan tribes during important ceremonies, but is world famous patterns and bright colours are now used to make many other products as well, including bags, flip flops, tablecloths and blankets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3jmh9GSEi4yGSMc6qyEwZ3ECIObrGCbdrl_D5sgS82yauXMEwK3tJmHryomV1ewo-bZrGQmEZE82WXdvtkXwk8gele7fu6cDeDhF05JqaxnlVsD6r_EJZQlaC9ZYnQGFeCjfQrSjsn4/s1600-h/Kente_cloth_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3jmh9GSEi4yGSMc6qyEwZ3ECIObrGCbdrl_D5sgS82yauXMEwK3tJmHryomV1ewo-bZrGQmEZE82WXdvtkXwk8gele7fu6cDeDhF05JqaxnlVsD6r_EJZQlaC9ZYnQGFeCjfQrSjsn4/s320/Kente_cloth_3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Outside the workshop there were a number of children playing and the five youngsters below kept asking for their photograph to be taken, so we obliged.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmhZkxeYqU33QHSATUGxrPM_xB2xu5Nd4Mll2s8hgH-44YYfl4CZUOnn_Sn3Q69_89Ef9JH0RSbVnTGBV7CWvGSFXCWQJoEjFPJPXU2jMq_Lj8d71a3qDVwpydvmQAF1iXqI-5xJ4sG8/s1600-h/Kente_cloth_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmhZkxeYqU33QHSATUGxrPM_xB2xu5Nd4Mll2s8hgH-44YYfl4CZUOnn_Sn3Q69_89Ef9JH0RSbVnTGBV7CWvGSFXCWQJoEjFPJPXU2jMq_Lj8d71a3qDVwpydvmQAF1iXqI-5xJ4sG8/s320/Kente_cloth_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Jamasi Methodist Junior High School & Akrofonso District Assembly Junior High School</strong><br />
<br />
We received a typically warm Ghanaian welcome from the staff and students at both of Walton High’s partner schools. Two classes joined together for an interesting question and answer session. We were encouraged to practice our very limited Twi. Thanks to the coaching I received from Bismark, one of Walton High’s caretakers, my effort received a round of applause, whilst my colleagues’ attempts were received with much laughter!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h9acB1FUDSlsPAWhGvc5ntiRELrCr8tf4-q8tQnX5EJDk0XPzx9UEv_QzbwySIi8ZeYM3yH5Qd78rj_d9dpj_rPRZQficZQbu3rgH9s_MPK7o6OBDtU_58x4MH_WQFSwcHnDCns6ZUk/s1600-h/Jamasi_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h9acB1FUDSlsPAWhGvc5ntiRELrCr8tf4-q8tQnX5EJDk0XPzx9UEv_QzbwySIi8ZeYM3yH5Qd78rj_d9dpj_rPRZQficZQbu3rgH9s_MPK7o6OBDtU_58x4MH_WQFSwcHnDCns6ZUk/s320/Jamasi_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Despite the temperature being easily well over 32C a couple of students were wearing their jackets because they thought it was a bit chilly!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyNKmqKEdGOI3XPP-WDWKs5yOvgsaXF5MSiWpiJFHVrDAXuub_0uvJJjall9YnWpuKDLYUKNnO48LpCotusKs_ZByv94hlXLX3GVM0GEv_C1iclUFlpLbh9nqDrxCvEoRyORY8kPn5_A/s1600-h/Jamasi_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyNKmqKEdGOI3XPP-WDWKs5yOvgsaXF5MSiWpiJFHVrDAXuub_0uvJJjall9YnWpuKDLYUKNnO48LpCotusKs_ZByv94hlXLX3GVM0GEv_C1iclUFlpLbh9nqDrxCvEoRyORY8kPn5_A/s320/Jamasi_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
One of the questions we asked the students was about the start of their school day. Children arrive at 7am to clean the school and then they parade. During the parade they sing the national anthem and recite their pledge to Ghana. I asked one of the students looking on outside the classroom to video this for us. Stephen soon got to grips with the camera. Unfortunately, I am unable to upload the video at the moment because of the limitations of accessing the internet over a mobile modem. However, once I am able to do so I will add it to the blog.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn4P35m45nktYKeLuSuhzs3AW2sztD4Buv9u1VPWuwH6J3vIJdZIrQGBY04GooUy5wnGO_BIbBdoNLEaNQtty9UJM6daV6zpiWK0qn-lu65oJf3a08O2TXwT_Pjs32tmHLENT4kNf_Hc/s1600-h/Jamasi_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn4P35m45nktYKeLuSuhzs3AW2sztD4Buv9u1VPWuwH6J3vIJdZIrQGBY04GooUy5wnGO_BIbBdoNLEaNQtty9UJM6daV6zpiWK0qn-lu65oJf3a08O2TXwT_Pjs32tmHLENT4kNf_Hc/s320/Jamasi_4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Students were also asked what changes they would make to their school if they were the headteacher. We had some interesting responses to this. One boy said he would not allow teachers to beat the students - many others in the class also thought that this was a good idea. They also wanted more after school clubs. It appears that some extra curricular activites have stopped due to a lack of funds to run them.<br />
<br />
The students were just as keen as the children in the street to have their photograph taken – it was clear that their concept of personal space and mine were very different!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHQykxgsUxUy4te0CaIsfEZM32aQeNhzMf5Ct-ox43_9Zltbae0ZbXVZ7B6fSMYmmuQXmajUSul7vWxvWHgYwQ2D2x39VR-l_cew9D4EnhhthoO9tEMgRi9Q8CYxWQgijtu1l-zc6A-I/s1600-h/Jamasi_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHQykxgsUxUy4te0CaIsfEZM32aQeNhzMf5Ct-ox43_9Zltbae0ZbXVZ7B6fSMYmmuQXmajUSul7vWxvWHgYwQ2D2x39VR-l_cew9D4EnhhthoO9tEMgRi9Q8CYxWQgijtu1l-zc6A-I/s320/Jamasi_5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Before we left Jamasi School we asked one of the teachers whether there was a toilet we could use. He replied that he would arrange for there to be one – which we thought was rather an unusual reply. Then Stephen, the boy who had videoed the class, arrived to escort us. We thought we were being shown where the school’s toilet was, but instead we were taken to his house! As he walked into the courtyard his mother looked up in surprise when she saw three white women in tow! It turned out that we were taken there because they had a water closet, i.e. a western toilet. Again, typical of Ghanaian hospitality, the family welcomed us to their home and allowed us to use the toilet.<br />
<br />
The pictures below show the well in the courtyard of Stephen’s home and his baby brother cooling down in a large bowl of water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdQu0ICjlXPsj4Jzd0dkV_oTAFOdMdRs6OPQ7J4QtuNcK5UKSSlDSF_9_xXhobxP3av_S9pVukFDzcgQFadSkeC9lm-PidViDBMlZgXNwUCw_Kf3Jj7Jv-ILFUMTkT5OA_xhvCDWvUVQ/s1600-h/Stephen's_house_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdQu0ICjlXPsj4Jzd0dkV_oTAFOdMdRs6OPQ7J4QtuNcK5UKSSlDSF_9_xXhobxP3av_S9pVukFDzcgQFadSkeC9lm-PidViDBMlZgXNwUCw_Kf3Jj7Jv-ILFUMTkT5OA_xhvCDWvUVQ/s320/Stephen's_house_1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs4J99O3NHkm8UBCf7fjuEnrD3cm2E9Ed_-NzjKAKkzOxPlydRwil8BhOHVvDzjAbZtFn_u4O2Wow_G04iLle9jhdfJKzGyDo5iTDadYRc1OhqXWo_rTu0vRZr-gHBmXPfkhGipaO8t8/s1600-h/Stephen's_house_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs4J99O3NHkm8UBCf7fjuEnrD3cm2E9Ed_-NzjKAKkzOxPlydRwil8BhOHVvDzjAbZtFn_u4O2Wow_G04iLle9jhdfJKzGyDo5iTDadYRc1OhqXWo_rTu0vRZr-gHBmXPfkhGipaO8t8/s320/Stephen's_house_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As we left Jamasi School, the younger children waved us off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyjGHbH9vYBFFiueDjt0FAs7MHSpYF3BN0FIHdfM3VQWPFX09fWA2pXgXJuFMm6R-kNEGCcHwV7kNz5zeBOSk-yHnK6B_58dr_CEB0BN2l_RY0lse0ZdZOTtq_LE7AI-RlHPeL-XlE6Q/s1600-h/Jamasi_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyjGHbH9vYBFFiueDjt0FAs7MHSpYF3BN0FIHdfM3VQWPFX09fWA2pXgXJuFMm6R-kNEGCcHwV7kNz5zeBOSk-yHnK6B_58dr_CEB0BN2l_RY0lse0ZdZOTtq_LE7AI-RlHPeL-XlE6Q/s320/Jamasi_6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Due to time constraints, we were only able to make a flying visit to Akrofonso School. We were greeted by both children from Walton High’s partner school and those from the school next door (the younger children in blue uniforms).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkIYCAbiVDRkiylOCEiqZqjV0BDcVe2VFZr-yakNzkItYcdIb-8QQ2jxwg8eGM6yiTTcMVazI4VbgXtkDGFdjZW9BokTsk4yxnFyiVJ2sWDj9Mr9OZcNud7mla5jvIObXFy5Tmp9MfPM/s1600-h/Akrofonso_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkIYCAbiVDRkiylOCEiqZqjV0BDcVe2VFZr-yakNzkItYcdIb-8QQ2jxwg8eGM6yiTTcMVazI4VbgXtkDGFdjZW9BokTsk4yxnFyiVJ2sWDj9Mr9OZcNud7mla5jvIObXFy5Tmp9MfPM/s320/Akrofonso_2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Many of the children at both of Walton High’s partner schools come from families that are surviving at subsistence level. Whilst education is free in basic schools, i.e. up to the age of 15 or until they successfully complete JHS3, families still have to find the money for uniforms, stationery and exam fees. This is a significant financial burden for most.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLkyYXKbpVtyz7-HB2SPNu2HW3CRTsDCMmSEf1h4F2c24tr1rsjkQVAmYf9UMgQv1i_v0zMqAXUnm2W9PzPnj36r4xk6KoHLHt9GIWx6oETDZhKISBBsVEFDlNooquqQdTQ1ThcjoT5o/s1600-h/Akrofonso_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLkyYXKbpVtyz7-HB2SPNu2HW3CRTsDCMmSEf1h4F2c24tr1rsjkQVAmYf9UMgQv1i_v0zMqAXUnm2W9PzPnj36r4xk6KoHLHt9GIWx6oETDZhKISBBsVEFDlNooquqQdTQ1ThcjoT5o/s320/Akrofonso_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Ghanaian Government is rightly concerned about Ghana falling further behind the rest of the world with regard to information and communication technology and as a result it has made ICT compulsory in all schools. Akrofonso School did have a few old second hand computers which were donated by a Ghanaian now living in the USA, but unfortunately they were not working when we visited. Mr Alfred, the Partnership Co-ordinator at Jamasi School, explained that he would also like to see a computer room at his school. We had a useful discussion about the practicalities of this, but as his school has electricity it is better placed than many to achieve this.Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-61145394385636880452010-01-27T21:19:00.000+00:002010-01-27T21:19:52.643+00:00Days 3 & 4: 13 - 14 JanuaryOn Day 3 we travelled to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at New Tafo in the Eastern Region as the guest of Dr Isaac Opoku, head of the Plant Pathology Department. His wife, Gertrude, is a former teacher and the proprietor of a private school in New Tafo.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOo4tpNTIvcJ4-hNwQeHF3T8ruF_Ij2S-IEDdyLg15MD-e7vrRkWG-rU71lTCxct_kiOiS0QQLv17WqGyQU6wfkqy1FV2_CYElXLoZPYU_c_-hqORX2gbfRYIBBglFQG67hGxY-OcvmDQ/s1600-h/Dr+Isaac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOo4tpNTIvcJ4-hNwQeHF3T8ruF_Ij2S-IEDdyLg15MD-e7vrRkWG-rU71lTCxct_kiOiS0QQLv17WqGyQU6wfkqy1FV2_CYElXLoZPYU_c_-hqORX2gbfRYIBBglFQG67hGxY-OcvmDQ/s320/Dr+Isaac.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The scenery was very different to that seen so far in Ghana as the region has many hills. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95rDcXOGhi1fwkmIR2UdxRcyXdeNimnWlsZ5HB7ghgCDlHYsvWYhfpiedwX0ZYpJ9P-uD083poJbetmeNcRi2Owh5opmfKW7Isl-EqWCMPLsPvXQbXUpPMbO5wY-dSldZ9ptFdtvt60Q/s1600-h/Eastern_region_scenary_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95rDcXOGhi1fwkmIR2UdxRcyXdeNimnWlsZ5HB7ghgCDlHYsvWYhfpiedwX0ZYpJ9P-uD083poJbetmeNcRi2Owh5opmfKW7Isl-EqWCMPLsPvXQbXUpPMbO5wY-dSldZ9ptFdtvt60Q/s320/Eastern_region_scenary_2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But there were still many things on the road to slow us down.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvh4RhdmS0HlDEjaTWtSRID3yCjpbblceRXVol3sYyb3UVihHMJEf_lxDB75VXjIfhKqcyUWeGplBhpVlIyzYgtLymSlKqTPaah4BR243K0R__V1yYuvDN-sp-4owlKMgprQEin_4zWo/s1600-h/Road_to_eastern+region_cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvh4RhdmS0HlDEjaTWtSRID3yCjpbblceRXVol3sYyb3UVihHMJEf_lxDB75VXjIfhKqcyUWeGplBhpVlIyzYgtLymSlKqTPaah4BR243K0R__V1yYuvDN-sp-4owlKMgprQEin_4zWo/s320/Road_to_eastern+region_cows.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Cocoa is Ghana’s largest export and is vitally important to the country’s economy. The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (www.crig.org ) was founded by the British in 1938 during its colonial rule of the Gold Coast as Ghana was called before it gained independence from the British in 1957. CRIG’s role is to research into all aspects of cocoa production and its possible uses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7MgdIfMCTiMB9IcbUUpDQnr7nmjz4NPkns-YL4bRwIEb2HqEwVHCQl6v5efQghlLT2898qvxNeInjTCaIEKUEQF2ehQjFTlsx5LirVlXyrr4jLL8FykB36ZNhxIEWRaV88baRaPzzg/s1600-h/Cocoa_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI7MgdIfMCTiMB9IcbUUpDQnr7nmjz4NPkns-YL4bRwIEb2HqEwVHCQl6v5efQghlLT2898qvxNeInjTCaIEKUEQF2ehQjFTlsx5LirVlXyrr4jLL8FykB36ZNhxIEWRaV88baRaPzzg/s320/Cocoa_7.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
As a result of the usual heavy traffic in Accra and the extensive road works, it took nearly all day to travel to CRIG in New Tafo.<br />
<br />
Our visit to CRIG was typical of the generosity and hospitality of all the Ghanaians we have met. Dr Isaac had arranged for us to visit a number of places of interest during our very busy three day visit.<br />
<br />
<strong>Day 4</strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Cocoa Research Institute</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9XEXYrtjt_CqQjaJtt3IKTnuaIyG1JXYfm4gztxIX2LTlvVVyn6VKiePTUeY38NqmKSLBbtH7fGNiNS1unTW0qIsLyTcx69MGov18eUAovbPpoi0pAYhn12OYFiFVRrOeTmHjNKTlZs/s1600-h/CRIG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9XEXYrtjt_CqQjaJtt3IKTnuaIyG1JXYfm4gztxIX2LTlvVVyn6VKiePTUeY38NqmKSLBbtH7fGNiNS1unTW0qIsLyTcx69MGov18eUAovbPpoi0pAYhn12OYFiFVRrOeTmHjNKTlZs/s640/CRIG.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
</div>At the Cocoa Research Institute we found out about the organisation’s work and learnt about how cocoa is processed.<br />
<br />
Stage 1 – Farmers harvest cocoa pods from the trees when they are ripe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi161OskTMu8Y1XEqTTPgT_Ugvf3b5PxZzTER3EsHxO3-1BUv1RTlr94aFg2-EinLwfrEvC9AynB94dY6AmLS7Mvo0W6KgH5JaFAoRRETSfjVnhZKpKYnWNV_-XQUQQzTqlo4td7rBouZM/s1600-h/Cocoa_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi161OskTMu8Y1XEqTTPgT_Ugvf3b5PxZzTER3EsHxO3-1BUv1RTlr94aFg2-EinLwfrEvC9AynB94dY6AmLS7Mvo0W6KgH5JaFAoRRETSfjVnhZKpKYnWNV_-XQUQQzTqlo4td7rBouZM/s320/Cocoa_1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Stage 2 – The beans are removed from the pods. Nothing is wasted, as the pods are used for animal feed or composted to produce fertiliser.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsjc62AWY_qoUhnv0KaYmUKnGq8gnNv2uWDDSZHmSOxG5dWYhgfrmA2Fr-Kc_3Or7VGzfxkLj6YW9e726LA5ewh5Po4kRHQtS0VXgCEXRFMr1cj0AjI5l03cqvBqBRd4yIBdxTZ6YrSo/s1600-h/Cocoa_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsjc62AWY_qoUhnv0KaYmUKnGq8gnNv2uWDDSZHmSOxG5dWYhgfrmA2Fr-Kc_3Or7VGzfxkLj6YW9e726LA5ewh5Po4kRHQtS0VXgCEXRFMr1cj0AjI5l03cqvBqBRd4yIBdxTZ6YrSo/s320/Cocoa_2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Stage 3 – Four varieties of cocoa are grown in Ghana.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-tk2LjXIMMVvmr4iZYbgzUW2DYNO-mZYGOzcm7yQm5ezLb-6plrhcwOZnyqXKXTGe9AjePveMp1B___F-howHrximfagH12O3KHb_7HGhWxIXpeVJ2yIy81uGeXRdtSHyCQ5rc74E-g/s1600-h/Cocoa_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-tk2LjXIMMVvmr4iZYbgzUW2DYNO-mZYGOzcm7yQm5ezLb-6plrhcwOZnyqXKXTGe9AjePveMp1B___F-howHrximfagH12O3KHb_7HGhWxIXpeVJ2yIy81uGeXRdtSHyCQ5rc74E-g/s320/Cocoa_3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Stage 4 – Before they are dried, the cocoa beans are white on the outside and purple inside and have the familiar cocoa smell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjGDdRZxJhFCxoqR1M4ib1WzaYVR7MBIo8a1ereXMxmc0kPUswX6c0jNlftmo5fv8Cbxop_g1Z9zbnjrbS-TuCZ9gJ2252YlcY6V11tJ1KNwa38YWe8uhPGXvH-4KhmTrDhwnsXTfURM/s1600-h/Cocoa_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjGDdRZxJhFCxoqR1M4ib1WzaYVR7MBIo8a1ereXMxmc0kPUswX6c0jNlftmo5fv8Cbxop_g1Z9zbnjrbS-TuCZ9gJ2252YlcY6V11tJ1KNwa38YWe8uhPGXvH-4KhmTrDhwnsXTfURM/s320/Cocoa_4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Stage 5 – The beans are left in the open to dry and gradually change to a chocolaty brown. Workers remove any bad beans and use these for animal feed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWOUVswSN_fdbdU0Mu6uFZ2u51k7y9c5TdloNt51EW0X5lQHZT23viaMi8KGmAcZkbwh1iYMG6AY8xLoH1HBsHyR4yAOYEM8Z9XOYzSMJMoDnENLwfe9quMz2BMbI0FBb7ay89kqX23c/s1600-h/Cocoa_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWOUVswSN_fdbdU0Mu6uFZ2u51k7y9c5TdloNt51EW0X5lQHZT23viaMi8KGmAcZkbwh1iYMG6AY8xLoH1HBsHyR4yAOYEM8Z9XOYzSMJMoDnENLwfe9quMz2BMbI0FBb7ay89kqX23c/s320/Cocoa_5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
Stage 6 – As well as using cocoa beans for chocolate, CRIG has developed numerous other products that can be made from the beans. Many of these products are at the prototype stage, but some well known companies have expressed an interest in them commercially.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-60a3tJstuaphSlYzv8omOJnSPv3e2IwH_1QWYZl97XZRRjiiUJUI8e7FXo85ErfHWA-3CV7pBhP1I9Jxpxk1cOAQOXq64IIZ_YDYmtH3K-ewzV1PrEcS5YwSmuFMLUvre20g0D_Tg8/s1600-h/Cocoa_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-60a3tJstuaphSlYzv8omOJnSPv3e2IwH_1QWYZl97XZRRjiiUJUI8e7FXo85ErfHWA-3CV7pBhP1I9Jxpxk1cOAQOXq64IIZ_YDYmtH3K-ewzV1PrEcS5YwSmuFMLUvre20g0D_Tg8/s320/Cocoa_6.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
CRIG are also researching into other uses for cashew nuts, coffee beans and shea nuts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWTHafVXvxJWdxCrwxpiefXqRxrnh55f2IaeXmSKcKXxxc2KcvYmfzY7rBqZNH6QcgOxs2QlCkvXDxYUQk9Ic2oAfG5bCwJFXxqbB5AVK3a-vCw5xDqK4rjQ1hv11JP631oY7U1m5Pc4/s1600-h/CRIG_research_img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWTHafVXvxJWdxCrwxpiefXqRxrnh55f2IaeXmSKcKXxxc2KcvYmfzY7rBqZNH6QcgOxs2QlCkvXDxYUQk9Ic2oAfG5bCwJFXxqbB5AVK3a-vCw5xDqK4rjQ1hv11JP631oY7U1m5Pc4/s320/CRIG_research_img.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<strong>Royal Ascot Montessori School</strong><br />
After our visit to the Cocoa Research Institute, we visited Madam Gertrude’s school the Royal Ascot Montessori School. It is named after Royal Ascot because that is where Dr Isaac lived whilst studying for his PhD at Imperial College, London.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yDiJllDqE0e_VCgmHaPJSAyMrJfIHmZ8ZKz-ZSLTQPWhFO2cX9bPNv9UFoIKPI3B4J_lvXwncIMSEZyveGhLFzaiwWRyEfqyzSVfiML8NfBox7lNpSKrseAvZ7g-tM38rb2Q5My26A8/s1600-h/Ascot_school_building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yDiJllDqE0e_VCgmHaPJSAyMrJfIHmZ8ZKz-ZSLTQPWhFO2cX9bPNv9UFoIKPI3B4J_lvXwncIMSEZyveGhLFzaiwWRyEfqyzSVfiML8NfBox7lNpSKrseAvZ7g-tM38rb2Q5My26A8/s320/Ascot_school_building.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
The school takes children from as young as two and the oldest students are about 14 years old.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrVFE_YRzVtCg3_4b7OO0xb5qcYBWQL4vHjQ7AunjUBTrNKpRVUT-i62y8kmpiMKDbTdg7UQmp0cf0pZctNXFtciebg4WbQ0bqNOy0QN04_Fm8LS0Giv8EXiDqyFd36IjbYlH9dMdvvM/s1600-h/Ascot_school_KG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrVFE_YRzVtCg3_4b7OO0xb5qcYBWQL4vHjQ7AunjUBTrNKpRVUT-i62y8kmpiMKDbTdg7UQmp0cf0pZctNXFtciebg4WbQ0bqNOy0QN04_Fm8LS0Giv8EXiDqyFd36IjbYlH9dMdvvM/s320/Ascot_school_KG.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIgcitsnu1TNE_oYUa4WWXIYlGm7iM95jGRMXcNVkk8tHJ93jSJFededkaDRgcdTVL68K8_j0gKl4eLPk3wtfs3GwtqHaRcTh38T5R3v8VvxKNeTHljA0MIWAZQIxYGQQuVV73eTSebw/s1600-h/Ascot_school_KG_zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIgcitsnu1TNE_oYUa4WWXIYlGm7iM95jGRMXcNVkk8tHJ93jSJFededkaDRgcdTVL68K8_j0gKl4eLPk3wtfs3GwtqHaRcTh38T5R3v8VvxKNeTHljA0MIWAZQIxYGQQuVV73eTSebw/s320/Ascot_school_KG_zoo.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The children were well behaved, but when the older students were given an opportunity to interact with us they found it difficult and could not think of any questions to ask.<br />
<br />
No the picture below is not a mistake! In Ghana the variety of oranges grown are green and only turns orange when they are over ripe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvlJuJcdQ1IoIAH0hckff0M7a6RHIR-39OnbjEz-xJXsDOLRFBsckh9b8MzMPO21f3nVKN6cIwXJ2JpfZ767v0uRtNGENLNsskDIwG_FQ1oYsOZ7UAuST3PxPmQjLdKMnlBPNtCBnrBc/s1600-h/Orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvlJuJcdQ1IoIAH0hckff0M7a6RHIR-39OnbjEz-xJXsDOLRFBsckh9b8MzMPO21f3nVKN6cIwXJ2JpfZ767v0uRtNGENLNsskDIwG_FQ1oYsOZ7UAuST3PxPmQjLdKMnlBPNtCBnrBc/s320/Orange.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<strong>Akosombo Dam</strong><br />
The Akosombo Dam is an amazing structure and produces enough hydroelectric power to meet 65% of Ghana’s electricity needs. When it was completed in 1965 it created the largest manmade lake in the world – Lake Volta. Many villagers had to be relocated as a result and some controversy surrounds the way in which the people in the villages were treated. Changes to the country’s rainfall pattern and the construction of dams in neighbouring countries, especially Burkina Faso, has had some impact on power generation. However, Ghana has reached an agreement with its neighbours to secure the flow of water to the lake in return for supplying these countries with a quota of free electricity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q5BQt8JSZQkOC2EPk9dYzW2kHEikjh_J1QmBgC3SraTpoT60bU6H0loB5_JS1HNwJEtt409IXilGlN76cgpNQ1Tn7jvhm67T8wLYfCg3Qw-kDvPkU8q2zROvCvwhHUyPtXpH5-kAplk/s1600-h/Dam+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q5BQt8JSZQkOC2EPk9dYzW2kHEikjh_J1QmBgC3SraTpoT60bU6H0loB5_JS1HNwJEtt409IXilGlN76cgpNQ1Tn7jvhm67T8wLYfCg3Qw-kDvPkU8q2zROvCvwhHUyPtXpH5-kAplk/s320/Dam+1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_VFFp1zkJK3FA_D_qnEnZ2vDo2YcH9FHgewqg-IDNQ7ULbFqDCfRFvnUgAong9p14esaY5VBoC_oqZlHgRnEjuvMtD_wK81g88G14kynn_QBqJMMrbBddYt1tO1XHee3INseFNH0Fqw/s1600-h/Dam+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_VFFp1zkJK3FA_D_qnEnZ2vDo2YcH9FHgewqg-IDNQ7ULbFqDCfRFvnUgAong9p14esaY5VBoC_oqZlHgRnEjuvMtD_wK81g88G14kynn_QBqJMMrbBddYt1tO1XHee3INseFNH0Fqw/s320/Dam+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUaYgM4vsuOKutvIg1YNAeOzLvxzdEUL4st1lSr-MZC4OferIn0e_WnlPtSuYFc07hpV0g857a3uJDw0O7WhDXpx22SFGde7jQ8yedq3M6NMUV9L3YnQvVad_6FqoTR5kSC0ds9MyzM8/s1600-h/Dam+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUaYgM4vsuOKutvIg1YNAeOzLvxzdEUL4st1lSr-MZC4OferIn0e_WnlPtSuYFc07hpV0g857a3uJDw0O7WhDXpx22SFGde7jQ8yedq3M6NMUV9L3YnQvVad_6FqoTR5kSC0ds9MyzM8/s320/Dam+3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTFIT4zi1-814TjseISbfVbX1Ous8iTpclF3FqUYKEhJbtkBPVfiazKet0VjJ8bGelzpxmTi3m2cnOSRRa91gt_1Hv51lIYx63M_H29fuWmhyDHivIDozw2gZnllB815r3CJRBaAzmf8/s1600-h/Dam+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTFIT4zi1-814TjseISbfVbX1Ous8iTpclF3FqUYKEhJbtkBPVfiazKet0VjJ8bGelzpxmTi3m2cnOSRRa91gt_1Hv51lIYx63M_H29fuWmhyDHivIDozw2gZnllB815r3CJRBaAzmf8/s320/Dam+4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz1EmlUYJd0LfMzXYjAYEeWBtc2zc3y0v9FLbzxSALwNb63mPPvy9xhp0K9jYlleDwtGrEcrwf244qXNj6IyWqvLnQXVhXymybURSYxpGRbkHBZTU5INd-32mSCAH1Xzc_IZDOkjQeVI/s1600-h/Dam+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz1EmlUYJd0LfMzXYjAYEeWBtc2zc3y0v9FLbzxSALwNb63mPPvy9xhp0K9jYlleDwtGrEcrwf244qXNj6IyWqvLnQXVhXymybURSYxpGRbkHBZTU5INd-32mSCAH1Xzc_IZDOkjQeVI/s320/Dam+5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6Wo4HKRfbO8k6NpMOwY94PFvJbRGP-j8_M1KDRH1CBA8XpV8W3Ehoc5oHIvBrzqxnaDQnPuBY8H0lgHDgBvJBWafvKwaPkZLwbqp2n4jZlNUXi3i3oLIXn1i4VsfVazKH4RNR-AvAi8/s1600-h/Dam+group+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6Wo4HKRfbO8k6NpMOwY94PFvJbRGP-j8_M1KDRH1CBA8XpV8W3Ehoc5oHIvBrzqxnaDQnPuBY8H0lgHDgBvJBWafvKwaPkZLwbqp2n4jZlNUXi3i3oLIXn1i4VsfVazKH4RNR-AvAi8/s320/Dam+group+photo.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The day we visited the dam was so hot even the vultures were having to take it easy!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrQ3QLske_xPvvow_hf1HaYc3E-gxct9lxNCzwn1mYAlRKHqcmtyMZq95OhKSz1uTk4h1MKFU6HvntjkvfAlm3fSIPH-edyOuwqInqbMTF8JGcH0Zo9OthInztc5Ix4Vmae8OeIYDdI0/s1600-h/Vultures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrQ3QLske_xPvvow_hf1HaYc3E-gxct9lxNCzwn1mYAlRKHqcmtyMZq95OhKSz1uTk4h1MKFU6HvntjkvfAlm3fSIPH-edyOuwqInqbMTF8JGcH0Zo9OthInztc5Ix4Vmae8OeIYDdI0/s320/Vultures.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<strong>Bothi Falls, the three branched palm and the umbrella rock</strong><br />
On the way back from the Akosombo Dam we visited a tourist attraction that included a waterfall – except there was no water as this is the dry season! However, the management did offer some helpful advice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOo1oXcY8C7PGRloONyLXqaljwefKtzMfiodLBgzUPmeq6f_A4toQuOimraX1FysQDXaz6d8-PjpSP2jmRtncGyccFiczhADE8hVMHDOeTZ9jwMy6wEWbjgOLGuiwYNjt5YIXfWDdDHg/s1600-h/Good_advice_Bothi_falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOo1oXcY8C7PGRloONyLXqaljwefKtzMfiodLBgzUPmeq6f_A4toQuOimraX1FysQDXaz6d8-PjpSP2jmRtncGyccFiczhADE8hVMHDOeTZ9jwMy6wEWbjgOLGuiwYNjt5YIXfWDdDHg/s320/Good_advice_Bothi_falls.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGdd183X5Cxtb6jD8wUE5uaPaAVyelIayEKNIaLVssFskrXtFRdX79uvUeFSsjwkp39aQEmNCxLLJ0qBIxXIG-5NEuG_TFz8x6kSqaVEzXYlukAfQnnLkOGi-bnPw9F5r9-wMj-i0m8k/s1600-h/Bothi+falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGdd183X5Cxtb6jD8wUE5uaPaAVyelIayEKNIaLVssFskrXtFRdX79uvUeFSsjwkp39aQEmNCxLLJ0qBIxXIG-5NEuG_TFz8x6kSqaVEzXYlukAfQnnLkOGi-bnPw9F5r9-wMj-i0m8k/s320/Bothi+falls.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
A very rare palm tree that has three branches –most only have a single trunk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10_14Mic5R_ln1j1ynmtlDnG-lWkb08dBk2A9iFchQiPtABOM5uZH9asinD14bAlkcQSFSiwLHKJkCMvKx7XkFy4ZHVJ8ArTOYSAsMqFPzQIZO7JMxyaJ9VafeQUt86KvV90HhyphenhyphenFHYus/s1600-h/3_branch_palm_tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10_14Mic5R_ln1j1ynmtlDnG-lWkb08dBk2A9iFchQiPtABOM5uZH9asinD14bAlkcQSFSiwLHKJkCMvKx7XkFy4ZHVJ8ArTOYSAsMqFPzQIZO7JMxyaJ9VafeQUt86KvV90HhyphenhyphenFHYus/s320/3_branch_palm_tree.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
And an umbrella rock that was apparently arranged in this way by God. The ladders belongs to the man lying on the rock - he very enterprisingly charges people to use it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2QUKsq1pVSXKlU3ijeunvJdUOakoFERshyPwG2ILUi_jqCUTZfUP18rnwHQ1Ewz2wrBhQxWzSrj7t9dR3Bsqksxr0vddwD0_DIMOXk0z4q-66Tp6xFSHTqjkq1L0opHi1KiTM_k7QFU/s1600-h/Umbrella_rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2QUKsq1pVSXKlU3ijeunvJdUOakoFERshyPwG2ILUi_jqCUTZfUP18rnwHQ1Ewz2wrBhQxWzSrj7t9dR3Bsqksxr0vddwD0_DIMOXk0z4q-66Tp6xFSHTqjkq1L0opHi1KiTM_k7QFU/s320/Umbrella_rock.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FaFWWX6iCNiHeDDTyQ4TrwZOa0xpG4oNdcHYswruzVRba6KO8VmzgG2JafXrgTUOjE9OLkRiAMxJqK_Fr74ErMpl2R1fi-aZ86O_s9n45dXszvh2MTGgsXkQIVSg43dmIMXhcixW9hE/s1600-h/Umbrella_rock_boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FaFWWX6iCNiHeDDTyQ4TrwZOa0xpG4oNdcHYswruzVRba6KO8VmzgG2JafXrgTUOjE9OLkRiAMxJqK_Fr74ErMpl2R1fi-aZ86O_s9n45dXszvh2MTGgsXkQIVSg43dmIMXhcixW9hE/s320/Umbrella_rock_boy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> <br />
On the way back to our accommodation on the CRIG site we stopped for some delicious mangos. Our host did the negotiations for us and we asked him for three large ones and three small. We han't realised that the mangos were sold by the bowl until the trader started filling the carrier bags - it was fortunate that we all liked mangos as we certainly had plenty for the next few days! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyqHkeB0_KLEks7_DEs9OQKmwti0kBbr-NIn1GlRBbsdlNRJQBMynbCFYgzddzNAufDapQ2aOjtH-yiiQ6fPcUQWT1Evwo62zntW-G6EbU9HZHDBgcIkCIZuS6In5-ZC99Ek-aPD8OWY/s1600-h/Mangos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyqHkeB0_KLEks7_DEs9OQKmwti0kBbr-NIn1GlRBbsdlNRJQBMynbCFYgzddzNAufDapQ2aOjtH-yiiQ6fPcUQWT1Evwo62zntW-G6EbU9HZHDBgcIkCIZuS6In5-ZC99Ek-aPD8OWY/s320/Mangos.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-63696714075453746972010-01-19T12:20:00.001+00:002010-01-19T12:23:09.625+00:00Day 2: Tuesday, 12 JanuaryWe travelled to Cape Coast to visit Kakum National Park and the former slave fort at Elmina.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Ghana’s Roads</strong><br />
<br />
The journey from Accra to Cape Coast was our first real experience of Ghanaian roads and Accra’s horrendous traffic. It probably took nearly two hours to get out of the capital and onto the main Cape Coast road. Some of the traffic jams are caused by road works taking place to widen and improve the main highways.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnX8vIoi95pZh0fZuzr4jzli6jbC74ujruBpu3fSR3byUMMSd4jMZ1v6xS8Hfw43RGeixChOMozbNQs8gwUFbbmGABkMPxAms1CiW06BoAI4e_ybWdmaXOuxdE3pYVu3G78fsA5ptQBQ/s1600-h/Road_works.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnX8vIoi95pZh0fZuzr4jzli6jbC74ujruBpu3fSR3byUMMSd4jMZ1v6xS8Hfw43RGeixChOMozbNQs8gwUFbbmGABkMPxAms1CiW06BoAI4e_ybWdmaXOuxdE3pYVu3G78fsA5ptQBQ/s320/Road_works.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnY22PcQpzStG8egVwh0uzhiHhNdZw6E1NpT4cHizErnD7DP7FLzR8tFOLVir8IVwkH2-akM5mkFGQYsyJPUQ5BQT-RJ6eBjPxPR1ceW4Of6Bha0AA5HJwPSLBkvz2cbmDTq9F8huoM8/s1600-h/Road_improvements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnY22PcQpzStG8egVwh0uzhiHhNdZw6E1NpT4cHizErnD7DP7FLzR8tFOLVir8IVwkH2-akM5mkFGQYsyJPUQ5BQT-RJ6eBjPxPR1ceW4Of6Bha0AA5HJwPSLBkvz2cbmDTq9F8huoM8/s320/Road_improvements.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The main road to Cape Coast was good and progress was fast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZI0_JR6fGm1wALdwiREzLpDwUBwTBOfCVl2-NxB2U-unLCRB2FuoNvJKrKrmHaHM6gC6-QcNxSy9PxWWN0RKJ0sdHmh7ob-02fI2canpdPiExm45vgV71PAP8L1ihoqXKxxXChhmC8o/s1600-h/Road_to_Cape_Coast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZI0_JR6fGm1wALdwiREzLpDwUBwTBOfCVl2-NxB2U-unLCRB2FuoNvJKrKrmHaHM6gC6-QcNxSy9PxWWN0RKJ0sdHmh7ob-02fI2canpdPiExm45vgV71PAP8L1ihoqXKxxXChhmC8o/s320/Road_to_Cape_Coast.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Road safety, or rather the lack of it, is a major concern. Cars often travel very fast and overtake in dangerous places despite road markings prohibiting such manoeuvres. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpP4qe0Mu4JlD7zpr-1CFJAzAo1xZkEB30hvVKvBnjIyEGrMZYyIOMreD19fanXn87xHNoM_vVt_hQ2y6MxbpB1xyt-_aLaP_mT7GC-fLMpKYhxM0d0y_4ylhj1o8EkLkM9fkssa5iSE/s1600-h/Overloaded_van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpP4qe0Mu4JlD7zpr-1CFJAzAo1xZkEB30hvVKvBnjIyEGrMZYyIOMreD19fanXn87xHNoM_vVt_hQ2y6MxbpB1xyt-_aLaP_mT7GC-fLMpKYhxM0d0y_4ylhj1o8EkLkM9fkssa5iSE/s320/Overloaded_van.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>It is not unusual for vehicles to be overloaded with both people and goods and, if the thick black smoke and dodgy tyres and suspension are anything to go by, many are poorly maintained and would not be considered roadworthy in the UK. There are many examples of unsafe driving practice, including not wearing crash helmets on motor cycles (despite it being the law to do so), carrying passengers on the back of lorries, adding additional seats to tro tros (minibuses) which are the main form of public transport and driving at night with faulty (or nonexistent) lights! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoON3c1gbCtyeK4qVPRktoKTPpccmYaMD1Ihmll2dmgPgJIO97xhyphenhyphenNSVlb9vBmlKtg3x3MLNIYg_2AlqJSYjUtHi4rsvT2OLEdZ5xn7wD1et5EVOKwiLBwfnmOh6rW5pRa-DmQspecnjg/s1600-h/Passengers_in_van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoON3c1gbCtyeK4qVPRktoKTPpccmYaMD1Ihmll2dmgPgJIO97xhyphenhyphenNSVlb9vBmlKtg3x3MLNIYg_2AlqJSYjUtHi4rsvT2OLEdZ5xn7wD1et5EVOKwiLBwfnmOh6rW5pRa-DmQspecnjg/s320/Passengers_in_van.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
In an attempt to improve the situation, there is an on-going campaign to raise awareness of the dangers. Most main roads also have traffic police check points where some of these hazards are addressed. However, a number of Ghanaians have suggested that some police officers would be prepared to accept money to turn a blind eye.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-IAjisgltiK9fJ2wtYiSWYCBfJCggeR-8IwCBLiU8ka138W5tOxrcKLQUk1Og9A6tlXNqPYV5t60JMcYVoNN0HjquClZ9GKVgAWVolWeGhioomDbLfqFjVcdQ7GvLXYxQWzLgtZeMAM/s1600-h/Road_safety_campaign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-IAjisgltiK9fJ2wtYiSWYCBfJCggeR-8IwCBLiU8ka138W5tOxrcKLQUk1Og9A6tlXNqPYV5t60JMcYVoNN0HjquClZ9GKVgAWVolWeGhioomDbLfqFjVcdQ7GvLXYxQWzLgtZeMAM/s320/Road_safety_campaign.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
We are fortunate to have the services of an excellent and very experienced driver. Anyone travelling to Ghana on holiday would be well advised to only travel during the day and ensure that car hire comes with a driver who has experience of dealing with the many challenging road conditions in the country.<br />
<br />
The journey to Cape Coast also gave us a glimpse of many people’s living conditions and working lives. It was surprising to see that just a short distance outside the capital city many people living in small communities with buildings constructed in a traditional way with clay walls and roofs made from leaves or thatch. These homes were in stark contrast to the villa we were staying in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcS1vvxCkH81vyeIcTlibLXJsrYNftUnYq0rrlzbD5Y94awyTm9Nr6Z5uNrvTl4CVaOIcPf0IHyRWE2OlmEp4bh7yxZL9YobjavCWmncdk2sqVFWalFVqIhAB2S2uACUd-s2qPGOjhX8/s1600-h/Traditional_homes_Cape_Coast_road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcS1vvxCkH81vyeIcTlibLXJsrYNftUnYq0rrlzbD5Y94awyTm9Nr6Z5uNrvTl4CVaOIcPf0IHyRWE2OlmEp4bh7yxZL9YobjavCWmncdk2sqVFWalFVqIhAB2S2uACUd-s2qPGOjhX8/s320/Traditional_homes_Cape_Coast_road.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Many people earn a living by trading from roadside and market stalls. A range of new and used goods are sold as well as a wide range of food stuff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAORNelyLCub74Bglb1ILL_YAiUP_TmzJ6v71EeplN2CevIpi1iv-7cj82_Agl21mszTKsecRbMxYqtD3fcHLwHWxvfARTW4ytikpUWHxpHkKDiCFE4aU2lzfYQ2abhDtdExqbyk9CNLM/s1600-h/Traders_2_on_Cape_Coast_Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAORNelyLCub74Bglb1ILL_YAiUP_TmzJ6v71EeplN2CevIpi1iv-7cj82_Agl21mszTKsecRbMxYqtD3fcHLwHWxvfARTW4ytikpUWHxpHkKDiCFE4aU2lzfYQ2abhDtdExqbyk9CNLM/s320/Traders_2_on_Cape_Coast_Road.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IcInUn94AoiZZM5NkOvPUPfpZlLZneuhzYnx6Od4Em723F79Y1mTLJ2mxkfmpwiqxCE0uJkR0m6DIlPOTvkmz9xuiMoGvKxnmKya2g1Dsc99Am3gaO1eKPBawo0vpxJuGYiA75g9rSE/s1600-h/Town_on_Cape_Coast_Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IcInUn94AoiZZM5NkOvPUPfpZlLZneuhzYnx6Od4Em723F79Y1mTLJ2mxkfmpwiqxCE0uJkR0m6DIlPOTvkmz9xuiMoGvKxnmKya2g1Dsc99Am3gaO1eKPBawo0vpxJuGYiA75g9rSE/s320/Town_on_Cape_Coast_Road.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl4l_OgtHi9XVvijnxIxmgYyOwaSA7Btc4ca8ctehz5IAILWqJPQ6CFFFfngcwU6TQXQWxw9DqzFQrSG114gWAbQEfyettxIhUgsEQ4Hin36kAXLtHzRMyqh-1OrYx_qo_hgGBLbfVVs/s1600-h/Traders_on_Cape_Coast_Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl4l_OgtHi9XVvijnxIxmgYyOwaSA7Btc4ca8ctehz5IAILWqJPQ6CFFFfngcwU6TQXQWxw9DqzFQrSG114gWAbQEfyettxIhUgsEQ4Hin36kAXLtHzRMyqh-1OrYx_qo_hgGBLbfVVs/s320/Traders_on_Cape_Coast_Road.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The scenery was very green. There were many small scale pineapple growers selling the delicious and very sweet Cape Coast pineapples by the side of the road.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoAosiVvEqJYNFTY0pSdd8qoyCh67Y42ugBZEmYY067luMdy_Uj5DpJRU-dGtffyIfXBNESvq2kcwwDDofNyd2RbBz4iroedaSN7aMNCVGUJhBBVKmGpetjkiJJ3op4VhfsJM0eGrmQA/s1600-h/Cape_Coast_road_scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoAosiVvEqJYNFTY0pSdd8qoyCh67Y42ugBZEmYY067luMdy_Uj5DpJRU-dGtffyIfXBNESvq2kcwwDDofNyd2RbBz4iroedaSN7aMNCVGUJhBBVKmGpetjkiJJ3op4VhfsJM0eGrmQA/s320/Cape_Coast_road_scenery.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<strong>Kakum National Park</strong> <br />
Kakum National Park is just north of Cape Coast in an area of protected rainforest. I overcame my dislike of heights (by not looking down!) to negotiate the seven spans of the canopy walk. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4SaZLLR9xxfu3brev8SQezdmAcyaUJWrFNixpr-N2ajFaLKuF-wG7zuoJGqWUO8sntYL-2mHEdVelNP0YQnMfiOxiznZyuzgtWGHeGox-P2S_Lk4Yg9SlmJaMASOVAOywgkFilu8tVc/s1600-h/Canopy_walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4SaZLLR9xxfu3brev8SQezdmAcyaUJWrFNixpr-N2ajFaLKuF-wG7zuoJGqWUO8sntYL-2mHEdVelNP0YQnMfiOxiznZyuzgtWGHeGox-P2S_Lk4Yg9SlmJaMASOVAOywgkFilu8tVc/s320/Canopy_walkway.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRybur43eDXdVN5OBQb3Dgf2PaCNS2GJnVN05OCW_lUW9aRLRRWE2Bt0-3-wQGcyL9w5F7_Vvt6WzRebWyHCdejxhJn_YG44G1x6qhfT2J728qc1i7Pfe7k4TZN9d3uwMLKqJF8lVfxk/s1600-h/Top_of_canopy_down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRybur43eDXdVN5OBQb3Dgf2PaCNS2GJnVN05OCW_lUW9aRLRRWE2Bt0-3-wQGcyL9w5F7_Vvt6WzRebWyHCdejxhJn_YG44G1x6qhfT2J728qc1i7Pfe7k4TZN9d3uwMLKqJF8lVfxk/s320/Top_of_canopy_down.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Doris was our expert guide for the nature walk on the floor of the rainforest. She explained about the ways in which the plants of the rainforest are still used in traditional herbal medicine.<br />
<br />
<strong>Meeting the locals</strong><br />
After leaving Kakum National Park, we stopped at a cafe and met some of the locals – we decided this bench was taken!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMbJ6_Xt2t5sLcH32-BJB2MY_YPZuExGcw9V0wIN6mI8WJVgrHjdG9zyHvZIJatl9w6QiBu0O-McEKPoFbWe09Bcdw1P3Erbpo-Z0l4p4QWQRHWgQINE_8MRs7UH27xkDiFeBdR8VFdY/s1600-h/Croc+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMbJ6_Xt2t5sLcH32-BJB2MY_YPZuExGcw9V0wIN6mI8WJVgrHjdG9zyHvZIJatl9w6QiBu0O-McEKPoFbWe09Bcdw1P3Erbpo-Z0l4p4QWQRHWgQINE_8MRs7UH27xkDiFeBdR8VFdY/s320/Croc+1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<strong>Gulf of Guinea</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmWgrkCecpzle1PJt7KyfS-x_TskA5YppKZQo8uC6BergBHaqkBBIJZwKFXFWcFKGcDlFdwgjtf-tOXuBJAiwLAPOtnLGI5yUT3KoMy6dakqOYbMXBzovpkBZ4VRmi05TS5rSeXtByxA/s1600-h/Guinea_coast_sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmWgrkCecpzle1PJt7KyfS-x_TskA5YppKZQo8uC6BergBHaqkBBIJZwKFXFWcFKGcDlFdwgjtf-tOXuBJAiwLAPOtnLGI5yUT3KoMy6dakqOYbMXBzovpkBZ4VRmi05TS5rSeXtByxA/s320/Guinea_coast_sunset.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Fishing is how many people earn their living in this part of Ghana. Every evening except Monday many small boats set out to sea for a night’s fishing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImeSDn5Y58w7FLXJdMfOs9_f1ZgFv3hGpCsVxepA1meA6tvGuIE__RaQkBNn28qMKneiK9UM8ylusozg3VHrg4d7jwShaclD1NVCDNk6duLHMEmqT-pZZPNr_z9SsIoTaEJ1SSIZuCgc/s1600-h/Fishermen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImeSDn5Y58w7FLXJdMfOs9_f1ZgFv3hGpCsVxepA1meA6tvGuIE__RaQkBNn28qMKneiK9UM8ylusozg3VHrg4d7jwShaclD1NVCDNk6duLHMEmqT-pZZPNr_z9SsIoTaEJ1SSIZuCgc/s320/Fishermen.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The slave fort at Elmina <br />
<br />
As a teacher of History, man’s inhumanity to man throughout the ages, which sadly continues to the present day, has never failed to astound me. No episode of history illustrates this more profoundly than the enslavement of millions of Africans from the 15th to 19th century. The string of slave forts along the West African coastline is a poignant reminder of the suffering that once took place here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TFcQx6pf2hvQ69mWCD6ASWy4Z89m-atJSSaxgVFmCILzEEIS47VNQre14arHA6wlLJXJg1U3J7MmhrxjJe9pqezWzBFCL6nsLDcClfPO4QQPlqNtHqgxGanGHrJCOHUHXHrVi25Sc1A/s1600-h/Courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TFcQx6pf2hvQ69mWCD6ASWy4Z89m-atJSSaxgVFmCILzEEIS47VNQre14arHA6wlLJXJg1U3J7MmhrxjJe9pqezWzBFCL6nsLDcClfPO4QQPlqNtHqgxGanGHrJCOHUHXHrVi25Sc1A/s320/Courtyard.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxejiOR6eBztytvIWB-tuoSqg3FPDs2yUJLF38IwNRqwx_1quNYgn6U1RA1wRAVkfKJBKTS-XmxVcZqENDLKdTktOZrgt0SALBaBmb2A3lIipCS-ZwEQIqSPxBtLMC-VHVjKqjNHA4Gqg/s1600-h/Governor's_view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxejiOR6eBztytvIWB-tuoSqg3FPDs2yUJLF38IwNRqwx_1quNYgn6U1RA1wRAVkfKJBKTS-XmxVcZqENDLKdTktOZrgt0SALBaBmb2A3lIipCS-ZwEQIqSPxBtLMC-VHVjKqjNHA4Gqg/s320/Governor's_view.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hgyq0ppYIch-fIWKx8prXAXj86iRERooaAF8yTeAD9PRf6MUE-rBakRJh_XLjhW6-dBL_pZ8rL7dBhbmlNZLXZe_3h9AUlfxcY1ma97Zucumytph-VgXN32CQUUW6UdCF1IsnIPl-LE/s1600-h/Women's_cell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hgyq0ppYIch-fIWKx8prXAXj86iRERooaAF8yTeAD9PRf6MUE-rBakRJh_XLjhW6-dBL_pZ8rL7dBhbmlNZLXZe_3h9AUlfxcY1ma97Zucumytph-VgXN32CQUUW6UdCF1IsnIPl-LE/s320/Women's_cell.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhyphenhyphenCSlmM6eNYuIQUwnUj4O0n6IakI7mGgeJm4AjLfYifKtfaBn972CS_uPoZgCkB1FSwmVqauN51sCyzzbETij6yZ6CNpOmXZMwMEDVH1DvAPTRvlFT5dLPA38s8mpdm4UIgp71vtJUY/s1600-h/Women's_courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhyphenhyphenCSlmM6eNYuIQUwnUj4O0n6IakI7mGgeJm4AjLfYifKtfaBn972CS_uPoZgCkB1FSwmVqauN51sCyzzbETij6yZ6CNpOmXZMwMEDVH1DvAPTRvlFT5dLPA38s8mpdm4UIgp71vtJUY/s320/Women's_courtyard.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvW0nK216L9iqgGNJ8UWF9SMIYvQRcS6HaIc_R7Hrpdw30WDH1cJQiWKqTaWHhwKMyBSJBOj0TdGLpMpPjvjfTzevv5zJMpaLS4v2sVQ4O-M3-opKWEk8ZLaf4mC-_vllFplWCyhoCBw/s1600-h/Slave_fort_tribute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvW0nK216L9iqgGNJ8UWF9SMIYvQRcS6HaIc_R7Hrpdw30WDH1cJQiWKqTaWHhwKMyBSJBOj0TdGLpMpPjvjfTzevv5zJMpaLS4v2sVQ4O-M3-opKWEk8ZLaf4mC-_vllFplWCyhoCBw/s320/Slave_fort_tribute.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-30936455047339425172010-01-16T18:15:00.000+00:002010-01-16T18:15:38.456+00:00Day OneOn 10 January I woke up to the scene below in my back garden and temperatures of -1 degrees. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ysarYIqYneQ2pd47olvy41JH_PTIAFSTQnfemhuDMVttw50tAXBmER-I2K4VBazxACu7QR22eVphwNPstZR8qrdA7xAHIKU1kLxPWPAjTAvAd7WRiuwoq72vOfOGTTaO16T60N_RXIU/s1600-h/Back_garden_10_01_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ysarYIqYneQ2pd47olvy41JH_PTIAFSTQnfemhuDMVttw50tAXBmER-I2K4VBazxACu7QR22eVphwNPstZR8qrdA7xAHIKU1kLxPWPAjTAvAd7WRiuwoq72vOfOGTTaO16T60N_RXIU/s320/Back_garden_10_01_10.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
24 hours later the temperature in the villa’s garden was much warmer!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEXqsVicz15XmqVCi1DYC1z9UBt8Z74hxiWld_KyD7iXC_sgQne2GuXAM092QzGJY32-lms3CQdacPJGfsCxgsZI7Kw3vVY-u2BFswQ8KzzbeCBJUIrlPvcUGQCwcWuPeqc9xvKi-PJg/s1600-h/Temp_11_01_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEXqsVicz15XmqVCi1DYC1z9UBt8Z74hxiWld_KyD7iXC_sgQne2GuXAM092QzGJY32-lms3CQdacPJGfsCxgsZI7Kw3vVY-u2BFswQ8KzzbeCBJUIrlPvcUGQCwcWuPeqc9xvKi-PJg/s320/Temp_11_01_10.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Monday was a day for sorting out the essentials. A trip to the recently opened and nearby shopping mall meant a visit the supermarket to stock up on food and water. Whilst supermarkets are nowhere near as common as in the UK, those that do exist are the same as virtually everywhere else in the world. Whilst locally produced bands are reasonably priced and often significantly cheaper than for similar products in the UK, the price of well known brands imported from abroad are expensive, e.g. a small box of Kellogg’s cornflakes cost about £3. Fortunately for me, Coca-Cola is readily available throughout the world and usually much cheaper than in the UK, even if the Diet (Lite) variety is a little more difficult to come by.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9tGKyyXheNS9FfqxQWgoqP3UwsiRgvVDsbbz92ZgrfUa2wpE8gZwCyWLV8BtizNsMB8bhikoyDTtHFynUWKRni9pC_tVBqe0TlMjgSJ_rObg3BHnGTZZYtCM0kz9BEnqdJJRFvrdLxs/s1600-h/Supermarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9tGKyyXheNS9FfqxQWgoqP3UwsiRgvVDsbbz92ZgrfUa2wpE8gZwCyWLV8BtizNsMB8bhikoyDTtHFynUWKRni9pC_tVBqe0TlMjgSJ_rObg3BHnGTZZYtCM0kz9BEnqdJJRFvrdLxs/s320/Supermarket.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Miriam, who doubles as our villa manager and chef, accompanied us to the mall and advised on the ingredients we would need for some typically Ghanaian dishes, so chicken and red snapper fish went into the trolley. She also suggested we bought the fruit and vegetables from one of the many roadside sellers as the produce would be fresher and cheaper from these outlets. Buying from such traders also has the added benefit of supporting small producers and individual traders rather than the large supermarket chains.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Kv4J4zra3wAq5OaAspXuFMEG2WO9ny6kaC_OTZZVb0v-vpsOcyqDd_D5bFs37oXqJJfpZXXa0DblqfQCvYkGiazjbHUfP1kmVJuy6DckbkW2UD7FAQ7npceuFwQ85e69gB4_YmCrDs/s1600-h/Vegetable_stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Kv4J4zra3wAq5OaAspXuFMEG2WO9ny6kaC_OTZZVb0v-vpsOcyqDd_D5bFs37oXqJJfpZXXa0DblqfQCvYkGiazjbHUfP1kmVJuy6DckbkW2UD7FAQ7npceuFwQ85e69gB4_YmCrDs/s320/Vegetable_stall.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Mobile phone and internet connection was organised in the shopping mall. Without the internet I would not be able to complete my blog or keep track of Arsenal’s successes on the pitch! I was amazed to learn that it is cheaper to use a mobile phone to call the UK (using a Ghanaian SIM card) than it is to use a mobile phone to make calls in the UK – what does this say about the cost of calls in Europe?!<br />
<br />
The highlight of Day One was meeting Alfred and his wife Grace for lunch. Alfred is the Global Partnership Co-ordinator at one of Walton High’s partner schools, Jamasi Methodist Junior High School. At this meeting we learnt a lot about Ghanaian society and the challenges facing teachers and students in state schools across the country. Both clearly have a lot to offer the Ghana Education Service so it was disappointing to learn that they were thinking of moving to the USA. Unfortunately it appears that teachers pay does not compare favourably with other public sector workers, such as nurses. As a result we have been told that for many people teaching is a career taken up as a last resort and that this lack of positive motivation can have a negative impact on the commitment of some teachers and educational standards generally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOcAdCyEHlJwdYVYW27X9LlVwwtYdhk6UfUyGeayF1ZglTK-3wn-Le3eOZ0VhCHReqkQbNDvH7lI5kftP5n7CdskAu4uVcyToSJZZDZM5h-zP2e7t-I8jn-SlPMl_O2CllqLFLLwW6oI/s1600-h/Lunch_with_Alfred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOcAdCyEHlJwdYVYW27X9LlVwwtYdhk6UfUyGeayF1ZglTK-3wn-Le3eOZ0VhCHReqkQbNDvH7lI5kftP5n7CdskAu4uVcyToSJZZDZM5h-zP2e7t-I8jn-SlPMl_O2CllqLFLLwW6oI/s320/Lunch_with_Alfred.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
From right to left: Miriam, Karen, Grace, Alfred, JanetMichelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-15015297127062255042010-01-16T15:10:00.002+00:002010-01-16T16:07:52.682+00:00The Journey<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It took me many hours, and several attempts, to pack all the things I thought I would need for three months in Ghana – it will be interesting to see which gadgets and clothes I never wear or use. Although we were allowed 3 x 23k bags, I decided I would not be able to manage these at the airport and travelling within Ghana so restricted myself to two cases. However, when we arrived at the airport and checked the weight of the bags, one was over by a few kilos. Fortunately, help was on hand in the shape of Janet and my brother Gerald. We decided to use the rucksack I had inside one of the cases and checked in a third bag after all!<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxyf0GSwaw5-maQhEKajRIpGHyk_W0NaBWaOrsqHoZ2LwnocXhlPvZWrCFz-zJTMxBOE-7NJGhhBtC4q5QBYRiRk5eXDxydaHrX7obWEwPT2ZPF1utuvQC8WgMVxYu9I9uqQ8HCAzF4U/s1600-h/Re_packing_cases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxyf0GSwaw5-maQhEKajRIpGHyk_W0NaBWaOrsqHoZ2LwnocXhlPvZWrCFz-zJTMxBOE-7NJGhhBtC4q5QBYRiRk5eXDxydaHrX7obWEwPT2ZPF1utuvQC8WgMVxYu9I9uqQ8HCAzF4U/s320/Re_packing_cases.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaILcBfp4HeV9KsliRbPQv1qM4-z39YVYzO9uYgMSu_4CKrEFeympdboUJp6IpU9nz9nZ0A9FgaJO0U40heyLlkqDR21GSOArrNYGXpbt_shrVGxYmPnS2FOeW0ZC96YRifNMeA90SUM/s1600-h/Straight_forward_check_in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaILcBfp4HeV9KsliRbPQv1qM4-z39YVYzO9uYgMSu_4CKrEFeympdboUJp6IpU9nz9nZ0A9FgaJO0U40heyLlkqDR21GSOArrNYGXpbt_shrVGxYmPnS2FOeW0ZC96YRifNMeA90SUM/s320/Straight_forward_check_in.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The security arch at the airport randomly selected me for a “pat down” search which I considered to be a little more than that! <br />
</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45n92AxBfAEk86smEd1pDLiq3LZhr5-ME9be1YElQ6qqTxqpBqIPzIcAxMmnW4cOWSvmTmp66EvOtLHIU5PeMJAfKFA7EwHTQcq44_HJb38o-XVncjyUuLKeYn5hkI3qpq65chBILxKk/s1600-h/Boeing_777.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45n92AxBfAEk86smEd1pDLiq3LZhr5-ME9be1YElQ6qqTxqpBqIPzIcAxMmnW4cOWSvmTmp66EvOtLHIU5PeMJAfKFA7EwHTQcq44_HJb38o-XVncjyUuLKeYn5hkI3qpq65chBILxKk/s400/Boeing_777.gif" /></a>We flew with British Airways on a Boeing 777 and had the good fortune to be upgraded to Club World. The service was excellent and we had an opportunity to speak to both the cabin crew and the First Officer about the charitable work BA staff are involved with. This largely focuses on helping children in deprived communities across the world, but especially in Africa. <br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At the airport in Accra we had a bit of a wait to clear immigration, and despite having a 3 month visa the immigration officer explained that she was only able to stamp our passport for 60 days and that we would have to go to an office to get it extended for another 30 days. <br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Once we eventually reclaimed our bags, it was off to find our driver, Darlington. He was easily located near the exit. Darlington was taken aback by the amount of luggage we had until we explained we were staying in Ghana for three months and not just the 9 days in the villa. He said had he known he would have brought the bus! There was a throng of young men outside the airport all wanting to assist us with our luggage. Eventually, we relented and allowed them to help - this was a good decision as it was not easy to control the trolley on the steep access route to the car park. Once Darlington found a safe place to store the spare tyre what would not fit in the car with all our bags, we were off to the villa.<br />
</div>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-79668407788163380962010-01-16T13:23:00.000+00:002010-01-16T13:23:35.960+00:00Change of planWe (Me, Karen and Janet) were meant to fly to Accra on Sunday, 10 January to begin five days of in country training (ICT) on 11th, with us travelling north to our placements the weekend of 16th. However, on the last day of term we were told that for unknown reasons VSO Ghana wanted us to fly out on 19 January, with training beginning on 20th and travelling north on 26th. This would have proved difficult for us because of the arrangements that were already in place to cover us.<br />
<br />
<br />
After some negotiation, VSO agreed that we could still travel on 10 January and stay at our own expense in Accra. Rather than stay in a hotel, we found that a villa with a car and driver would be better value.<br />
As you can see from the photos, we should survive the 9 days before our training starts!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9whREh4b7KFCww5-Gs7JENH17x4stdK6qzF-Int7p_NqPDcK7B_QQ3AK3j65pHKjNpNp0VollyFhWweY571pLM1dfuhe_G1smesXbfbecgmUhmDx91FQsoUriA_eguf4ZMeqqQpPXTFE/s1600-h/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9whREh4b7KFCww5-Gs7JENH17x4stdK6qzF-Int7p_NqPDcK7B_QQ3AK3j65pHKjNpNp0VollyFhWweY571pLM1dfuhe_G1smesXbfbecgmUhmDx91FQsoUriA_eguf4ZMeqqQpPXTFE/s320/front.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The company we are using is Ghana Villas. The owner, Felix, is a Ghanaian living in Cumbria! He was extremely helpful during the booking process and our experience of the service provided by Felix’s staff here in Ghana has been as positive as we were led to believe by the glowing references on the company’s website.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8olu-2GDxm0eoVYT_oWD5Wwksj4XVofpKTXKgCbgmDJNEgyKtTTAX-5Hg0nxMU5yEM6hlKmmV-CzT6ghjvwHF7kHeRVycEFRg14hq3E8ZTHNHHl3TVGq6C6do0GAPq78lr0gHrnLGFI/s1600-h/outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8olu-2GDxm0eoVYT_oWD5Wwksj4XVofpKTXKgCbgmDJNEgyKtTTAX-5Hg0nxMU5yEM6hlKmmV-CzT6ghjvwHF7kHeRVycEFRg14hq3E8ZTHNHHl3TVGq6C6do0GAPq78lr0gHrnLGFI/s320/outside.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>VSO's changes have worked out very well for us as we will use the nine days to go to places in the south of the country that would have otherwise been too far from our placements to visit, e.g. Kakum National Park, Lake Volta and Akosombo Dam, Cape Coast and Elmina Castle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqL3XhoRZXi4_byEzrsDR4FNApla3DHpyio3LVjSKN18abdKakoeTG-uk5XEaczsbemEMYfMEgYvv-c82_dlcij3IvzqU16Rup0_TN5ScKKIqzsx4bSZ65wYIbz99Mqww5VkZfO8u9xE/s1600-h/cruser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqL3XhoRZXi4_byEzrsDR4FNApla3DHpyio3LVjSKN18abdKakoeTG-uk5XEaczsbemEMYfMEgYvv-c82_dlcij3IvzqU16Rup0_TN5ScKKIqzsx4bSZ65wYIbz99Mqww5VkZfO8u9xE/s320/cruser.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
We have been invited by one of Karen's contacts, who knows someone at the Cocoa Research Institute, to spend two nights at a cocoa plantation in the Eastern Region. Whilst there on either the 14 or 15 January we hope to visit Walton High's two partner schools. I have also been in contact with a researcher at Cape Coast University who is involved with the TESSA project (Teacher Education in Sub Saharan Africa). He is going to get back to me with details of a possible visit to the university. Hopefully, this will give us a good insight into teacher training in Ghana which we can use in the schools we're working with.<br />
<br />
We are also hoping the chef we have hired with the villa will give us a few lessons on cooking and preparing local produce. Apparently there is likely to be more to it than "Remove film lid and place in a pre-heated oven at 170 degrees for 20 minutes" Can't wait!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZagi7mUPP_0QMDgySjGTb68_Zyu77kyM1-daaGXfXFfAOK5BH4w6FODtYtIB_SM8qUoI2TFf3YzArIL2_VwEp26iRiAzLN7ZPD-oaYxqKPcuD3Vni2hfEP0etFFRtXGLNRxlE4jCP9pQ/s1600-h/dining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZagi7mUPP_0QMDgySjGTb68_Zyu77kyM1-daaGXfXFfAOK5BH4w6FODtYtIB_SM8qUoI2TFf3YzArIL2_VwEp26iRiAzLN7ZPD-oaYxqKPcuD3Vni2hfEP0etFFRtXGLNRxlE4jCP9pQ/s320/dining.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
We hope to get our mobile phones and mobile internet connection sorted out in Accra. Although it isn't a 3G network, there is meant to be quite good coverage in the north - time will tell. I contacted Vodaphone UK three times in an attempt to get them to unlock my phone so I can swap the card when I'm there. Eventually, I had to go into Central Milton Keynes to get this done!<br />
<br />
There is still a lack of clarity about how I will get from Accra to where I will be living in Bolgatanga. The transport arrangements from my accommodation to the schools I will be working with in Tongo is also still unclear, but this is likely to be by tro tro (minibus) or taxi.Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-42009556817985844452010-01-16T12:48:00.001+00:002010-01-16T15:18:42.061+00:00<strong>Preparations continued</strong> <br />
<br />
VSO emphasise the importance of thorough preparation and self briefing before a placement begins to increase the likelihood of it being successful. Before leaving England I had spoken to or been in e-mail contact with volunteers who have worked or are still working on education projects in the north of the country. This went to prove what a small world we live in as we discovered that Janet will be staying in Walewale with Charlotte and Mike from Loughton in Milton Keynes. I also had discussions with a number of Ghanaians at Walton High to gain a better understanding of the customs and culture of the people - I have even been introduced to a new handshake and learnt a couple of phrases in the most widely spoken language in Ghana which is Twi, e.g. Wo ho te sen?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QYyvCF-CF7XiekOnSRhQJsoFOvKmLYxzDGrcJAw5mGBwFRVB0f6pw68cZpeHwYCj6j3hBdxzKCli2hw_1_TA5qBr7CkPej3EWP3WHYW59croPicdzTe_6O7knu2ystxQHE6aTIKGi1s/s1600-h/tessa_logo_header.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QYyvCF-CF7XiekOnSRhQJsoFOvKmLYxzDGrcJAw5mGBwFRVB0f6pw68cZpeHwYCj6j3hBdxzKCli2hw_1_TA5qBr7CkPej3EWP3WHYW59croPicdzTe_6O7knu2ystxQHE6aTIKGi1s/s320/tessa_logo_header.gif" /></a><br />
</div>Walton High’s Chair of Governors, Marilyn Moffat, drew my attention to the TESSA Project that The Open University is involved with. I meet the Programme Director, Freda Wolfenden, at the OU to discuss how the TESSA project could fit in with my VSO placement. Most of the teacher training materials are web based, which I thought might make them inaccessible to some teachers in the district I will be working in. Freda kindly arranged for the resources to be transferred to CDs to make the materials easier to share. I have since been in e-mail contact with a Senior Researcher, Might Abreh, at Cape Coast University to discuss how we could possibly use the TESSA materials during our placements. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDw8JT_0f8qpvDdYH4-b_aAEM62RpHusSb3xARu5fzt7p5wgCZBReDlfgMPijaS0JUc3fCRExPg1Sy0-yfEx4sBMPd66m-A-SwIpd9HKCg22UWjrqLlPiVUdd55sUcqqwkc8T4dy7R3I/s1600-h/mark_lancaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDw8JT_0f8qpvDdYH4-b_aAEM62RpHusSb3xARu5fzt7p5wgCZBReDlfgMPijaS0JUc3fCRExPg1Sy0-yfEx4sBMPd66m-A-SwIpd9HKCg22UWjrqLlPiVUdd55sUcqqwkc8T4dy7R3I/s320/mark_lancaster.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> Before leaving for Ghana I also met with Walton High's MP Mark Lancaster, who is also the Shadow Overseas Development Minister. We had an interesting discussion about a range of development issues. Mark explained that he had already had a number of meetings with VSO relating to the Conservative Party's policies and their commitment to protecting the overseas development budget. Matk also informed me that he was scheduled to visit Ghana at some point during my stay. However, as I am working in the far north east of the country the chances of our paths crossing are remote!Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-62173503238944231502009-12-24T21:37:00.003+00:002010-01-06T13:24:48.872+00:00Preparing for GhanaIn early November I took part in an intensive VSO training weekend held at their centre in Birmingham. This was when I met up with the eleven other volunteers, including Janet and Karen who are also going to Ghana. Janet is a Headteacher of a primary school in Worthing, West Sussex. She will be working in Walewale in the Northern Region. Karen is a headteacher of a primary school in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and she will be going to Jirapa in the Upper West Region.<br />
<br />
<br />
The training aimed to equip us with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in our placements. The two facilitators, Jules and Marianne, were excellent and frequently drew upon their own experiences as volunteers which contextualised the training activities and helped to make the weekend extremely interesting and highly relevant.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PbdITsK1SOZjKFm80BuThcb3BjHxnodbAbXprcI4mebDa7osWIucZ1QC9aAJPISBan0fu9eQUeonLMjjB72k_qWmubunvAT9B6dFkhaxUne12RSQBxzt2_Me-SH-qdC8cNo1_CfQqBc/s1600-h/VSO+logo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PbdITsK1SOZjKFm80BuThcb3BjHxnodbAbXprcI4mebDa7osWIucZ1QC9aAJPISBan0fu9eQUeonLMjjB72k_qWmubunvAT9B6dFkhaxUne12RSQBxzt2_Me-SH-qdC8cNo1_CfQqBc/s200/VSO+logo.bmp" /></a><br />
</div>Areas covered by the training included VSO’s approach to development which is well summarised by its motto: Sharing Skills – Changing Lives and the place of education in development. The key issues relating to education in developing countries involve the unequal opportunities for girls and children with special needs; lack of resources, including teacher shortages; the quality of teaching; the impact of poverty on participation and the standards children achieve.<br />
<br />
Central to VSO’s work is the empowerment of local people and the development of sustainable solutions. We looked at various ways of involving everyone potentially affected by developments in the decision making process. We also explored a number of actual scenarios that volunteers had encountered and looked at the different ways we could draw upon our knowledge and skills to deal with similar situations should they happen to us.<br />
<br />
The health briefing covered all the potential hazards to our well being and there seemed to be an awful lot of them! It made us question why anyone would want to leave these benign shores! It appears that the smaller the organism, the bigger the risk to a person’s health – that is if you discount hippopotami. However, the medical advice on endemic diseases, food preparation, water purification, hygiene, and precautions to take to minimise potential risks to personal health and security was very reassuring. Nobody was put off, but all vowed to visit the GP to be fully immunised against Typhoid, Polio, Diptheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis ACWY, Rabies, Cholera and Yellow Fever! I have also visited <em>Boots the Chemists to </em>stock up on Imodium, rehydration kits, insect repellants, various bite relief products and anti-fungal creams!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqJZzaXJGnbcInrNmKYU8NGEEpnOpFdRaExRd7hC8w_zkMMFS-6e1pALeGtn4SKjlmE6cX_thkqyprPLjmrRaytZRDU3nxQB3Xz4Wcu5ORxsl8iqjY9JxtU6F0G91unAMHc5y55PXmGs/s1600-h/Hippos.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqJZzaXJGnbcInrNmKYU8NGEEpnOpFdRaExRd7hC8w_zkMMFS-6e1pALeGtn4SKjlmE6cX_thkqyprPLjmrRaytZRDU3nxQB3Xz4Wcu5ORxsl8iqjY9JxtU6F0G91unAMHc5y55PXmGs/s320/Hippos.bmp" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeHEJHU2yO3iv9j-QHl-yrjG0UemC_dj9BQeDvAirExtQ7jDDDi1TXdzt4PJaardixZgQiDhu_AUxtWYtMWs_2MFa0LtWOS30T-8Fut1_Ct8aevyi_3FkqPbQYwQXdLqL6adpFaV5GY8/s1600-h/Mosquito+2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeHEJHU2yO3iv9j-QHl-yrjG0UemC_dj9BQeDvAirExtQ7jDDDi1TXdzt4PJaardixZgQiDhu_AUxtWYtMWs_2MFa0LtWOS30T-8Fut1_Ct8aevyi_3FkqPbQYwQXdLqL6adpFaV5GY8/s320/Mosquito+2.bmp" /></a><br />
</div>Finally, we looked at ways of enhancing the international dimension at our schools and the awareness of development issues within our local communities.Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611392443269338327.post-28996840127549042502009-11-30T12:57:00.049+00:002009-12-24T22:05:47.151+00:00Leaders in International Development Project<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Leaders in International Development Project aims to provide mutually beneficial leadership development opportunities for school leaders from England and for senior education practitioners in one of Voluntary Service Oversea's (VSO) education programmes. The project is led by VSO with the support of the National Association of Headteachers, the Association of School and College Leaders and The National College. I'm also personally very grateful to the Governing Body of Walton High (<a href="http://www.waltonhigh.org.uk/">http://www.waltonhigh.org.uk/</a>) for allowing me to take part in this initiative and to my colleagues on the Senior Team for all their support.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the spring term of 2010, the twelve headtachers taking part in this year's project will be going in groups of three to Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria and Rwanda to work alongside colleagues from these countries and other volunteers on various education projects.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7IS4ajUFJ8ujuoQidkWH6wkR-0IS3oOGePadqc2k66OuSLJQiVCcn7SWMNFA_C-WBjo8q8UvbUhrcS3hsqala_HkBSjWIdxpEdbD92Rr5aP30T5hYnXFHtMX80sUPeNFlkwCx149ut4/s1600-h/LiID+participants+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7IS4ajUFJ8ujuoQidkWH6wkR-0IS3oOGePadqc2k66OuSLJQiVCcn7SWMNFA_C-WBjo8q8UvbUhrcS3hsqala_HkBSjWIdxpEdbD92Rr5aP30T5hYnXFHtMX80sUPeNFlkwCx149ut4/s320/LiID+participants+2010.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>I will be going to the Upper East Region of Ghana</strong>, close to the border with Burkina Faso. Although I will be living in the capital of this region, Bolgatanga (known locally as Bolga), it is expected that I will be working with schools in nearby Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam district.</span><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KdGGmPCs8PqQQJLIhnKJYmKm2VZApjepriw-FuX0wrwBtQzZtZHoZge5T5k8JdZI6aAz-qElXuYQF66w0TrDSzGTEwcbuPbrO_KNswXu3GZsCyVJVIcimpB2u4Ha57lP8PVWSB7k9tc/s1600/Upper_East_Ghana_districts.bmp"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ghana Education Service is committed to working with VSO to make education more inclusive, particularly for girls and children with disabilities. This is achieved by equipping teachers with the skills required to identify and meet the needs of individual children, including those with special needs.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s0Oou4KQsU-sQOsNlSL3apsgVjBEvDfcLi80dyWa48eVwrhwrfv7uo0t8XTsOLglXtHnDgPQxWZZ3Dn4-tkBX3Y7Npw-cNXBYLGgBgTsrItNsofb3RI46B7Rm0pL7XK3NdSRk0ZyPOo/s1600-h/Upper_East_Ghana_districts.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s0Oou4KQsU-sQOsNlSL3apsgVjBEvDfcLi80dyWa48eVwrhwrfv7uo0t8XTsOLglXtHnDgPQxWZZ3Dn4-tkBX3Y7Npw-cNXBYLGgBgTsrItNsofb3RI46B7Rm0pL7XK3NdSRk0ZyPOo/s400/Upper_East_Ghana_districts.bmp" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Background and rationale for placement:</strong><br />
VSO Volunteers work with Circuit Supervisors (CS) and District Teacher Support Teams (DTST) to provide support to over 600 primary school teachers in thirteen Districts in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. This includes sharing of skills on Phonics as a way of teaching literacy; lesson observations; building the capacity of teachers to identify and support children with learning difficulties and mild disabilities; School/Cluster based training and follow-up support for workshops run by partner Non Government Organisations (NGOs).<br />
<br />
The VSO Management Support Officer role is designed to support the Senior Management Team, Circuit Supervisors and Headteachers. However, because of the multiple target groups being dealt with the headteachers often get very little support. VSO feel that by placing a volunteer specifically focusing on headteachers, support for them will improve. This is done in conjunction with Management Support Officers who can carry on with any work initiated by Headteacher Support Officers once their placement ends.<br />
<br />
<strong>The aim of my placement</strong> is to improve the leadership and management capabilities of the headteachers I'll be working with.<br />
<br />
Specific duties are likely to include:<br />
1. Lead headteachers and staff in basic schools (Primary and Middle Schools in England) to do a quick organization self assessment as a basis for planning and targeted support.<br />
2. Provide training and coaching on leadership skills and management for headteachers.<br />
3. Provide training and coaching on developing school improvement plans and budgets, staff support and management.<br />
4. Coach on how headteachers can provide instructional support to their teachers through demonstration lessons to make their teaching more inclusive for all children.<br />
5. Coach headteachers on how to work with Parent Teacher Associations and School Management Committees (similar to governing bodies in England).<br />
6. Revive/form a network of headteachers in the district to create a platform for support, learning and sharing among headteachers<br />
7. Train a core team of headteachers/Circuit Supervisors who are willing and enthusiastic to provide leadership and coordination to keep the leaning and sharing ongoing.</span>Michelle Curriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09236830927060675927noreply@blogger.com