"Building" the future

We have recieved an overwhelming donation from a lady called Sarah from the USA, she let us know that she wanted to support our project some time ago. Then just a few days ago we got the news that a yard sale she had held, made $755!!! What a wow, this money is going towards to continuation of the Education Centre build. We can't begin to thank Sarah enough for her efforts, here are a few words from Sarah herself.

Sarah said "We did a week of volunteering at a school in the Volta region and were struck by how much need there is in rural areas for educational opportunities and materials. After our volunteering we toured the country and had Ibrahim as our tour guide at the Mognori-Eco village as well as Larabanga. He told us a little about his organisation and we wanted to find a way to help.
Our daughter is adopted and spent the first 9 months of her life in an orphanage, so assisting orphans is a cause close to our hearts.
Hopefully our donation can help with building the facilities that will allow more kids to get a better education and open the door for more opportunities." 

To know that we have the support of incredible people fills me with hope and faith that through all of the hard work, we will succeed. No child should be alone in this world, the Education Centre will also be a home to orphaned children from the village, enabling them have a grounded life. That is just the beginning of this special journey. 

The building will not only benefit the children but it is providing work for local people, this then sets of the cycle.
Work-Money-Food-Healthy Children-School-Success!!! 

Question: How could anyone resist the cheeky smile to the right? There are plenty more too!!

The fears that shape a future

31/12/13

Well, what an incredible end to 2013 this is. Staying in Larabanga was the best decision I have ever made.

A short extract from my actual journal from when I was in Larabanga, I want to share as much of it as possible to make everyone fall in love the way I did and to inspire people to make a change. This kind of situation reminds me of a piece of artwork I got on a recent trip to Amsterdam, so how many humans are there on their in this world? Around 7 billion? Imagine the power behind those 7 billion minds? We need to join together to make a life changing impact on other people’s lives.

Humanity... This is humans as a collective, so why aren’t we? We were all made for a reason and whatever that reason may be, you can do something with that in order to create a brighter future.

My second visit to Larabanga became a more purposeful one, I had to find out as much as I possibly could about these precious ones. I remember walking around the village to talk to all of the orphaned children who were staying with people who could have them, basically. Everything I heard, every pair of eyes I looked into unravelled more pain and tragedy. This task was essential, it hit home, why I was there.

Here are some more extracts from my journal, they are a longer but I feel they are the most effective way of expressing my experiences.

29/12/13

It was adorable last night, before they went to sleep, me and Mohammed got them to say the alphabet and do simple sums, when they got it right their faces beamed! It’s the simple things in life.

31/12/13

Yesterday, the word had got around that I have been doing first aid for a lot of people in the community, from tiny babies to old women. When the lady came to me yesterday and shown me her breast, I was taken back. There was a hole in the side of it that had gunk coming out of it. I never thought that I would be performing medical treatments on people when I set out on my adventures for the Christmas holidays. But I am here and I feel that I am doing everything I should be doing.

I nearly cried the first time I treated the baby’s head, I could basically see her scalp and there was green puss and her hair was getting stuck in it, so you can imagine how painful it must have been for the poor little girl, she screamed so much. When I turned up at her compound, she was very surprised to see me but soon I had treated over 20 wounds, the flies get on each and every wound so imagine how much infection must be in each and every one. It is crazy to think of what I am actually doing, I have just said to Madi… “How on earth do you put an experience like this onto paper?”

The Larabanga Life Project has a touching musician writing a song for us, Mynah Marie. Having influential people supporting us gives the most important people a louder voice. This song will be a part of our Kick Starter campaign.  https://www.facebook.com/mynah.solo?fref=ts

We are working hard to make sure everything is perfect for the campaign, the opportunities this could bring to such inspiring lives is worth every minute. When I tell them that I’m not going to arrive in Larabanga as a glimmer of hope, but their future, that will be the most accomplishing moment of my life. The help of others is vital.

I came across a documentary whilst researching, called Moving On, it was created by a couple who have a passion to change the world and who are doing just that. Definitely check it out, finding out about other people around the world who are doing such things is an incredible inspiration to me. 

http://www.lightgivesheat.org/