I remember this moment vividly, I feel that this moment is always with me. Nathalie, a team member of the Larabanga Life Project, wasn't very well
when we first arrived in Larabanga so I went with her along with a few
guys from Larabanga to the "clinic". Whilst Nathalie was getting help, I
took the opportunity to ask questions and find out more about this
enchanting community. Mohammed (the guy in this picture), told me more
and more about the situation at the compound with Ibrahim. He explained
to me that most of the children are orphans. Orphans, being without both
parents, this can be because of several reasons. This is the moment
when something clicked within me. I was walking behind everyone else,
over sand and rocks, and I was thinking in my own little world. My exact
thoughts were that I cannot leave this place without giving them hope. I
know how difficult it is to lose a parent, maybe this is why I have
taken it upon myself to make them feel like they can take on the world. No child deserves to feel
alone, in any circumstances.Today, I went back to my High School. Meols Cop, I went back to do an assembly for some of the students. I told them about my journey with Ghana and I urged them to realise how incredibly lucky they are and that they have all the power in the world to change and make a difference to everything. I spoke to them about how they can help. One teacher from Meols Cop has helped me to set up a First Aid Challenge within the school. Each form has a challenge, a challenge to create a First Aid Kit within their form. As you have hopefully read in my previous posts, when I was in Larabanga last time, there were situations I was unable to help with because of the lack of resources.
Meols Cop are also holding a cake sale on the 19th November to raise money for the project and I am going back to do another assembly later this week.
Going back to my High School and seeing how fantastic the school is has made me feel slightly sad. I enjoyed school and I would love to be back but it made me realise how poor the support and education is in Ghana as a whole. Having taught in the North and South, I experienced a variety of different situations. I am so very grateful for the education I received and I want to be able to make the students of today realise how much they are capable of.
I have been completely overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who has already collected supplies for me to take. It is honestly, more than I ever imagined. Donations of all different kinds of things have been coming in too. Teaching resources etc! I can't wait to finally get there and show them all of the things that I am taking. To see their smiles and feelings of relief when I can tell them that in fact I do have the necessary supplies to assist them is going to make me the happiest person on this Earth. It will all be thanks to you guys! You are all absolute stars. Also, to everyone who has donated financially, this money is going towards getting the supplies over and continuing with the building. Of course, as well as making sure that the children have enough food to go around. One more thing too, I have been thinking about how the diet the children eat is purely carbohydrates. They need fruit and vegetables but as these are hard to come across, how else can they receive nutrients? If anyone can help me or knows someone that can, I would be forever grateful! Contact meNathalie has come up with an idea for fundraising, she has created "alternative" gift cards that anyone can buy and give to their loved ones as a gift this Christmas. Well saying that, you don't have to have a reason to give someone a gift! They cost £10 each and some examples are, "Buying a bag of cement", "Feed 22 children for 6 months" and "Mosquito net". These are all very valuable things to the project and would make your loved one feel very good about themselves for helping. See the Facebook page for our full range of gifts LAECFgifts
