First things first, all 5 of the cases arrived in Ghana, I
had a feeling that there was going to be at least one missing. The flight from
Istanbul to Accra seemed so long, although it was only 7 hours, I slept, I
watched a film and I read but the time didn’t seem to go any quicker. I arrived
in Accra and met Ibrahim, we went to stay somewhere for the night. It was right
next to the airport so I hardly slept and at about 2am, I started to hear
arguing. It was so loud and seemed serious, it actually involved an “Obruni”
(white) who had had a misunderstanding with a prostitute, it was horrific to
hear the things that were being said and just the fact she was so desperate to
get her money. I had problems with immigration because I didn’t know the
address I was staying although in Ghana people don’t have street addresses.
They have P.O BOX’s, people always use each other’s too so how are they to know
the exact place I am staying? Then when I collected all of the luggage, I had
to pass some guys that were checking luggage, he ordered me to open some of the
cases and was asking me what was inside, I told him and then he said I had to
pay tax for the football kits… Just a way of getting money out of me clearly
but a guy came over and told me to leave.
I have been in Larabanga for a few days now after it took 3
days to get here. I am actually already missing home, it’s different this time
because I am the only foreign person in the village, the other times I was
here, I was with the other volunteers. I met with the chief when I got here,
Ibrahim had to translate of course but he blessed the work that I we are doing
in Larabanga.
Unfortunately the internet situation means I cannot post as
often as I wanted to but I will try my best. I think I forgot how hot it gets
here, my skin is so sore because I have burnt and I have a blister on my finger
from sharpening pencils, teacher problems haha! They couldn’t believe it when
they saw how many suitcases I had bought, they have been so so so grateful to
you all, and want everyone to come to Larabanga to see them. I think it has hit
me again, if not harder... How hard it is to function here, for me anyway. I am
constantly dripping with sweat from head to toe, I have two bucket showers a
day but still it doesn’t feel enough. Even now, I am sitting inside to write
this but I am sooo hot.
I have given out the clothes to the children who they fit
and they all look so smart in them, they were incredibly happy! I took two
football kits to the team Larabanga Shooting Stars. They were all trying to be
the first to get one of the tops haha and I gave the captain the picture and
letter from Camille and the team, they loved it. It baffles me how they train
so hard in this weather, I move my leg an inch and I’m sweating and they’re
running around pushing their bodies to the limit. Although, everyone in the
village works hard physically, fetching water from the dam several times a day
(mainly the girls). I guess they are used to it like everyone says but still
when you’re here and you see them doing it, I just think, don’t you get fed up
and just want to go and lay in the shade. Saying that the shade doesn’t even
help sometimes because it is still hot. The lowest it gets is 25 0c and that’s at
around 4 am. I have so much respect for them and what they do in their daily
lives because at the end of this trip, I can go home and enjoy a comfortable
life.
On Monday I took some of the medical supplies to the CHPS
facility here, I knew what I was giving them was going to help but I didn’t realise
how much. I was so shocked when I was told by a member of staff that they didn’t
have ANY gloves at all. That is terrible at the best of times but with this
Ebola outbreak looming that could have been catastrophic. So all of the gloves
everyone donated and of course other things have been gratefully received. I
have been quite impressed to see that there are posters around about how to
prevent Ebola, that was something I was wondering about, but they are in
perfect English which the majority of people don’t speak so that is quite an
issue. I hope there is no need for anyone here to have to know about the symptoms but the risk is there so we have to act.
We had to take one of the little girls Rafatu to the chps
because she wasn’t eating and had a high temperature. She has malaria. I was
horrified when I was told but it doesn’t seem to be that much of a big deal, it’s
just normal to everyone here. I have mentioned on my blog about a young girl
named Yakutu who has a problem with her legs, donated was a pair of ankle
supports which I fitted for her and she said that they relieved a lot of
pressure from her legs which is fantastic!! One life changed.
MARSHMALLOWS- A lovely lady Tracy gave me some marshmallows
to bring with me for the children, we toasted them by the open stove, and they
were all amazed by them. Some of them ended up in the stove and some were
charcoaled but they enjoyed it.
I have mentioned this on Facebook briefly but I want to tell
you more, we are in the process of building a hand washing facility, toilet and
place were the children can wash. We decided that this is top priority right
now because of the risks of Ebola. This is going to be accessible to the
children and young people that are under our care, this means that they will be
able to go to the toilet in a clean environment and be able to wash their hands
straight away. This is were the Poly Tank comes in, because in Larabanga there
is no running water, this is the only way to enable the facility to work. It is
a huge black container basically and you fill it with water. We will pay
someone to come and fill it with clean water and then again after each time it
runs out. I have worked out that the Tank holds 10 drums of water which costs
50Ghc and will last around 2 months so approx. £12 every two months means they
can keep washing their hands. Even though I have been here before and experienced
what it’s like, I guess when I go home I do kind of forget and get used to home
comforts again. Like having a clean toilet/bathroom in your house, running
water… the list goes on.
I have been asking Ibrahim questions about the children
here, about their stories. So last night he said he would gather some of the
older girls so they could tell me themselves. Two of the girls were happy for
me to record them so I did although it’s not great quality you can hear them
telling their story. This is a huge deal for them as they are not used to
talking to people about their problems. I will be writing their stories on the
page “Stories behind faces”. By June 2015 I want to have found someone who will
sponsor the Secondary education of a 16 year old girl called Mumuna. What she
goes through on a day to day basis is astounding, I don’t know how she does it.
Look out for her full story.
On behalf of the community I say a huge thank you to each
and every one of you who has supported the work I am doing here, they are all
so grateful. I wish you all could have the privilege of seeing their faces
light up.
