First Aid & a Toilet

I’ve now been here for a couple of weeks, everything is in full swing. Getting to know all of the children again is lovely, each one of them has a completely different personality and they all deserve the very best out of life. 

On a completely unrelated note, I’ve never heard so much Westlife being played… It seems crazy to say that Westlife is so popular in Ghana hahaha! I wonder how it began? 

This is one story that the First Aid supplies have helped… Fatahia is 16 years old. She attends Mole Junior High School, the distance from Larabanga is verrry far and she walks there and back every day in the scorching heat. It wasn’t that she came to me with her injury like most of the others but I was walking through the village to see somebody and I caught a glimpse of her knee. Her skin had been completely ripped off and she just had some cloth to cover it. I asked what happened and she told me that whilst she was walking to school, a motorbike had hit her and the driver didn’t even stop to apologise or

help. She visited the CHPS and she found out that her health insurance had expired which meant she had to pay 10 cedis for it to be dressed each time. This is a lot of money, money she doesn’t have so I told her I would come back. Just by looking at it I knew that it was becoming infected, yellow gunk had covered it. When I went back, as I was cleaning it I could see something black embedded in the wound. I put some drawing paste on and covered it so the next day it had come further out and I was able to retrieve it. It was a piece of metal from the motorbike. I have been going to dress the wounds every day and it is getting better. I also gave her, her own first aid kit and explained to her how to use everything so she can ensure if something happens again, it will be clean and infection free! I was able to do this because of the generosity of lots of people :)

 I have also been giving out First Aid kits to families within the community and explaining how and when they should be used, I think raising awareness of how simple First Aid can prevent infections is definitely worthwile! I remember when I was packing all of the supplies, thinking of how hard it was going to be to get them all here but now I have done it, it's incredible to see the positive affects on peoples lives because of something so simple and readily available to us.

 

So now, the toilet/handwashing facility that has been built. I am so so happy about this, as I hope you all are too as this is how the donations have been spent, to improve sanitation. It is giving the children somewhere private to use the toilet and to wash their hands. Usually they just go anywhere which for one isn't good for the environment and also them, its not hygenic so this facility is fantastic! It has been  lovely to see lots of people from the community coming to help and to see what's going on. It has been painted and tomorrow, the children are going to print their hands on the walls, to put their mark on it. 

With regards to the football kits that were kindly donated, I received a gift one evening, from the football team, they had organised between them to bring me 6 yams from the farm. But of course if I could, I would bring them back and give them to the football teams that donated the kits! That just shows they really do appreciate it! I will upload the pictures of the teams in the kits when I can, it has taken hours to upload these ones haha, they're worth the wait though. 

 

Long awaited... I'm hereeee

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.

 

The journey is just beginning

I am now at the AIRPORT!! Waiting for the first flight to Istanbul, I can't express how relieved I am that all the cases have gone through with no problems. This is just the beginning of an amazing couple of months making people happy! What is the best way to be happy?? It's to make others happy, there is nothing more rewarding and as you can see in this picture, the luggage has been a struggle but it will all be worth it when I see the beaming smiles on my arrival. That's when I will say it was all so worth it...

It all feels so unreal that 7 months or so ago I was in Ghana and had changed my flight to go back to Larabanga for another week with Madi but now I am going back again. I mean, were does time go?? I think I will probably arrive in Larabanga sometime on the 28th, so it's a long journey!

Now it's 01:20 am in Istanbul, I arrived safely and have come to a hotel for the night, I definitely need a good rest before tomorrow, it's going to be a long day. I feel so strange and a little nervous now as when I think that I am actually going back to Ghana, I realise that I have already spent 5 months there and I think back to how live was. I seemed to fit in quite quickly but it feels like I am going to start from the beginning although I know I'm not. If that even makes sense, sorry!!

Well I will keep you all updated with how everything goes! Thank you again everyone, I mean it :)

Smiles can lead to laughter

15 days until my journey begins, it feels so near but yet so far. I truly feel like I am embarking on the most meaningful trip of my entire life. I'm only 19 so you probably don't think that's very hard, but there have been some challenging situations that I have had to overcome. Overcoming hardship and tragedy is something I now feel I am quite good at. This is a story, of the real reason why I really am dedicated to taking on the tragedies of these children in Larabanga. Their smiles and laughs are infectious. The looks in their eyes consume all of me.

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 me


Nathalie 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

One month countdown

I only have a month now until I take the trip back to Ghana. Manchester to Istanbul then to Ghana, that leg of the journey is going to take 27 hours... Then once I arrive in Accra, Ghana. I have to take a 15 hour bus ride up to Tamale and then another 4 hours to Damongo. Finally I will be very close to Larabanga! It's definitely a good job that I enjoy travelling because its going to be one hell of a journey. One I am more than prepared to take to be able to help the community further. They've all taken me on the most precious journey of my life so far, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

The Kickstarter project is still active for another 20 days, this isn't going as well as I hoped but I am not giving up. I am contacting as many people as possible, radio stations, online magazines... the list goes on. I intend to still create a small film of life in Larabanga, even if it doesn't get funded. I believe that to fully appreciate what life is like and to be fully aware of what we aim to achieve you need to have an insight. An insight can be anything of course, from word of mouth or pictures but what does that truly mean to you?

I mean, a video is more, it shows life, the movement and the memories that create happiness. The film is not going to be a "production"- for one that would be completely out of my capacity as I have not done anythng like this before but most importantly, that wouldn't reveal the true nature. I am literally going to speak to members of the community about their life and capture raw, spontaneous moments on camera. The outcome is completely unknown to me, I will film the footage and put it together when I am home. Then it will be ready for the world to see.

Over the past few days I have been figuring out what I have to take to Larabanga and what I still need. The top of my list is First Aid supplies, so from gauzes to sudocream (the master of burns). There was a case whilst I was in Larabanga last time... A woman came to me with her daughter who was no more than 6, she had spilt a boiling pot of water over her back. Her skin was clearly burnt, but I have limited medical experience and knowledge so I was unable to give any help, except I advised her mother to keep her skin covered as of course you can work out that Ghana is a very hot country and heat and burns do not mix very well. If I had access to something like sudocream at that moment, I could have at least saved that childs pain. This is the beautiful little girl, she didn't even have a t-shirt on to cover her back.

When I am in Larabanga, I teach the children that are unable to attend school, mainly the orphaned children that Ibrahim takes care of. Also teach a wider group of children in the evening, this is extremely tricky because of the lack of lighting and space in general. Of course, teaching resources are limited to zero, so I have come up with a few ideas to help me when I go back.

1) White boards, I don't mean huge ones that you see in a classroom in the UK, but smaller ones. This way I can show the children whilst teaching and without having to take lots of paper which is of course heavier too. This will help them to become more involved in their own learning. There is nothing worse than being in a "lecture" type of lesson, especially for the younger students who are always in large groups.
2) I have found some educational English books, for varied ages. The type of books were the learner can write or "fill in" the book. Of course these are great when you are sat at home with one child but that is obviously not practical for my mission. So, I have photocopied several pages that I think are going to be the most useful and laminated them. Using drywipe pens, the children can write on them but then it will come off so another child can also benefit from it. Bringing fun to the lessons too!!

More support!!!

The gym that I go to is helping me to raise funds to take the supplies needed over to Larabanga. The gym is called Ainsdale Health and Fitness. It is terrific to know that local people are willing to help me.

The high school I attended, Meols Cop, Southport are giving me the opportunity to go back and speak to the students in assembly time about the project, my journey and what they can do to help. I hope to also inspire the students to jump at opportunities that are brought to their attention. I wouldn't be writing this blog now if I had organised a place to stay that night in Northern Ghana... I am so glad that I didn't and took a risk!

Now... Ebola.
This is a topic I can't ignore. Telling people that I am going to West Africa, I have had mixed responses, may people telling me I am completely stupid and deluded. My response to them is that they obviously haven't done their research, Ghana has no confirmed cases of Ebola. I'm not stupid, of course I know that I am putting myself at risk if there is to be an outbreak in Ghana but I believe that Ghana are looking on the horrific situations in other West African countries and are learning from their mistakes. Prevention is the best protection, no doubt. I spend time each day searching for news articles about the outbreak, to see if anything has happened in Ghana and up to now, it has been good news. I am hoping more than anything that it stays a safe place for me to travel to. I NEED to see these faces again...