PROJECT: Photostory--Commute to Butre

Tuesdays and Thursdays we take a walk to Butre. In one of our previous posts we gave a brief description of our commute. The photo-story below will give you an idea of how it looks.

Ob torkih in četrtkih je čas za pot v Butre! V eni od prvih objav ste lahko prebrali kratek opis najinega “sprehoda”, tokrat pa ga bova predstavila skozi fotozgodbo. 

Tomaž

LIVING: A Charismatic Festival

Religion plays a central role in the lives of many in Ghana. Over the past weekend we were first hand witnesses to a vibrant religious festival held in the schoolyard next to the library.


The sounds of Ghanaian worship were known to me already. My first days in Ghana, in Accra, I was woken by the sounds of distant singing and praying early in the morning. When Ebenezer drove Sonja and I around Accra we heard the amplified voices of several preachers over the sounds of traffic. Billboards advertising churches (and their preachers) were everywhere. The north of Ghana is purportedly Muslim, but there is scant sign of Islam in the places we have been; Ghana as a whole is 70% Christian. Many taxi owners name their taxis something religious (like for example "Gods Victory Taxi" or "Our God Is Good Taxi"), the same goes for shops ("Christ is King Beauty Parlor"). In contrast to the west, where we have a mentality of keeping religion out of the public square, Ghanan's seem to revel in displaying their faith every chance they get.

Thirty-two Methodist churches, what is called a "circuit", gathered for this annual festival in Busua. Its location rotates among the member churches. We observed the proceedings out of our kitchen window and through the cracks in our bamboo fence (at first we considered attending, but soon realized that we would know understand very little, they did speak English, but lapsed into their local language so frequently that it would have been a lost cause). We didn't think it was right to take pictures of the event after talking it over with Emmanuel. Tents and chairs were setup along the perimeter of the yard for the faithful. Two stacks of speakers were setup on Friday morning, the sound check only hinted at their true power, soon we would face their volume for 3 days.

The global phenomenon of the Christian Charismatic Movement has probably effected every major branch of Christianity. Catholicism has Life in the Spirit in Slovenia and America, for example. People are drawn to the Charismatic movement for its active, spirit filled worship. But worship here in Ghana is very very active. Dancing, screaming, exorcisms, four hour long speeches,and altar calls--all backed by a live band playing soft jazz (it fit in a strange sort of way)--complemented more traditional sermons and bible study.

Many Ghanaian churches have morning and evening services daily, here at the festival they started very early on Saturday and Sunday. Then they just kept on Going (all the way until 11 p.m. on Saturday). Saturday was a hot dry day. With the Ghanaian sun beating down on him the Reverend began to talk. He had a voice like Louis Armstrongs, not as deep but just as raspy, just as powerful. A loud deep boom, like a digitized drum, slammed out of the speakers as he saturated the audio feed again and again, exhorting the people to have faith in the Lord. Repetition, songs, chants, call-and-response: high energy worship under the hot sun, dressed in his Sunday clothes--a dark black suit--pacing back and forth within the tent perimeter between the two stacks of speakers twice as tall as a man, with a band behind him. He kept it up for four hours; even considered solely as a feat of stamina it was amazing. His voice would rise in repetition, exhortations followed by a base shock-wave as the people called out Hallelujah, Amen, clapping. Then he would start singing, out of tune to a western ear (I think out of tune to a Ghanaian ear too, but I can't be sure) and the people answer in snatches of song that seem disconnected because I only understand the English parts. In contrast with the singing in Slovenia, which for all its beauty tends toward the technical, the singing of the people and the minister substitutes raw strength for all the other virtues of music. I heard snatches of hymns from back home in Forest Hill seemingly interspersed among native hymns and often breaking down (or rising up?) into slow machine gun like chants of a single phrase, with people joining in. I observed the proceedings from the kitchen while frying bananas, the last row of chairs started a meter from the window. I had a good view of the preacher. On Friday the power ran out, so the generators added their loud hum to the mix. The participants were dressed in white, the leaders dressed in black suits. The men wore long pants (men in Ghana usually wear long pants). Most of the older women had turbans on. The energy level seemed to increase as dusk fell on Saturday. Several bouts of repetition. One women began to scream, then other voices joined periodically; an exorcism--or several--took place, I think. A women in front of the kitchen window starts to scream the scream of the possessed and falls over, event volunteers rush to help. They begin collecting people out to the side of the library. People now stand up out of their chairs, at the behest of the preacher they begin to stream into the center and join him. His voice gets faster and faster, repetition. Then it stops, total silence. Then it starts again, and builds, and builds, and builds, and stops, total silence. Again. Again. A few women are screaming, most are singing and praying . Then it is over. A small group continues to pray softly in the center.

On Sunday, after speeches, sermons, and bible study, everyone streams into the center and they begin to dance, the older people stand and dance in their seats.   I see the mayor of Busua standing off to the side, he seems pleased and proud that everything is going so well, (later Emmanuel would confirm that the event was a big success, something I could only guess because I had never seen one before) he makes eye contact with me and I exit our living complex to greet him. He asks how I am enjoying it. It's interesting, I've never seen anything like it. I think it's a little loud. He assures me that today it will be over by midday. As I talk to the Mayor everyone is dancing and singing, a few hours later the yard is empty except for the people taking down the event.

All in all, a very intense way to worship.


Religija igra osrednjo vlogo v življenju mnogih Gancev. Prejšnji vikend se je na šolskem dvorišču, v neposredni bližini knjižnjice, odvijal verski festival.
Prvič sem zvok ganskih molitev slišal v Accri. Zgodaj zjutraj me je zbudil oddaljen zvok petja in molitve. Tudi ko smo se a Ebenezerjem vozili po Accri, so odmevali ozvočeni glasovi pridigarjev iz bližnjih cerkva. Plakati, ki so oglaševali cerkve in njihove pridigarje, so bili vsepovsod. V celotni državi je okrog 70% kristjanov. Sever Gane je sicer muslimanski, a na območjih kjer se gibljeva o tej religiji ni niti sledu. Nasprotno od zahoda, kjer prevladuje mentaliteta, da religija spada v sfero zasebnega, jo Ganci uvrščajo v javno življenje. Svojo versko pripadnost razkazujejo na vsakem koraku. Npr. številni taksisti svojemu vozilu dodajo kako religijozno frazo – »Taksi božje zmage«, taksi »Naš Bog je dober« itd. Podobno je s trgovinami (npr. »Lepotni salon Jezusa Kralja«). 

Na letnem festivalu v Busui se je zbralo 32 metodističnih cerkva. Lokacija vsako leto rotira med udeženimi cerkvami. Dogajanje sva spremljala skozi kuhinjsko okno in odprtine v bambusovi ograji(imela sva se namen dogodka udeležiti, a sva hitro ugotovila, da bi bolj malo razumela). Po posvetovanju z Emanuelom sva se odločila da dogodka ne bova fotografirala.
V petek zjutraj so organizatorji postavili šotore, stole ter dvoje velikih zvočnikov. Že ob preverjanju zvoka sva slutila, da bo naslednje tri dni zelo zelo glasno.:)

Krščansko karizatično gibanje je globalni fenomen, ki je zajel vse večje veje krščanstva. Primer v katolištvu je npr. gibanje Prenova v duhu. H karizmatičnim gibanjem ljudi pritegne predvsem aktivna, močno poduhovljena molitev. 

V Gani je molitev zelo zelo aktivnaJ. Tradicionalne pridige in biblične ure dopolnjujejo ples, vriskanje, kriki, eksorcizem, govori dolgi (tudi po štiri ure), pričevanja...Vse to ob spremljavi mehkega jazza (ki na nek nenavaden način sovpada z dogajanjem).

Večina ganskih cerkva ima maše vsak dan zjutraj in zvečer, na festivalu pa so z molitvami začeli že zgodaj zjutraj, nadaljevali čez dan, zaključili pa šele pozno zvečer (v soboto ob enajstih zvečer).
Sobotni dan je bil izjemno vroč, suh. Pod gansko pripeko je pastor začel s svojim nagovorom. Njegov glas je bil raskav, močan, spominjal me je na mogočen glas Luisa Armstronga. Ponavljanje, pesmi, napevi, intenzivno čaščenje pod vročim soncem; pražnja obleka; premikanje naprej in nazaj med zvočniki, dvakrat višjimi od njega; za njim glasbena skupina. Z vsako ponovitvijo je volumen njegovega glasu naraščal, ljudje so mu odgovarjali z aleluja, amen ter ploskali. Tako je pastor nadaljeval štiri ure. Že samo njegova vzdržljivost je bila neverjetna!
Med ganskimi napevi sem zaznal tudi odlomke spevov, ki sem jih slišal še doma, v Forest Hillu.

Dogajanje sem spremljal iz kuhinje, med cvrtjem banan. Zadnja vrsta se je namreč začela približno meter stran od okna. Imel sem dober razgled na dogajanje, tudi na pridigarja.
Udeleženci so bili oblečeni v bele, vodje programa pa v črne obleke. Moški so nosili dolge hlače (kot je v Gani, kljub vročini, običajno). Večina starejših žensk je imela na glavi turbane.
V soboto se mi je zdelo, da se je energija, ko je padel mrak, le še stopnjevala. Stopnjevali so se tudi »vali« intenzivnega ponavljanja, ki so izzvali krike nekaj udeleženk. Dobil sem občutek da izvajajo neke vrste eksorcizem. Ženska, ki je stala pred kuhinjskim oknom, je med krčevitim kričanjem celo padla  po tleh. Te vernike so organizatorji poslali na stran prizorišča, ostali pa so vstali in se pridružili pridigarju v sredini. Njegov govor je postajal hitrejši in hitrejši, ponavljanja vedno bolj intenzivna. Ozračje je kar vibriralo v tempu, nakar se je pastor ustavil. Nastala je popolna tišina. Ponovno je začel, počasi, tišje, napetost je naraščala in naraščala, in ponovno tišina. Spet in spet. Ob tem je nekaj žensk kričalo, večina pa pela in molila. 
Okrog enajsih se je obred zaključil. V sredini je v blagi molitvi ostala le še manjša skupina.


Srečanje se je sklenilo v nedeljo, po govorih, pridigah in biblični uri,ko so se udeleženi ponovno zbrali v sredini in zaplesali ob spremljavi duhovne glasbe. Starejši verniki so se jim pridružili na svojih mestih. Zagledal sem župana, ki je stal ob strani, vidno zadovoljen z dogajanjem. Stopil sem do njega, veselo me je pozdravil in vprašal ali uživam v festivalu. Odvrnil sem mu, da je zelo zanimivo, da nisem še nikoli videl česa podobnega, da je sicer malenkost (pre)glasno. Zagotovil mi je, da se bo okrog poldneva srečanje zaključilo. In res, nekaj ur zatem, ko so vsi še tako radoživo plesali in peli, je bilo dvorišče prazno.

Če sklenem svoje vtise: bila sva priči zelo zelo intenzivnemu verskemu češčenju.

Tomaž

LIVING: Monkey Friend

Yesterday, as we cooled ourselves under the broad palms that cover the beach-side deck of the Busua Inn, we were interrupted by a rustling sound. We turned and our attention was drawn toward a dark silhouette moving among the branches. Before we realized it, it was already on our table, looking at us with glowing brown eyes. A small monkey sat on our table looking curiously at us! We expected our brown-haired friend, because we saw her for a short time the previous day. In fact we had come back hoping to see her again, ready with our photo and video cameras. We didn’t come in vain! :)

Our new friend shamelessly rifled through our belongings on the table. She took a liking to the camera bag, looking inside and playing with the pockets. She found some disposable tissues, which she first sniffed then put in her mouth. Quickly after confirming that there was no food inside she threw them on the floor. :)

She is used to human beings; that became clear very quickly. She lay down on the table, putting her head down next to our hands, hoping we would pet her; she signaled no less clearly when she had had enough (see video).

She didn't stay on the table long. She quickly went back among the branches, found a comfortable spot, made monkey calls, and watched. She eyed the bananas which a woman was carrying on a basket on her head. The banana seller noticed the monkey, and set a banana on the fence for her. The monkey grabbed the banana and quickly peeled and ate it.

Our luck ran out when the monkey disappeared dramatically underneath the floorboards of the deck. The deck surrounds several palm trees, each of which grow through openings in the floorboards. The monkey scrambled down a palm and disappeared under the deck like some sort of monkey-batman.  :)

You can see a video and pictures of our friend below.

Včerajšnje popoldansko hlajenje pod mogočnimi palmami Busua Inna, je zmotil šum. Obrnila sva se, ko je najino pozornost pritegnila temna premikajoča se silhueta med vejami. Še preden sva se dobro zavedla, se je le-ta znašla na mizi. V naju so zrle žareče rjave oči. Na mizi je sedela majhna opica, ki si naju je nadvse radovedno ogledovala. Rjavodlako prijateljico sva pričakovala, saj sva jo za kratek čas videla že prejšnji dan. V upanju na vnovično srečanje, “opremljena” s fotoaparatom in kamero, sva prišla ponovno. Ne zamanj! :) 

Najina nova prijateljica se je, nič kaj sramežljivo, razgledala po mizi. Hitro sta ji padla v oči ovitek od fotoaparata in torba. Spretno ju je pregledala. V torbi je našla robčke, ki jih je najprej skrbno ovohala, nato dala v usta. Hitro za tem, ko je ugotovila, da njihov okus ni kaj prida, jih je odvrgla na tla. :)

Da je vajena človeške bližine, nama je postalo jasno zelo hitro. Ljubko je povesila glavo in se željna cartanja, kot majhen polh, zvrnila po mizi. Nič manj jasno nama je dala vedeti tudi, ko ji je bilo dovolj. (glej video) :).

Na mizi se ni dolgo zadrževala. Hitro je švignila nazaj med veje, se med njimi udobno namestila, vsake toliko spustila svoj značilen zvok, ter si ogledovala mimoidoče. Pozorna je postala na banane, ki jih je neka ženska nosila v košari na glavi. Ko jo je trgovka opazila, ji je eno od banan nastavila na ograjo.  Opica jo je hitro pograbila, olupila in v nekaj grižljajih zadovoljno pojedla. 

Najino veselje se je končalo z opičinim spektakularnim spustom pod teraso. To je izgledalo nekako tako - spretno se je oprijela spodnjega dela palminega debla, ter se (v stilu Batmana:) spustila v majhno odprtino, ki je vodila pod lesene deske terase.  :)

Nekaj utrinkov našega srečanja si lahko ogledate v spodnjem videu in na fotografijah!

Sonja

PROJECT: Collectivism vs. Individualism in the Classroom

 In two days it will be exactly one month since we came to Ghana and three weeks since we started teaching English in Butre and Azani.

This type of thing happened to us regularly in the beginning:

Tomaž: Nathaniel, could you please start reading from the beginning of the page, please.
Nathaniel: Yes sir...[begins to read but stops at an unknown word]
Emmanuel (muttering under his breadth): cootlury [sic. cutlery]
Nathaniel: Cootlury.
Tomaž: Cutlery.
Nathaniel: Cootlery.
Tomaž: Cutlery.
Nathaniel: Cutlery [but now he is slightly flustered and having trouble finding his place]
Tomaž: [Starts reading where we left off]
Emmanuel: [Also begins reading]
Nathaniel:[picks up and starts reading]

At this point both students continue to read together and, if allowed, other students will pile around the book (unfortunately we don't have enough books for everyone) until they are all reading together, in a stilted cadence, loud and clear. Unfortunately they aren't all reading, usually just one is reading and the rest are repeating after him or her. It is challenging to get the students who aren't already good to take the initiative, they just wait for someone better to speak up.

I imagine that every society adopts a different balance between collectivism and individualism. The resolution of the tension between these two concepts defines a group. In Ghanan primary education collectivism is the clear favorite.

It makes me smile when I think about how much effort my teachers expended to get us to work together in groups. Here we work hard to achieve the exact opposite effect. But, at the same time, we have learned that working against this tendency is not always a good idea. Most of the students want and expect to read in groups. Only a few of the advanced students want to work alone.

The first thing that we started to teach the students were 30 opposite pairs (hot-cold, deep-shallow etc.) and I think that they have mastered these pairs (i.e. they can tell me, even individually, most of the opposite pairs and about half of them can use the opposite pairs in sentences). We also continue to build vocabulary using the words from the books. We haven't started writing yet. Right now we are at the point where about 1/2 of the time (45min) is spent in groups of three reading the books.

Now we are going to start teaching a new sets of opposites in addition to comparison forms of the opposites we have already taught (i.e. hot, hotter, hottest).

We also need to think of a way to split the class into levels without chaos breaking out, this is harder then it sounds. Some of the children are already at the point where they should try to read in their minds instead of out loud and we would like to separate them from the others and give them some more difficult books to read.


Čez dva dni bo natanko en mesec od najinega prihoda v Gano in tri tedne od začetka učenja angleščine v Azaniju in Butri.

V začetnih urah sva se pogosto znašla v sledeči situaciji:  

Tomaz: Nathaniel, prosim začni z branjem.
Nathaniel: Da. ... [Bere, ustavi se ob neznani besedi]
Emmanuel [zamomlja]: cootlury [sic. cutlery - v slo: pribor]
Nathaniel:  Cootlury.
Tomaž: Cutlery.
Nathaniel: Cootlery.
Tomaž: Cutlery.
Nathaniel: Cutlery [zdaj besedo izgovori malce v zadregi, išče mesto v knjigi, kjer je prej končal] 
Tomaž: [Pomagam Nathanielu najti mesto v knjigi, začnem z branjem] 
Emmanuel: [Prav tako začne z branjem] 
Nathaniel:[Se pridruži Emmanuelu]

V nadaljevanju učenca breta skupaj, če je le dovoljeno se jima pridružijo tudi ostali, obkolijo mizo ter nadaljujejo vsi v en glas. Jasno, glasno, v ritmu metronomaJ. Čeprav imaš v začetku vtis, da so vsi poglobljeni v branje, je hitro jasno, da branje vodi najboljši/a, ostali pa v glavnem ponavljajo za njim/njo. Zelo težko je pripraviti manj uspešne učence, da prevzamejo iniciativo, saj se neradi izpostavljajo.

Razmerje med individualizmom in kolektivizmom se od družbe do družbe razlikuje. Prevladovanje ene ali druge smeri družbo zaznamuje. V primeru ganskih osnovnih šol je jasno, da prevladuje kolektivizem. Medtem ko so se naši učitelji trudili spodbujati delo v skupinah, je v Gani ravno obratno. Tu predstavljajo težavo individualne naloge, saj jih učenci opravljajo neradi, izjema so zelo dobri učenci.

Kot sva omenila že v prejšnjih objavah, sva začela z učenjem nasprotij - izbrala sva 30 parov (vroče-mrzlo, globoko-plitvo itd). Do zdaj so jih učenci v veliki meri že usvojili. Kar pomeni, da jih posamezniki znajo navesti, približno polovica pa jih poleg tega zna uporabiti še v stavkih. Urimo se tudi v besedišču iz knjižic, ki jih redno prebiramo. Branje trenutno predstavlja približno polovico srečanja (45min), otroci berejo razdeljeni v skupine.

V naslednjih urah se bomo lotili nove skupine nasprotij, začeli bomo tudi s stopnjevanjem pridevnikov (npr. hot, hotter, hottest; slo: vroče, bolj vroče, najbolj vroče), ter utrjevali že naučene.

Pomembna stvar, ki jo še morava izpeljati, je delitev razreda glede na raven znanja, kar je težji podvig kot se zdi na prvi pogled.:) Delitev se nama zdi resnično smiselna, saj nekateri učenci zares izstopajo, berejo gladko, so že na stopnji ko znajo brati v mislih. Želiva da naša srečanja kar se da izkoristijo in imajo možnost branja zahtevnejših knjig.  

Tomaž

GHANA: Pan-Africanism in the Classroom

In the year 1957, after a successful fight for independence, the leader of the independence movement and future president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, stated that Ghana’s independence would only achieve its full import when tied to the liberation of the entire African continent. With these words he became the leading voice of the Pan-African movement, which aims to increase solidarity among African countries and to connect African countries to each other and the world. This ideology is based on the conviction that the futures of all Africa’s nations are intertwined and that equality is of critical importance for their economic, social and political advancement. Nkruma’s vision was a kind of “United States of Africa”.

However, Africa is still not fully independent today. Nkruma's dreams still echo across the continent. His vision is especially well remembered in Ghana. The feeling of being part of a bigger Africa is very much alive here. One of the manifestations of Pan-Africanism is Panafest (Pan African Festival) which the Ghanans have been organizing since 1992. The themes include the political, social and economic advancement of African peoples (including those in the African dispora). It is aimed at the strengthening of the ideals of Pan-Africanism, the development of the African continent, and the expression of African history through art and culture. 

A much less noticeable, though no less important testament to the »Pan African Identity« are the cover pages of the notebooks of our students, which we saw both in Butri and Azani. African heroes and fighters for the rights of Africans are pictured on them: among those pictured is the aforementioned President of Ghana Kwama Nkrumaha, the President of South Africa and Apartheid Fighter Nelson Mandela, and the American civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs).

Leta 1957, po uspešnem boju za neodvisnost, je vodja gibanja in poznejši ganski predsednik Kwame Nkrumah poudaril, da bo ta mejnik dobil težo šele ko bo povezan z osvoboditvijo celotne afriške celine. S temi besedami je postal vodilni glas pan-afriškega gibanja, t.j. gibanja, ki se zavzema za povezovanje ter solidarnost Afričanov pa vsem svetu. Ideologija temelji na prepričanju, da se usode afriških narodov med seboj prepletajo, ter da je enotnost ključnega pomena za njihov ekonomski, družbeni ter politični napredek. Nekrumahova vizija so bile nekakšne “Združene države Afrike”. 

Čeprav Afrika še danes ni popolnoma neodvisna, Nkrumahove sanje še vedno odmevajo po celini. Predvsem v Gani je njegova dediščina zelo močna. Pripadnost širši, afriški skupnosti je tu namreč zelo živa. Ena od zunanjih manifestacij pan-afriške identitete je Panafest (Pan African Festival), ki ga Ganci organizirajo že od leta 1992. Teme odražajo politični, družbeni ter gospodarski napredek afriških narodov (tudi afriške diaspore). Namenjen je krepitvi idealov pan-afrikanizma, razvoju afriške celine ter pričevanju o afriški zgodovini skozi umetnost in kulturo.

Veliko manj očitno, a zato nič manj pomembno pričevanje "pan-afriške identitete" so naslovnice šolskih zvezkov, ki sva jih zasledila tako v Azanejo kot v Butri. Na njih so afriški heroji, borci za pravice Afričanov: med drugim zgoraj omenjeni ganski predsednik Kwama Nkrumaha,  predsednik Južnoafriške Republike ter borec proti aparthaidu, Nelson Mandela, ter ubiti ameriški borec za pravice afro-američanov, Martin Luther King (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs).

Sonja

Children's notebook covers from Azani

LIVING: Sashi Water

We can't drink the tap water in Ghana; we would get sick. The people here also don't drink the tap water. They use tap water for things like washing and cooking, but not for drinking. In the west we often drink water from plastic bottles, but in Ghana they have a cheaper solution. Instead of using bottles they use 500mL plastic bags. They package these small bags in a large bag. 1 large bag, which costs 1 euro, lasts us about 1 week. All the plastic used compresses too a size equal to one compressed plastic water bottle. These Sashi waters can be found everywhere in Ghana, children and adults sell cold Sashi water on the street for 20p. They carry about 6 liters of it in bowls on there head as they thread in and out of the frequently stopped traffic. In Rural towns you can buy it along the main road.

This type of commerence is common in Ghana. People sell all of sorts of things from the bowls they carry on their heads: Sashi water, smoked fish, various fruits, plantain chips etc.

To drink a Sashi water you simply bite off the corner with your teeth and squeeze the bag. It is very convenient. Interestingly, in her previous travels to Madagascar, Sonja didn't notice the people drinking Sashi water, they used plastic water bottles like we do.



V Gani voda iz pipe ni primerna za pitje, v ta namen je ne uporabljajo niti domačini. Uporabljajo jo sicer za umivanje in huhanje, nikakor pa ne za pitje. Medtem ko na zahodu pogosto pijemo vodo iz plastenk, so se Ganci spomnili cenejše rešitve - namesto plastenk uporabljajo 500ml plastične vrečke! :) Te majhne vrečke so zapakirane v veliki vreči, ki stane okrog enega eura, v njej pa je dovolj vode za približno en teden. "Sashi" vode lako najdeš povsod, ohlajene jih lahko za 20p kupiš celo na cesti. Otroci in odrasli trgovci jih namreč nosijo kar na glavi v posebnih velikih posodah (tudi po šest kilogramov). V mestih se sprehajajo kar med ustavljnimi avtomobili, v ruralnih območjih pa stojijo ob glavni cesti. Tak način trgovanja je v Gani zelo pogost. Ljudje nosijo na glavah posode polne najrazličnejših stvari, kot so Sashi vode, dimljene ribe, sadje, čips (iz bolj slane vrste banan imenovane "plantain") itd. 

Pitje iz Sashi vrečke je zelo preprosto - odgrizneš enega od kotičkov in vrečko stisneš. Je zelo priročno! :) Zanimivo, Sashi vod Sonja na Madagaskarju ni opazila, kot mi so ljudje pili iz plastenk.

Tomaz

LIVING: Meeting the Chief

It was Sunday. The singing of the methodist faithful signaled that the service was nearing its close. Tomaz and I sat on our beds in anticipation. After the previous day's attempts today would be the day. The meeting with the Chief. He was the tribal and political leader of all of Ahtana West, and also an advisor to the president. We got our gifts together, two bottles of wine (one for the assemblyman and one for the chief) we had purchased in Accra. We waited for Emmanuel. He was exactly on time, and dressed up. After seeing him, I began to wonder if my flip-flops, dusty and yellow from the mud, were good enough. But it was time to go. We walked silently in the Ghanian heat, I clutched my bag with the bottles of wine, we turned toward the Methodist church. A well dressed, smiling man approached us, the pepsi can he was holding in his hand stood out. So this is the mysterious chief, was my first thought, by Tomaz's look I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

But it wasn't, the man, who was named Kofi, shook our hands and told us that he wasn't the Chief but the assemblyman (and the Mayor), and said that he would accompany us to the Chief. And so we went. We walked and walked as the Major greeted his constituents at every step.

We came to a house that looked similar to the others. Contrary to our expectations it did not stand out. The only modern conveniences that we could see were two TV's on the veranda and a few plastic chairs, which Emmanuel and the Major arranged into a straight line. One for Tomaž, one for me, and two for them. We sat. We sat in silence for a few minutes until a boy came up and said something to Emmanuel and Kofi which we couldn't understand, but we were able to understand his gestures: we were waiting for the Chief in the wrong place. And so our little proccession moved a little further into the courtyard. Some women sat on a long bamboo bench. A group of young men sat on another bench. And on a third bench sat an elderly man with his eyes closed. Emmanuel and the Mayor arranged the chairs in the same way as they had before, seating Tomaž and I in the middle. We sat in silence. After a few moments the Mayor rose and turned to the elderly man, who sat on the bamboo bench, and the Mayor began to address him with great reverence and seriousness. At first Tomaž and I didn't realize it was the Chief. We were expecting a very serious politician, but the Chief reminded us of the smiling Dali Lama. He was dressed in a blue short sleeved shirt and a colorful traditional skirt. He pleasently smiled at us and observed us.

The ancient tradition of chiefhood is present in many places in Western Africa. The Akana word for chief is »nana«. The expression »chief« was coined by Europeans during colonialism and, even though the translation isn't really the best, it has stuck. The position of Chief is both traditional and constitutional in Ghana. Because they are close to the people they are often a big help to politicians. The Chiefs of certain areas are even more politically active, serving in the house of Chiefs in Accra, and even acting as the Presidential advisors.

The man on the bamboo bench was Otumfuor Baidoo Bonso XV, the Chief of the entire region of Ahanta West. When the mayor finished his introduction he rose, stepped toward the chief, and with his left hand on his back, slowly and respectfully bowed. He signalled to us that we should do the same. We bowed, somewhat awkwardly :) After this ritual the Chief engaged us in a pleasent and friendly conversation. He was in a very good mood. He talked excitedly about soccer (Ghana had just won a big match), encouraged us to visit Cape Three Points (a beautiful penninsula between Dixcove and Princess Town), he gave us alot advice, wished us a long and happy marriage, and said that he would pour a libation in blessing of our marriage from the gift we brought him, he encouraged us to stay even longer, saying that he would be happy if we lived here for 80 years. We sat and talked for a few minutes, we gave the Mayor the wine which he then gave to the Chief. With this our visit ended. The Mayor gave the signal to leave. We rose and all went our own ways full of good impressions.



Bila je nedelja. Nekajurno petje metodističnih vernikov je naznanjalo bližajoči se konec nedeljske pobožnosti. S Tomažem sva v posebnem pričakovanju sedela na svojih posteljah. Po neuspelem poskusu prejšnjega dne, je končno prišel dan D. Srečanje s Chiefom. Nekakšnim plemenskim in političnim vodjem celotnega Ahtana West, ter celo predsednikovim sodelavcem, kot nama je bilo rečeno. Izza postelje sva vzela steklenici vina (eno za župana eno za Chiefa), ki sva ju za to priložnost kupila že v Accri. Pobrisala sva prah z njiju in čakala Emanuela. Bil je točen, pražnje oblečen. Ob njegovi brezhibni podobi sem sama malo dvomljivo pogledala svoje japonke, prašne, skorajda rumene od blata. A bil je čas za odhod. Skorajda brez besed smo hodili po ganski vročini, k sebi sem stiskala torbo z vinom, ko smo zavili proti metodistični cerkvi. Približeval se nam je urejen, nasmejan možakar, v oči je bila pločevinka Pepsija v njegovih rokah. No, to je torej ta skrivnostna oseba, je bila moja prva misel, isto je govoril tudi Tomažev pogled. A ni bil, možakar z imenom Kofi nama je stisnil roko in pridal da on ni Chief, da je župan, da pa gre z nami do njega. In smo šli. Kaj leži za vso to famo, sem premlevala sama pri sebi. Hodili smo in hodili, župan se je na vsakem koraku obregnil ob katerega od svojih vaščanov.

Prišli smo do hiše, ki ni bila nič kaj posebnega. Proti pričakovanjem sploh ni izstopala. Edini "moderni" dodatek sta bili dve televiziji na verandi, par plastičnih stolov, ki sta jih Emanuel ter župan zavzeto postavljala v ravno linijo. Enega za Tomaža, enega zame, ter dva za njiju. Usedli smo se. Tako v tišini smo sedeli nekaj minut, ko je prišel fant, katerega besed sicer nisva razumela, sva pa razumela gesto spremljevalcev, da Chiefa ne čakamo na pravem mestu. Tako se je celotna procesija premaknila nekaj metrov globlje v dvorišče. Tam so na veliki klopi iz bambusa sedele ženske, na drugi nekaj fantov, na tretji je miže sedel starejši možakar. Emanuel ter župan sta ponovila skrbno urejanje plastičnih stolov v ravno vrsto, naju s Tomažem sta posadila na sredo. Molče smo obsedeli. Čez nekaj trenutkov je župan vstal, se obrnil proti starčku, sedečem na bambusovi klopi, ter začel, sila resno, s svojim nagovorom. S Tomažem nama prvih nekaj trenutkov ni bilo nič jasno. Ves čas prisoten starček, takozvani Chief, ni v ničemer ustrezal najinim prvotnim predstavam. Pričakovala sva namreč resnega politika, busujski Chief pa me je še najbolj spominjal na smejočega Dalajlamo! :) Oblečen je bil v modro majco s kratkimi rokavi ter dolgo, barvno tradicionalno krilo. Smeje si naju je ogledoval. 

Starodavna tradicija chiefov je razširjena v številnih delih zahodne Afrike. Akanska beseda zanj je "nana". Izraz Chief so vpeljali Evropejci v času kolonializma in čeprav prevod ni najbolj posrečen, se je prijel. Položaj Chiefa je tudi formalno priznan. Ker je bližje ljudem, je pogosto v veliko pomoč politikom. Chiefi posameznih območij pa so tudi direktno politično aktivni - so člani National House of Chiefs v Accri in celo predsednikovi svetovalci. 

Možakar na bambusovi klopi je bil Otumfuor Baidoo Bonso XV., chief celotne regije Ahanta West. Ko je župan zaključil z njegovo predstavitvijo je vstal, stopil proti njemu, se počasi, z levo roko prislonjeno na hrbet, spoštljivo poklonil. Pomignil nama je, naj posnemava njegovo dejanje. Nerodno sva se priklonila:). Temu svečanemu obredu je sledil zanimiv pogovor. Chief je bil zelo dobro razpoložen. Z navdušenjem je govoril o nogometu, nama predlagal obisk Cape Three Pointsa (po njegovih besedah čudovit polotok med Dixcove in Princess Town), dal številne napotke, nama zaželel dolgo zakonsko srečo, ter dodal, da naj živiva v Busui vsaj 80 let! :) Nekaj minut smo še obsedeli,  županu sva izročila steklenico vina,  ki jo je prav pesniško opel preden jo je Chiefu izročil. S tem se je obisk zaključil. Župan nama je pomignil da gremo. Vstali smo torej, ter polni vtisov odšli vsak svojo pot. 

Sonja

LIVING: Electricity

We leave the ceiling fan in the on position all the time, that way the ceiling fan is a visual indicator of the availability of electricity. Often it is still.

Ghana is in it's dry season and the water table has fallen. The electricity in our region is supplied by hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power and a dry season are a bad combination. If we're lucky we have rolling blackouts which last for a couple of hours. When we aren't lucky the power is off all day.

Our laptop batteries last for more then two hours, so rolling blackouts aren't such a problem for laptops: they can sometimes outlast them. The bigger problem is the refrigerator. But thats just part of what Ghanaians are used to and we're getting used to it too, adapting our lives to many small inconveniences in exchange for the incredible experience we're having.

All signs indicate that Ghana is well on it's path to becoming a developed country. It is politically stable and it's economy is growing. Emmanuel says that another hydroelectric plant is under construction in the Eastern Region. Soon they probably won't have these problems anymore. In the meantime, Sonja and I have lots of time to talk and read. :)



S Sonjo puščava stropni ventilator ves čas prižgan, saj nama njegovo vrtenje (oz nevrtenje) sporoča ali imava dostop do elektrike. Ventilator pogosto miruje. 

Gana je v sušni dobi, zato je podtalnica nizka. Za oskrbo z elektriko na našem območju pa skrbi hidroelektrarna, kar ni najboljša kombinacija. Kadar imamo srečo izpadi elektrike trajajo nekaj ur. Ko je nimamo, smo lahko brez elektrike tudi ves dan. 

Bateriji najinih prenosnih računalnikov zdržita nekaj več kot dve uri, zato izpadi elektrike v tem oziru ne predstavljajo prevelike težave. Kar pa ne velja za hladilnik! :) Ganci so na te razmere, za razliko od naju, seveda navajeni. Tudi midva se počasi privajava na drobne nevšečnosti vsakdanjega življenja, ki pa jih celotna neverjetna izkušnja tako zelo odtehta! 

Vsi indikatorji kažejo na to, da postaja Gana razvita država. Politično je stabilna, ekonomski kazalci rastejo. Emanuel pravi, da je druga hidroelektrarna  (v vzhodni regiji) v nastajanju. Kar pomeni, da bo verjetno oskrba z električno energijo že kmalu boljša. Za zdaj pa imava s Sonjo veliko časa za pogovor in branje. :)

LIVING: Our Life in Busua

It always surprises me how adaptable human beings are, how quickly we make a new space, new surroundings, our own. Soon after we fill a place with our things and settle into a routine we start feeling like we are at home. And as we become known to the people on the streets of Busua, and become friends with them, then that is a sure sign that we are becoming a part of the place.

Like the volunteers who came before us, we live in a little complex attached to the Busua Community Library. We have a room, a bathroom, and a shared kitchen.

The complex is near Busua's Primary School, so life is never boring :)! Singing comes regularly from the classrooms, during breaks the school yard is full of lively talking and laughter, and the grassy field infront of the library becomes the training ground for Ghana's future soccer stars in the afternoon!

The liveliness of the whole scene is accentuated by families of goats and sheep grazing around the library, and happily chewing the grass. There are also chickens wandering about followed by processions of chicks, and little lizards; my good friends from Madagascar. In Africa there is no place for loneliness!:)

About 100 meters from our temporary home a sandy beach stretches along the ocean, which is said to be one of the most beautiful in Ghana, and alo good for surfing. One of our first impressions of Busua's beach came through Frank - “the juiceman”. A smiling and insistent middle-aged man who was already there when we first stepped onto the beach. And the second time. And the third time. :) Soon after we met Franck we met Daniel - “The pancake man” and George-”The Lobster Man”. All of them offered their respective products to us, and we have already tried both Daniel's and Frank's goods :)

We start our days with the ocean. Before breakfast we are already in the water enjoying the waves, and throwing ourselfs in like childern. This is a time for uncontrolled laughter, some dancing of the Vienese Waltz, and the building of sandcastles and also long talks and contemplative silences. When we return we eat some of Franks pineapples, mangoes, papyas, or bannanas. We feel like we are trying all these tropical fruits for the first time; they don't really resemble the stuff we get at home.

After these magical mornings we get ready for teaching. Often, we already start “brainstorming” on the  beach and later we just make a more specific plan. Because we are running after-school workshops, our workday starts around 15.00. Around 13.00 the hunt for a taxi, or the preparation for a long, hot, and above-all “sweaty” hike to Butre :)! And then we meet the children—hungry for knowledge, playful, simple beings, for who it is worth walking a difficult path!! When we return home – especially after we come from our two hour walk to Butre – we fall into bed, turn on the fan, and try to cool down a bit.
As a rule, the evenings are marked by the ill-selected repertoire of the DJ of the neighboring hotel, which is intended to attract tourists but seems to do the opposite.

We were formally accepted into the community of Busua with a visit to the Chief (we will recount this interesting experience in a later post). The informal road to acceptance is, of course, much longer, full of authentic contact, walks along dusty Busua roads, everyday banter, and business dealings. But one thing is for sure – we are on a good path! :)


Vednoznova me preseneti dejstvo, kako prilagodljiva bitja smo ljudje, kako hitro vzamemo nov prostor in okolico za svojo. Hitro po tem, ko prostor napolnimo s svojimi stvarmi, uvedemo svoj red in rutino se v nas prikrade občutek domačnosti. Ko tujci na vaških ulicah postajajo znanci, in le-ti prijatelji, pa je znak, da se počasi zlivamo tudi s skupnostjo.

Kot prostovoljci pred nama, sva tudi midva nastanjena v prisrčnem manjšem kompleksu s knjižnjico.  Imava sobo, kopalnico ter kuhinjo.
Kompleks se nahaja v neposredni bližini šole, zato življenje tu nikakor ni dolgočasno:)!  Iz šole doni petje, med odmori je dvorišče polno živahnih pomenkov ter smeha, trava pred knjižnjico pa popoldne postane teren za urjenje bodočih nogometnih zvezdnikov! 
Za še bolj živahno vzdušje skrbijo ljubke družine koz in ovc, ki pohajkujejo okrog hiše, ter zadovoljno smukajo travo. Po dvorišču se sprehajajo tudi kokoši s procesijami piščančkov in majhni, nič manj ljubki kuščarji, moji dobri stari prijatelji z Madagaskarja:). Tako v Afriki samotarstvo pač ne pride v poštev! :)

Približno 100 metrov od najinega domovanja se vzdolž oceana vije peščena plaža, ki velja za eno najlepših v Gani, primerna je tudi za surfanje. Eden od prvih vtisov busujske plaže je bil Frank - "the juiceman". Nasmejan in nadvse vztrajen možakar srednjih let naju je pričakal že prvič od vstopu na plažo. In drugič, in tretjič:)! Hitro po Franku sva srečala še Daniela - "The pancake mana" ter Georgea - "the lobstermana". Vsi so nama prijazno opisali svojo ponudbo, s Frankom in Danielom pa tudi že "poslovno" sodelujemo:)!
S plažo začenjava svoje dneve. Še natešče oddrviva med busujske valove, kjer se kot otroka veselo mečeva po vodi:). To je čas nekontroliranih salv smeha, zabavanja ob utrjevanju  dunajskega valčka in gradnji gradov iz peska, pa tudi čas neskončnih pogovorov in kontemplativnega miru. 
Ko se vrneva, nič manj navdušeno planeva po  Frankovih ananasih, mangih, papajah, bananah. Zares, zdi se da prvič okušava tropsko sadje, ki v prav v ničemer ne spominja na tisto, kar dobimo doma. 

Po teh čarobnih jutrih se posvetiva pripravam na pouk. Velikokrat imava že na plaži "brainstorming" in pozneje samo dodelava učni načrt. Ker izvajava pošolske delavnice, se najin delavnik prične šele okrog 15.00. Okrog druge ure se začne lov za taksiji, ali priprave na dolgo, vročo predvsem pa "potno" pot do Butre:)! In potem srečanje z otroki - vedoželjnimi, igrivimi, preprostimi bitji, zaradi katerih je vredno prepešačiti še tako naporno pot!!  Ko se vrneva domov - predvsem ko prideva z dvournega sprehoda z Butre - največkrat kar padeva v posteljo, prižgeva močno ventilacijo in tako čakava da se občutek savne vsaj malo omili. 
Večere praviloma zaznamuje ne prav izbran repertoar DJ-ja sosednjega hotela, ki naj bi sicer privabljal turiste, a se zdi prej obratno:). 

V skupnost Busue sva bila formalno sprejeta ob obisku župana ter Chiefa (o tej zanimivi izkušnji bom spregovorila v eni prihodnjih objav). Neformalna pot je seveda neprimerno daljša, polna pristnih stikov, sprehodov po prašnih busujskih ulicah, drobnih pomenkov, "poslovnih stikov" itd. A eno je gotovo - sva na dobri poti! :)

PROJECT: Initial Experiences

Sonja and I have been teaching for 2 weeks now. We teach in two different villages: Butre and Azani.

The easiest way to reach Butre is to walk north along the beach for about a half-hour and then take a twenty minute walk through a palm-oil plantation. The palm-oil plantation was indistinguishable from a jungle for us the first time we went through it. The plantation is built on a hill. The ascent of this hill is brutal because of the humidity in the plantation/jungle, but we are slowly adapting to the climate. After ascending up a narrow path we come to the top of the hill and follow a small road down into Butre. Butre is a small fishing village nestled among low hills. It has a spectacular natural bay and lagoon.

Every school we have seen in Ghana is built in the same basic format. A collection of multiple, long one-story, concrete buildings painted yellow and brown with combination chair-desks that seat 3 school children. There are no windows and usually one light. However, there are openings in the brickwork which allow the breeze to come through, these openings take the place of windows. Everything is spartan.

There are no textbooks that we have ever seen, so the blackboard is the only tool the teachers have to teach with.

It's a five minute taxi ride from Busua to Azani. Azani is an inland farming community on the main road from Dixie Cove to Argone Quanta. Getting a taxi to take us back from Azani can be a challenge because most taxi's are going directly to Dixie Cove. Those going to Busua are usually full. Usually we only wait about 15 minutes, but sometimes it can be up to an hour.

The educational climates of the two schools are very different. In Azani, a strict sort of discipline is observed. Because of the help of the headmaster and the teachers Sonja and I had no trouble getting off to a quick start. In Butre discipline is lax and Sonja and I are more or less left to our own devices. The first day was difficult, children mobbed our classroom (only about 15 people are part of our class, but I would say about 70 showed up or at least passed through during the first day, it was difficult to keep track). Since then we have lost some of our novelty and, along with some intervention from the local project caretaker Emmanuel, we are now able to control the students.

Neither Sonja nor I have any direct experience teaching a foreign language class. We decided to start by teaching opposites (hot vs. cold, safe vs. dangerous etc.) and by reading the small books pictured in a previous post. However, as time goes on, we are trying to encourage the students to actively produce the language in addition to consuming it, at this point that means we ask them to make sentences out of vocabulary words from the books. L's and R's are difficult for our students to say, the word "isn't" also presents a challenge.

The students have adjusted to us and we have adjusted to them and I think the next two months are going to be very productive. We'll keep you posted.


Minila sta že dva tedna od začetka poučevanja v vaseh Butre in Azani. 

V Butre hodiva peš, prve pol ure severno vzdolž obale, nato sledi dvajset minutna hoja skozi plantažo oljnih palm (prvič se nama je bolj kot plantaži zdela podobna džungli:), ki leži na griču. Vzpon je izjemno težak, predvsem zaradi vlage v zraku, a se na klimo kar dobro privajava. Ko se ozka strmina konča, prideva na vrh griča in pot nadaljujeva navzdol do Butre, majhne ribiške vasice, obdane z griči. Je čudovit naravni zaliv ter laguna. 

Vse ganske šole imajo isto formo gradnje: zgrajene so v obliki nizkih dolgih, večprostornih stavb rumene in rjave barve, so brez oken, ponavadi tudi brez svetlobe. Nadomeščajo jih reže v zidovih, ki prepuščajo zrak. Imajo posebne šolske klopi - miza in sedišče sta med sabo povezana. Vse je v špartanskem stilu. 
Edini učni pripomoček, ki je na voljo učiteljem je tabla – v teh dveh tednih nisva videla učbenikov, ki bi jih otroci uporabljali.

Do Azanija, kmečke skupnosti, ki leži ob glavni cesti od Dixie Cova do Argone Quanta, je približno pet minut vožnje s taksijem. Posebni izziv nama predstavlja pot nazaj, ko na taksi  čakava okrog 15 minut, lahko pa se zavleče tudi do ene ure. Večina jih je namreč namenjena v Dixie Cove, tisti za Busuo pa so pogosto že polni.

 Šolska disciplina je v vaseh, kjer učiva, zelo različna. V Azaniju vlada strožji režim, ravnatelj in učitelji so veliko pripomogli k temu, da nisva imela nobenih začetnih teža. V Butre, na drugi strani, je stanje bolj razpuščeno, zato je bilo v začetku kar kaotično – npr. prvi dan je bil v najini učilnici pravi naval otrok (pojavilo se jih je okrog 70, najina skupina pa jih šteje zgolj 15). Zanimanje je postopoma (na najino srečo:)) upadlo, k večji disciplini pa je pripomogel tudi knjižnjičar Emanuel.

Nobeden od naju nima izkušenj z učenjem tujega jezika. Odločila sva se da bova začela z učenjem »nasprotij« (npr. mrzlo-vroče, nevarno-varno itd) ter branjem drobnih knjižic, kot je Sonja omenila že v prejšnji objavi. Delali bomo predvsem na aktivni uporabi jezika, v tem smislu smo začeli s tvorjenjem preprostih stavkov iz besed, ki jih otroci preberejo. L-ji ter r-ji jim delajo posebne preglavice, beseda »isn't« pa jim predstavlja pravi izziv. 

Z otroci smo si že kar domači, klima med urami je prijetna. Prepričana sva, da bosta naslednja dva meseca za vse zelo produktivna! 

PROJECT: Our Program

In previous years volunteers held reading hours, art workshops, dance classes, and taught environmentalism. This year Ebenezer, the program coordinator decided to focus on reading and writing in English, which is the official language of Ghana. As mentioned in a previous post,  the low level of literacy in Ahanta West is a serious handicap to development. Books are hard to come buy, and a child rarely gets his hands on a book. That's why our teaching program is focused on the reading of small books, whose subject matter is written to relate to African culture (for example Kofi has Malari, Bisi and Bingo the Dog, A Visit to the Zoo, etc.). We talk to the children about what they read, make sentences out of the words in the book, and use games to strengthen their vocabulary. In the second half of the program we will focus on writing.

We teach four days week a two towns which neighbor Busua: two days at Azani, two days at Butri. Both classes have about 15 students of mixed levels. Some read well, some read hardly at all. This is the biggest challenge.

Prejšnja leta so aktivnosti prostovoljcev zajemale predvsem bralne urice, likovne ter plesne delavnice, okoljevarstvo. Letos pa se je Ebenezer, koordinator programa, odločil za poudarek na branju in pisanju v angleščini, ki je tudi uradni jezik Gane. Kot sem že omenila v prejšnji objavi, je velika hiba celotnega področja Ahanta West, nizka stopnja kulture branja in pisanja. Knjige so težko dosegljiva dobrina, ki so je ti otroci le redko deležni. Zato bo najin program usmerjen predvsem v branje drobnih knjižic, z vsebinami iz afriške kulture (npr: Kofi has Malaria, Bisi and Bingo the Dog, A Visit to the Zoo itd.). O njihovi vsebini se bomo pogovarjali, se učili besedišča, iz njega tvorili stavke, ga utrjevali preko besednih iger. V drugem delu programa pa bomo prenesli poudarek na pisanje.

Učiva v sosednjih vaseh Azani in Butre, štirikrat na teden. V vsaki od teh vasic imava skupino približno 15 učencev zelo različnih nivojev znanja, kar nama v tem trenutku predstavlja tudi največji izziv.

PROJECT: Here We Are

Busua is an idyllic fishing village with around 3000 inhabitants. It lies in the western region of Ghana (specifically in the region of Ahtana West), it is about 300 kilometers from the capital city of Accra. It is area rich in natural beauty and resources, however the entire region of Ahtana West suffers from high illiteracy - 7 out of 10 children in the higher grades of primary school do not read or write well. This led Ebenezer Pardity, the founder of the nongovermental organization Embracing Hidden Talents Network, to begin a project: Community Development through the Activities of Volunteers. The specific aim of the project is to raise the educational level of the children in Busua and the surrounding villages in Ahtana West through after-school programs run by volunteers.

The wider aim of the project is to develop the children into individuals who can think critically, act independently and thus make a difference in raising the level of development in their communities.
The Hidden Talents Network has been leading this project for a few years in partnership with the Slovene organizations Humanitas and Voluntariat. These Slovenian organizations have helped to build a community library in Busua, which helps not only Busua but the surrounding regions. It also hosts the volunteers. Quite a few Slovenian volunteers have already been to Ghana as part of this project.

And now its our turn :) For the next three months we will put our efforts towards the realization of the vision of this project.

Busua je idilična ribiška vasica s približno 3000 prebivalci. Leži v zahodni ganski regiji (natančneje na območju Ahanta West), od glavnega mesta Accra pa je oddaljena približno 300 kilometrov. Kljub številnim naravnim danostim je izobrazbena raven celotnega Ahanta West zelo nizka - kar 7 od 10 otrok v višjih razredih osnovne šole ne zna dobro brati in pisati. To je vzpodbudilo Ebenezerja Parditey, ustanovitelja nevladne organizacije Embracing Hidden Talents Network, da je začel s projektom  Razvoj skupnosti s pomočjo aktivnosti prostovoljcev. Osnovni namen projekta je izboljšanje znanja ter stopnje izobrazbe otrok z manj možnostmi v Busui, okoliških mestih ter vaseh v regiji Ahanta West, preko pošolskih učih ur, ki jih vodijo prostovoljci. 
Globlji cilj projekta so aktivni posamezniki, z razvito sposobnostjo kritičnega mišljenja ter drugih osebnostnih ter družbenih veščin. Tako izobraženi in usposobljeni aktivni državljani lahko z lastnim delovanjem in delovanjem v okviru raznih organizacij prispevajo k bolj pravičnim in trajnostnim ekonomskim, socialnim, okoljskim in na človekovih pravicah temelječih državnim in mednarodnim politikam.

Gostujoča ganska nevladna organizacija, prek katere projekt poteka, že več let tesno sodeluje s slovenskima zavodoma Humanitas in Voluntariat. Slovenci se lahko pohvalimo, da smo v kraju Busua, pomagali postaviti knjižnico, ki je na voljo prebivalcem širšega območja in služi tudi za nastanitev prostovoljcev. In tudi sicer imamo že kar zgodovino prostovoljstva v Afriki, saj se je tam zvrstilo že kar nekaj naših sonarodnjakov.

In zdaj je vrsta na naju:), da v svojem trimesečnem poslanstvu pridava svoj delček k uresničitvi vizije tega  projekta.