This was my 4th trip to Ghana to visit Lawra District and see how our ATE projects are going. With each trip it has got less challenging in terms of adjusting to the heat, the change in diet and learning more about the local customs. It has also got more and more exciting. On several occasions I found myself thinking “does it get any better than this?” Here are some of my highlights:
- Seeing the sun go down over Africa from the plane
- Riding pillion on the back of a motorbike in the sun and visiting some of our small businesses, including groundnut farmers Francis and Betty, and holding their new twin daughter in my arms.
- Visiting Dowine Junior High School, the new school we are starting to feed in January 2016 and watching members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) build the school kitchen. Their commitment to this despite the oppressive heat and no access to water close by was humbling.
- On our final night being guests at ATE Ghana Project Manager, Habib’s family home to eat local dishes of TZ and Jojo which I had never tried before. Now adept at eating the delicious food with my hands which Georgina would have spent all day preparing, surrounded by happy children and smiling faces. This was an opportunity that as a tourist I would never have experienced. Sitting outside on a balmy evening. So simple. So peaceful. Sheer joy!
- Showing some visiting donors directly the work we are doing in Lawra (all of us at the end of the day covered in orange dust!) and hearing their extremely positive feedback made me proud about the work we are doing and redoubled my commitment to volunteering and fundraising for ATE
Loving the motorbike riding! Here is me with Elias, one of our local volunteers.
Holding Ziem and Naab, the beautiful twin daughters of our Kuoli small-business
A bit dusty after a trip to Dowine!
So here’s to my next visit in January when Epiphany Productions have offered to come and film our work – “to add pictures to our story” to help with our communications and marketing…more to come!
Pip Coid Gardner, Founder and Volunteer 23/11/15