Kumasi, Ghana
Posted by pertorkelson | Filed under Ghana
Work last week; on Monday (4th Dec) we attended a meeting at Okomfo Anokye Hospital (biggest hospital in Kumasi) where they wanted to know about our NGO and what kind of work we do with HIV-infected people. Last week I also interviewed several male and female orphans about food, accommodation, education, future work plans, problems and needs. I got very emotional when one of the boys, 17 years old, told me: “I have one problem; I don’t have anyone who takes care of me. When all the other orphans go to their extended families and relatives, then I don’t have anyone to go to. Instead I always go and work in a village on weekends”. His story made me sad, because he spoke straight from his heart. There was also a girl who made me sad last week, when I was interviewing her at Nuriya Islamic School and asked her: “Where do you live? How many people do you live with?”, then her answer was: “I live in Zongo, it’s only me where I live”. I saw that it was hard for her to tell me, because the tears started coming when she answered my question. Zongo is what they call the area where the poor Islamic people live. Both these orphans reminded me once again that you can buy almost everything, but you can never buy the most important things in life. Last week’s work also included me buying 8 dozens (96) of bowls, cups, plates and spoons which were intended for the orphans. When we visited the Head at Nuriya Islamic School and told him about it, then he was very appreciative that we try to help some of his most needy students. The past Friday (8 Dec) Mr Abu and I wrote individual numbers and “SYDD” on 73 cups, plates, bowls and spoons which we distributed the following day. We worked for about 3 hours on Saturday, distributing the items I had bought plus food (rice, sugar, oil etc.).
The past Saturday I followed with some friends (five volunteers) out to the village where they live, Esase, which is between 30-60 minutes drive with tro-tro from Kumasi depending on the traffic. They had a very nice house for themselves and the environment was very relaxed and quiet compared to my life in Kumasi. It was nice to get away for a night, even if it was short, because otherwise I’m more or less caught up in my work everyday. My friends’ house of their own includes nice rooms with toilets and showers, something which is very different from my accommodation. The following day, two days ago, we had breakfast at 06:30, which was way too early for me. I’m not used to get up that early, because most of the days my work ends late. On Sunday they showed me their workplace, the school and dorm, before we headed off to the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi, where we relaxed, swam in the swimming pool and had lunch. It’s nice to do things like this, but I need a longer vacation, because it is work from Monday-Saturday and on Sundays you think and discuss about what’s going to happen the coming week.
The night between Sunday-Monday, I experienced the hottest night in my bedroom so far; it was 28 degrees Celsius in the room. It was difficult to fall asleep, and around 03 am there was a rooster who had gone almost mad, constantly making noise, so when I went to the toilet I also looked for a stone and threw it at the rooster. Their noise is making me crazy, especially when it continues for 20 minutes.
I treated myself with four audio CDs and one VCD last week; T.O.K. “Shake Ur Bam Bam”, Lucky Dube “Respect”, P-Square “Da Remix (Bizzy Body II)”, C-Zar “Araba Lawson” and P-Square “Tempted 2 Watch: Da Videos II”. I play the P-Square “Da Remix (Bizzy Body II)” CD a lot, they are from Nigeria and sing in English. I saw one of their videos on TV; “Temptation” ft. Alaye. It’s a great song! I play it over and over. All the CDs and the VCD cost 15 000 Cedis each (around 12 SEK), except for the C-Zar album. There is one song on the C-Zar album which is really good; it’s called “Araba Lawson”.
I received my first postcard in Ghana last week, and it was from my grandparents. It was really nice to get regular mail.
Yesterday I went to Nuriya Islamic School and started interviewing orphans, but I started feeling extremely weak during interviewing, so I had to rest from noon until bedtime. I had real pains in my stomach. Today I’m feeling better, but I’m still not 100%.