What a (construction) site!!

First of all I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the fantastic support we’ve been receiving from the ‘homefront’! The response has been absolutely overwhelming and I am deeply touched by the enthusiasm and generosity of all of the donators, thank you so much!


About one week after I sent out the message about Ahunda Boso, we have been able to put together the amazing amount of 36 209 nok (around 4 500 Euro)! We are now only 6 500 nok away from being able to complete the project, something which I had only dreamed of, but never thought would really happen.


So, what has happened since my last post? Apart from the fact that I almost stepped on one of the world’s most poisonous snakes, the green mamba, only good things have taken place and we are making very quick progress!

Yesterday, Monday, the masons arrived with the 4 a.m. bus from Accra. While they were setting up camp, the carpenters had to send their tools to Ho to be sharpened, since we had been without electricity for 2 days (it was a regional power cut and while the tools were on the way, we got ‘lights on’ again). In the meantime, Van-Dyke (my counterpart) and I went to the crazy Monday market in Mafi Kumase to buy the cement and the metal rod needed to complete one of the buildings. They sell almost everything at the market; it is a fantastic mix of people, goods,

animals, sounds and smells, enough to capture your attention for an entire day! We filled the rest of the day with improving business relations with the workers (making sure that they understand that this is a community development project, not a commercial one) and preparing for today.
All in the African manner – focus on the people, not the time.

Today was a different story all together, African time had suddenly been transformed to European time on the double!! Van Dyke and I started the day at 6 a.m. on a tractor to collect 100 pans of stone. I felt like James Bond’s Martini – shaken, not stirred.. We arrived in a very stony village where the women showed their skills of carrying things on their heads, even 25 kg of stone!! (I wonder why we do not carry things on our heads in the western world. Really, it is very practical, leaving your hands free –the baby is strapped to the back- to farm or cook) Sylvesta, the financial secretary of the committee, made sure to count the pans of stone, with stone, of course..

When we arrived back in the village, it seemed that almost everyone was there; the masons were already starting their second wall of the Kindergarten building, the women supplying them with water to mix the cement with (carried on their heads of course) and the men digging a pit to gather sand for mixing with the cement. The electrician was hacking away at the walls to fit the PVC pipes into the plastering (this was their own very pro-active idea) and the carpenters were sawing, hammering and chiseling window frames for all the buildings. Of course the children were wild, they were moved to an alternative classroom, but with no walls in that building and a true spectacle to be watched, it was impossible for them to remain calm. They were even more intrigued when we tried to get their handprints into the wet plastering as a way to remember the project by. Unfortunately, the cement was too hard already so we changed plans and will let them dip their hands in paint before trying it again.

Of course all the flexing of muscles led to growling stomachs, so the women set up camp to cook for all the men and adding to the major buzz on the school ground. I myself spent the day sitting on wood to help the carpenter who ‘have no clamp, my leg is clamp’ (it looked very uncomfortable indeed), walking around taking pictures and admiring the speed and dedication of the workers, having a meeting with the painters and finally pulling on my rubber boots to have a look at Van-Dykes piece of farming land (more details on food in my next post!).

Again, thank you all so much for making this happen. The project is proof that change is possible when we all work together!

I will sign off now and get ready for another busy day tomorrow – at 6 a.m. the painters and I will travel to Ho to buy the painting equipment.
Besides, this laptop screen is attracting a wide range of creepy insects, time to log off!

Update from Laurette :)

Good news - the electricity is back, and so is Laurette! She just called me to give me a brief update - things are moving ahead quickly now. Here follows her SMS that she would like to share here on the blog while we wait for her own update:

Hi! It's a fantastic day, so much activity! I went on the tractor to buy stones and when we came back, the whole village was at the school. The masons have done two outdoor walls already and the women of the village are bringing water in buckets on their heads to mix with the cement. The carpenters are very busy and the electrician is hacking away at the wall to integrate the cables in the wall. And the painter just arrived to start the junior high school. This is so amazing, wish you could be here to experience it yourself! :-)

On behalf of Laurette
Jan Tore

Electricity problems in the Volta region

Since this blog is the only source of information for a lot of Laurette's contributors, supporters and friends - I know you are curious to see a new update. Unfortunately there is currently a power failure in the region where she stays, and both internet and mobile phones have been out of order for two days.
However, Laurette will update the blog as soon as she is able to - most likely on Thursday as she will be in the nearby city Ho that day, and since this is the place she has to go to in order to access internet.

In the meantime - THANKS SO MUCH to all of you who have contributed during the last few days to the school construction project!

On behalf of Laurette
Jan Tore

We believe..

If you are looking for a place where people believe: come to Ghana!

Never have I seen such a high density of churches or met such devout Christians.

Having arrived in Ghana on a Saturday evening, I was lucky enough to witness people going to church on Sunday morning. On a day to day basis, African women already dress in fantastic fabrics, often in layers and always very colourful (typical Laurette style!). But it doesn’t even compare to Sundays, when they put on the most stunning dresses in order to praise the Lord. That they have to walk 30 minutes on a dirt road (every truck that passes creates hideous dust clouds) in the burning sun does not seem to bother them.

So I was prepared this Sunday, when also the people of Ahunda headed for their houses of worship. Luckily, I brought a dress and even put on my high heels for the occasion.

Man, Harlem would have been jealous! The swinging singing talent that comes naturally to these people is amazing! The ‘mamas’ roll their hips and wave their handkerchiefs and it is just impossible to sit still. It is undeniable that these people know their beats! Their music – often loudly played at the market and for promotions - is almost exclusively Gospel and is super funky, rockin’, high beat, must-move-my-body music. Seriously, Snoop Dog would be jealous!

As I said earlier, the people of Ghana are true believers, not only on Sundays.

In fact, if God had had his own marketing company, I’m sure it would have been run by Ghanaians! Drive through any town or village, no matter how small, and you will find plenty of proof for this. How about:

“Gods Way Bus Stop” – I wonder where you end up..

“God haircut” – I love it! But how would that look on women?

“God and Sons” – they sell mobile phones, in case you were wondering

“God knows modern fashion” – I never doubted that! (see photo of blue/white shack)

“He lives, odd prices”- well, I’m sure even He can get confused sometimes

And of course there is glory all around as well:

“Great Glory Units” – the best hardware store in town!

“Glory Oil” – well, where would you refuel your car?!

“Glory Mart” – I will never buy at another supermarket again..

I spotted great reassurance on this battered old truck heading out of town. Above the windscreen, it says: “Relax, God is in control”. Good to know.

I wonder if they tell you that at the “Too Late Madam Patience Funeral”…

Another person Ghanaians think very highly of is none other than the one and only: Barack Obama!! With relatives from Ghana, he chose Ghana as the first African country to visit (he stayed at the Holiday Inn by the airport, in case you were wondering). This most certainly paid off and American flags and pictures can be found absolutely everywhere: in tro-tro’s (local minivans), on bags, cookies, schoolbooks and even woven into fabrics as

demonstrated in this picture of the lovely committee member ‘Sista Mary’.

One last sign to entertain you:

School Project

There are so many aid organizations in this world and so many people who rely heavily on the work they accomplish. And then there are those who see this as Big Business and fill their pockets with donations.

Can 1 person – with support back home – really make a true difference? With a risk of sounding overly democratic: Yes, she can!!

In order for a community to receive the support of a volunteer, it is first thoroughly screened and tested for their intentions and their capacity to put things to action. This is done by the central organization BRIDGE. Before the volunteer arrives, a committee is put together, representing the community and being the contact people for the volunteer. Last Saturday, I had my first committee meeting. It was of course a reason to celebrate and we brought out the frozen Fanta’s which I had bought and asked headmaster Tony to put in his fridge, not realizing that he only has a freezer (for all the ice-cream we consume in this village?!). Did you know that they still fizz after freezing? The committee has meetings twice a week, discussing topics in the community that need improvement, brainstorming and doing SWOTs as well as preparing the grounds for future projects and volunteers. For now, the choice of project was easy: the local school is in high need of renovation. Actually, the building was never finished. The money ran out and the buildings look like ruins, 1 of them does not even have a floor and none of them have doors or shutters. You might think: ‘nice breeze’, which I suppose is a valid point, but having no doors means that the sheep and goats roam around freely and poo all over the place. Also, since the kids have no toys (except for the coconuts they use as balls and the tattered bicycle wheels which they run after in the streets), they hang out at the school at all times, wearing out the furniture and messing up the blackboards. Kids will be kids!!

So, with the help of the committee and even the chief (whom I met the day before when I was formally introduced to him at his ‘palace’ where he offered me –bizarrely- a glass of sangria), I spent the whole day talking to carpenters, masons and painters in order to put together a budget. I am positively surprised at the engagement of the committee members, showing up on a Sunday, trying to find the best solution for the lowest price and providing me with detailed lists of prices and necessary material. Compared to other communities (so I hear from the other volunteers), I have struck gold! Everyone comes up with ideas and seems to follow my ‘western’ reasoning.

The conclusion is that this is a very realistic project and we actually have the possibility to make it happen while I am here to supervise the work! I am excited at the prospect of improving the lives of these kids, not to mention the teachers for whom the teaching circumstances are far from easy (try teaching ICT without computers! They draw a keyboard on the blackboard...)Just one more thing, this is a proactive community. Every year they get together with nearby villages and organize a huge festival up on the mountain not far from here (which was discovered by a big python followed by a horde of white birds..). They bring out all the drums, traditional clothes and as much glamour as possible to raise funds for the village. This is a big deal and attracts visitors all the way from Accra! Last year, they used the profits to extend electricity cables to the school. Hopefully this year they will manage to do the rest of the work and supply light switches and lights. So, who said that these people do nothing but sit around and wait for money?

Warm welcome to Ahunda!

Only a few days ago I was at work in Norway where the computers bleeped, the printers worked away, coffee was readily available and electricity was something no-one even thought about. Now I live in a different world!

Last Saturday I took the plane to Accra, Ghana, where I was picked up from the airport by Blaze (it’s his real name!) and his 2 buddies. They treated me much like my brothers did when they were 15, pretending to be my bodyguards. Contrary to those times, I was very grateful to get some guidance in this foreign place. On Sunday, the guys took me to the great bus station of Accra, where I could choose between a regular large bus (but then you have to get there 3 hours in advance to secure a seat) or a tro-tro, a minivan in which you get very cozy with your fellow passengers.

We opted for the tro-tro to Ho, where the BRIDGE office is. 3 hours and 5 cedi (about 3 USD) later, I unfolded by poor, beaten body into the even more modern bus station of Ho..
The next day, I was picked up by my counterpart VanDijk (that is also his true name) and we squeezed ourselves yet again in the ever reliable tro-tro. After 1,5 hours on a partly flooded (rainstorm) dirt road full of potholes (body massage has gotten a new meaning..) we arrived at our destination: Ahunda Bosso.
I was shown my room in the guesthouse, built by Habitat as part of a housing program. My room is simple – it has a bed, a table and 2 plastic chairs – but exceptional: I have electricity!! My bathroom, however, is not quite so glamorous (but functional nevertheless). It stands next to the guesthouse and consists of 3 holes: 2 that serve as a toilet (thank God I was introduced to the outdoor toilet ‘utedo’ in Norway) and 1 that is my shower. Here I use a bucket of rainwater to wash the dust and sweat off my body twice a day.
On Tuesday, my first day in Ahunda, I was received by the community with a fantastic welcoming ceremony. The dressed up villagers were playing their drums and singing while awaiting my arrival. I was instructed to wait at headmaster Tony’s house, getting more nervous by the minute, until they finally came to collect me. While I was shown where to sit, the men gathered in the middle of the open space, singing and playing their drums while the women danced around them in a circle. Finally they were finished and headed to their designated areas, the elderly respected community members had the seat of honour under the old shady tree. Many speeches later, the time for blessing had come. The Gods in the east and west were thanked for my arrival (no pressure!). I did not understand a word of this Ewe ceremony, but I did notice there was a bit of Gin drinking and pouring it onto the ground involved..
After I had thanked them for such a welcome and promising to say only good things about Ghana to my friends and also promising to do my best to help them develop their community, the older women came to decorate me with beads and a scarf, making me an official guest to their community – which subsequently required me to dance with them.
My dancing skills (?!) were much appreciated and when the drums finally fell silent, we all took to the dusty road to return to our homes..

African Adventure!

Dear all,

2 very busy years have flown by and I am ready for a new volunteer adventure.
Again I will head off to a yet unknown place to perform a yet unknown task.
Ignorance is bliss...

I'll make sure to post some of my experiences whenever I get the chance - or run into some electricity and internet (net?! We only know fishing net!).

Wish me luck and health,

:-)
Laurette