Title: Arrival Day!

Greetings from Anloga, Ghana! After making their way around the world, through airports, layovers, and many long flights, all 33 of our students for Session 2 at Anloga Home Base (July 18-August 7) have arrived safely! It has been a long day of traveling, but everyone is now taking some time to settle in to the Pin Drop Hotel for our earlier arrivals (our GLA Home Base and our home away from home for the next three weeks) or the Osda Guest House in Accra, where our later evening arrivals will stay for one night before joining the rest of the group at our Home Base tomorrow morning. Some students had an opportunity to meet and play a few games with some of the kids that live around our neighborhood, while others are resting up in preparation for a busy first full day.

The GLA staff team here in Anloga has been working hard preparing for the students’ arrival and trying to fine tune our schedule for the next few weeks, and we are all very excited to have everyone here with us now. We will be going through an Orientation tomorrow morning after breakfast that will include an introduction to Ghanaian culture, safety and security protocols, highlights of our service learning activities and adventure excursions, and a few other minor details (like staying hydrated in sunny Ghana!). After our orientation, we will be diving into an initial language lesson on Ewe, the local dialect spoken in this region of Ghana, and a drum and dance session to begin to get a sense of the rhythm and music that is such a profound component of the local culture.

We’ll be getting an early start tomorrow morning so we’ll wrap up this first blog post here. Future blog posts will be authored by our student leaders and will include pictures from our busy days as well so be sure to check back often for updates on all the amazing adventures we are having together in Ghana!!!

Author: Keith Wingeard (International Director)

Date Written: July 18, 2017

Title: First Day Festivities

Early this morning, the rest of the group that had stayed a night in Accra safely arrived to the home base at Pin Drop Hotel. After arriving, we ate our first breakfast together and began the long orientation that ended around noon. For lunch, we met with our host families, who are all members of the local community and shared a little about their backgrounds and daily lives. Following lunch, we were separated into our mentor groups where the real fun began. After setting our goals for the next three weeks, we attended a class on the basics of the local language “Ewe,” which was extremely difficult but we made some progress.

Many of us felt that the highlight of the day was dancing, singing, and playing instruments with the locals who gave us a glimpse of their vibrant Ghanaian culture.  While the majority of us could not keep up with the rhythm and dance moves of the locals, we bonded with each other and shared lots of laughs. We then enjoyed free time playing soccer and hand games with the neighborhood kids who greeted us with big smiles and hugs.

Following dinner, we celebrated Madisyn’s birthday (one of the writers of tonight’s blog) Ghana style (aka with a huge bucket of water and powder being poured on her from a balcony). The last big event of the night was the funny naming ceremony where we all received our Ghanaian names that are based on the day of the week that we were born on. We were fighting to stay awake towards the end of the ceremony which also brings this blog to a close. We are excited to finally get some sleep and start a new adventure tomorrow!

Sending lots of love,

Your GLA kids

Authors: Madisyn Morse & Maya Mutalik

Written: July 19, 2017

Title: Teamwork Thursday

Good morrow cousin, is the trip so young? It hath been but a mere four rotations of a clock, and yet it feels as if our arrival occurred this sunrise.

And now back to normal blogpost language: After breakfast this morning we traveled with our three groups to our respective schools where we observed classes to plan for our first day of teaching the next day. We then had a break to play duck duck goose, futbal, or just hang out and meet the children. We then learned the tricks of the trade of brickmaking. After one short lesson, everyone quickly got the hang of it.

After a hearty lunch to regain our energy, the three groups split once again. One group stayed at our hotel to have a cooking lesson and get cornrows before traveling to belly flop into the amazing ocean and beach. One group took a canoe trip to the island to learn basket weaving and visit a shrine. The last group visited Father’s House, an orphanage for former child slaves.

Eventually we gathered back at the hotel for a small block of time to play with the children and then had dinner. We ate chicken with french fries made from coconut oil and a side of pineapple slices, a great meal to end a great day. Finally, we played a leadership game and read a story to help us further understand cultural immersion and cultural differences.

From our new home to yours,

Your GLA students

Authors: Eli Pollak, Miles Parker, Paige Monk

Written: July 20, 2017

Title: Ready, Set, Teach!

First day in the classroom! We headed out to our different school sites right after our amazing breakfast. Some groups taught their students first while others made the bricks first. Nerves were high going into the first lessons but everyone enjoyed meeting new friends and gaining valuable teaching experience. Most classes began with an actual lesson but eventually turned into games like duck-duck goose, four corners, and learning the Macarena.

After leaving the schools we came back home for a delicious (“evivi” in Ewe) lunch of avocado salad, tuna stew, egg stew, and oranges. Everyone then got ready to head out to the Anseco High School where we got to meet the local high school students. We got to know them by playing icebreaker games, singing competitions, and just random conversations. Saying goodbye was difficult, but we exchanged social media accounts so we can keep in touch.

We finished off the day with spaghetti for dinner and some group activities. Eventually it turned into a giant dance party and all the locals gathered to watch. We sang happy birthday to Barrett and ate some “evivi” cake. Now we are all heading to bed, excited for what tomorrow will bring. Over these past few days we have worked on being mentally and physically present and have realized that we will only get out of our experience what we put into it.

From our GLA Family to yours,

Ets) miadogo

(“See you tomorrow”)

Authors: Hattie Fahnestock, Jacey Song, Hannah Poulsen

Written: July 21, 2017

Title: Ƒome (“family” in English)

This morning, we woke up resenting brick making for 3 hours. We were trying to figure out the best ways to be efficient with our mentor groups to get the best outcome. Even though everyone was sore and tired from yesterday’s work, the day turned out to be very successful; each group made an average of 100 bricks. The work was well rewarded with the big, smiling faces of the kids.

After some much-needed free time, we spent the afternoon with our host families. We split up into small groups to go to our host family’s houses. We learned their way of living as well as their hobbies; some groups even had the chance to learn Ghanaian games. We returned home for a hearty dinner of chicken, avocado salad, and mango. The night ended with an informational leadership activity. We learned the importance of open-mindedness and acceptance of others’ opinions (thanks to Ariel). Now we are off to bed for some well-deserved sleep!

From our GLA Family to yours,

Ets) miadogo

(“See you tomorrow”)

Authors: Madisyn Morse, Mindy Curry, Madison Cass

Written: July 22, 2017

Title: Sunday Fun-day

Waking up slightly later than normal, we headed down to a splendid breakfast of French toast with an assortment of spreads, and with some locally fresh watermelon. Then, we got into our Sunday best, and headed off to a local church in the Anloga area. The church was jubilant, with lots of singing and dancing. We heard a sermon on humility, which was fitting for us. Then we sang in front of the church, beautifully, if we do say so, the songs “Amazing Grace”, and “Lean on Me”.

We headed back to base for a hearty lunch of the best spicy pasta and pineapple in all of West Africa. After having some free time to play ball with some neighborhood kids, we split into two groups and headed off to two local markets. There, we all picked through fabrics that we would take to a seamstress to have made into whatever we preferred, such as stylish grocery bags, practical pants, or elegant dresses. The vibrant colors of the fabric spoke of the rich Ghanaian culture.

Back at the home base, we lesson planned for the exciting week to come at our schools. Following that, we got into Chow Circle, and shouted out our fellow peers for participating passionately throughout the day, and nominated new leaders. Rushing into the kitchen, we were treated with fried rice, chicken, papayas and oranges. After dinner, many heart to heart conversations were shared throughout the groups. After a fulfilled Sunday Funday, we happily headed off to our home away from home beds. Goodnight—don’t let the bugs bite!

From our GLA Family to yours,

Ets) miadogo

(“See you tomorrow”)

Authors: Kaylee Curry, Taylor Faiczak., Anni Liu

Written: July 23, 2017

Title: A-frican-mazing day 8

After waking up early and eating a hearty breakfast of eggs and toast, we headed to a morning of service at our respective schools. We spent the first part of our day making bricks, and improved upon our cooperation within our groups to set the pace for the week. After that, we broke off into our teaching partners and spent the rest of the morning in class with the kids. We then returned for a lunch of traditional Ghanaian stew, ‘red-red’.

In the afternoon, each of our groups headed to a different location. Julia’s group started their island tour with a boat ride and a visit to a shrine. They also learned how to weave baskets and mats. Solomon’s group visited Father’s House and played volleyball and soccer with the boys. Their interactions with the children there were eye-opening. Barrett’s group learned to make red-red and fried plantains from the kitchen staff. Some of them engaged in local style and had their hair braided by hairdressers.

Later in the evening, after a delicious dinner, we had a thoughtful mentor session to reflect on our day and the program so far. We then watched the first 45 minutes of the film Amistad for background on the Atlantic slave trade in preparation for our visit to the Keta Slave Fort tomorrow and Wednesday. With the movie we enjoyed some fantastic popcorn. After the movie, we headed off to bed after an eventful and exciting day.

Authors: Barrett Long, Julia Olson, and Solomon Doherty

Written: July 24, 2017

Title: Our Transformative Tuesday

After breakfast, we left the home base, headed to our schools, and prepared for an exciting day of work! We are all excited to say that most groups are now perfecting their brick making techniques and working together to come up with the most effective methods of building. Teaching is also now becoming second nature to all of us as we are getting to know the students in our classes and creating strong bonds with our teaching partners!

After a hard morning at work, we came back to a delicious lunch of yams, vegetable stew, and mangos (everyone’s favorite). Recharged and ready to go, we then headed out on our various afternoon adventures. Half the group had an emotional, inspirational, and informative experience at the Keta Slave Fort learning about the history of slavery in Ghana. The other half of the group had a relaxing and fun afternoon at the home base of GLA’s Building Healthy Villages program, Meet Me There. We learned about the sanitation and health issues facing the surrounding communities and the work that the non-profit organization, “Dream Big Ghana” is doing to help bring sustainable toilets to marginalized families and communities. We also got to enjoy a nice swim in the lagoon, play volleyball, go canoeing, and eat some delicious fries on the resort’s beautiful location!

The night ended with an extremely transformative leadership activity led by James and Fafa. We watched inspiring TED Talks on the dangers of generalizing an entire country or community, and learned about the importance of recognizing the problems that result from making assumptions based on our limited, individual perspectives. We all felt like we left the activity with new ideas on how we can use our voices to share Ghana’s complete story.

Authors: Maya Mutalik, Sarah Shaller, Jesse Fields

Written: July 25, 2017

Title: Whimsical Wednesday

Our group woke up bright and early today to enjoy a delicious breakfast followed by a great morning of service. Each mentor group worked extremely hard to build as many bricks as possible for their respective schools. After brick making, each pair of teaching partners began their new lessons for the day, full of excitement and energy. After a very successful morning, each mentor group headed back to home base for a tasty lunch of chicken and potatoes.

In the afternoon, we went back to our groups from the Keta Slave Fort and the Meet me There resort. This time, we switched locations to visit the one we hadn’t the day before. Yunah’s group went to the Meet Me There resort and enjoyed a relaxing time swimming in the lagoon, playing volleyball, and munching on the drinks and fries. We also learned about another GLA program that is working to build compostable toilets for the local communities. While this was going on, Elena and Mackenzie’s group went to visit the Keta slave fort. Although much more serious than the resort from the day before, it was incredibly interesting and we all enjoyed being in such an insightful place. The group was quiet and remorseful as we learned about the deep history of the slave fort and how they were treated there. However, after we left the fort, we continued on to a small resort that sat on the water. We sat around and enjoyed the view and the weather before returning back to home base for our evening mentor sessions and a lovely dinner.

After dinner we split into our groups one more time to listen to two guest speakers. Elena’s group had the opportunity to listen to Jeremiah from Father’s House talk about the child slavery and trafficking that goes on in Ghana. It was so sad to hear about such an awful thing, but we were all eager to know how we could help, and a long discussion followed after his speech. To end his time with us, he asked each of us what an issue in our community was, and how we could work to fix it. I think it opened up all of our perspectives to hear him talking about helping his local issues, and having so much success. The other group got to listen to Mr. Silas Aidem, a radio host, who educated us about the political and economic issues in Ghana. We learned about the different political parties, leaders, and the views of the Ghanaian people. We also discussed how we as leaders can help change the future by leaving a positive impact. We then headed for bed to get a restful night of sleep for the day ahead.

Authors: Mackenzie Conley, Yunah Jang, Elena Lloyd

Written: July 26, 2017

Title: Service, Seamstresses, and Speakers

Today we woke up and had breakfast at seven. We ate delicious chicken sausage, toast, pineapple and mangoes to give us energy for another eventful day of brick building and teaching. During brick making, the local directors were switched to observe the different brick building techniques. Today was a special day at school for the children. We played lots of games and sang songs to celebrate the last day before summer vacation. The kids were very rowdy and eager today due to the anticipation of break.

We had a big lunch of Chinese noodles which seems to be a favorite dish in the dining hall. After lunch, we had some free time in which we received our clothes from the seamstresses. We were even able to browse through the pre-made clothes they were selling that had bright fabrics that livened up the summer hut.

At two, the different mentor groups went to do various activities. James’s group had a cooking lesson and had their hair braided. Ariel’s group went to the island and learned how to basket weave. Ashley’s group went to Father’s House where they learned about child trafficking and slavery. Jeremiah, the head of Father’s House, went into detail about the history and current issues in the area regarding child slavery.

When all the groups returned, we were greeted with curry rice, chicken and apples for dinner. We then split into two groups to listen to the opposite speaker from the night before. Jeremiah was one of the speakers and he talked about the issues in Ghana regarding child slavery. He then went onto make us think about how we can address the problems in our own community at home that we see every day. Silas is a radio broadcaster and entrepreneur who spoke about the past and present politics in Ghana. He made us think about American politics and the impact of leaders in a society. We are all tired but excited for our departure to Ho tomorrow.

Authors: Payton Toomey, Isabella Johnson, Alissa Fairbanks

Written: July 27, 2017

Title: Heading to Ho

Today we woke up and had breakfast at six thirty. For breakfast we had toast, apples, and eggs. After eating, we loaded up the bus and headed towards Ho. We drove for three hours entertained by Keith and mentor James’ riddles. Then, we stopped at Kekeli Foundation to learn about how they help families with children who have disabilities. Their purpose is to help disabled children’s parents be aware of the accommodations available in the classroom. Also, once a student completes high school, this foundation helps the disabled individual to learn a trade for their future career. After telling us about their foundation, some of the parents told us stories about their children and their disabilities. After an hour, we said our goodbyes and thanked the Kekeli Foundation with a donation from Global Leadership Adventures.

Next, around noon, we headed to the Sky Plus Hotel for lunch. We had a variety of food including chicken, various types of rice, noodles, and French fries. After lunch, we got back on the bus and continued to drive to a place that specialized in batik-ing, which is the art of dipping stamps in hot wax and then stamping and dying fabric. After this, we headed back to the hotel and had free time until dinner. For dinner, we had the same options as lunch, but also pizza and ice cream. After dinner, we had our mentor sessions and they prepared us for the next day’s activities, which are going to a monkey sanctuary and a hike to the largest waterfall in West Africa. Today we didn’t do as many activities as usual; however, it was equally exhausting from traveling.

Authors: Corie Alvarez, Molly Cabatingan, Amanda Pignataro

Written: July 28, 2017

Title:  Monkeys Galore

Saturday, we rose up early with the sun to visit the monkey sanctuary in Ho. The early start allowed us to hang out with the monkeys while they were active and hungry. They swung from tree to tree and climbed on our shoulders to feast on the bananas we brought for them. After chilling there for a while we got back on the bus and headed to a pizzeria for lunch. It was a fun and filling treat. Soon after, we were on our way to the biggest waterfall in West Africa. We started the trek to the base of the waterfall which took around thirty minutes. Along the way, we saw centipedes and all different types of plants and trees. We got to try raw cacao (which turns into cocoa) and our guide showed us coffee and cassava trees. Our hike was more of a walk and consisted of us crossing 9 bridges and small streams of water. When we finally reached the waterfall we were all sweaty from the walk and excited to get in the water. It felt like it was raining from the waterfall crashing down and spraying everything. We took our pictures of the gigantic waterfall and then jumped in. As we got closer and closer it began to feel like we were being pelted with sand but enjoyed it anyway because it was so refreshing. When we were all ready to leave we dried off quickly and walked back. At the end of the trail, we approached a market that sold anything from bracelets to paintings and more. Happy to have a chance to buy things for our families and friends, we sprang into action ready to shop. After we finished we loaded back onto the bus and rode back to the hotel in Ho. Some of us took a quick dip in the pool while others opted to shower. Later we ate dinner and after mentor session, we spent the rest of the evening relaxing pool side by playing cards and talking with friends. Overall it was quite a unique experience and definitely a memorable day!

Authors: Jules Kloner, Bri Arluk , and Katie Lambert

Written: July 29, 2017

Title: Return from Ho

Thankfully today we got to sleep in because breakfast wasn’t until 8 am. After breakfast, we headed out for our last adventure in Ho: visiting Kente weavers. We met Paul, a veteran weaver, who explained the history of Kente weaving and walked us through every step of the process. At the end of the presentation, we each got the chance to try weaving ourselves. Once everyone was done practicing weaving, we were able to shop and purchase ties, bookmarks, bags, and other woven goods.

Almost all of the afternoon was taken up by the drive back to Home Base in Anloga. During the ride, we got to listen to Keith’s playlists, learn riddles, or catch up on sleep. Unfortunately, the van got a flat tire about halfway there. But no fear, Stephen, Wiz, and the driver quickly changed the tire and saved the day. Back at Home Base, we were given lots of free time to hangout, unpack, or lesson plan for the coming week of service. It was nice to have a relaxing weekend getaway, but everyone was ready to get back in the classroom!

Authors: Sarah Shaller, Miranda Feinberg, and Kelsey Brown

Written: July 30, 2017

Title: Easing Back into Things

We started the morning off with breakfast at 7am. At 8:00, the groups headed off for a day of brick making and teaching. Our trip to Ho made it difficult to return to our usual routine, but soon enough we got back into the groove of things. After some hard labor, we changed and prepared for teaching. Due to the start of summer school, there were half as many students as usual so teaching was much easier. At 12:00, we left the schools and returned to home base for lunch.

After lunch, we had some free time to lesson plan and play with the kids. Then we split into two groups for the day’s activities. One group received dance lessons from two of the local staff, Wiz and Jerry. The other group was taught how to carry buckets on their heads and babies on their backs; this was taught by Seyram and Ewoenam. Both groups then switched activities. After some laughs and attempts at dancing, we gathered into our mentor groups and created a family tree.

To conclude the night, we watched several videos and a documentary surrounding leadership. One video was a TED Talk discussing the importance of acknowledging the small acts that make you a leader. We also watched a documentary called Girl Rising which follows nine different females across the world and their stories and struggles to receive an education.

Authors: Paige Monk, Addie Brewer, and Madison Cass

Written: July 31, 2017

Title: Spectacular Soccer Tuesday

We started off with a productive morning filled with brick-making and teaching. Then we came back and had a delicious lunch. Some of us took part in a tournament for Kan Jam, which is a Frisbee game, which was started by Miles and James and they also became the champions of the first-ever Kan Jam tournament in Ghana. We then departed, in our matching GLA shirts, for a game of soccer against the local high school. After a tough battle, GLA lost 6-2 to the high school students. After we said our goodbyes and ate some ice cream we came back to home base. We had a scrumptious dinner and then Dodzi came to talk to us about the value of education and his story of how he worked to get the education that he deserved. We then headed to bed so we could get a full night’s sleep.

Authors: Yunah Jang, Miles Parker, Taylor Faiczak

Written: August 1, 2017

Title: Chiefs and Keith

Started the day off at 7 am with a great breakfast and then headed off to service. The usual hard work came from each group so everyone was more than ready for lunch in the afternoon. For lunch, we ate the local favorite; red red stew, rice, and plantains. During the break, there was an optional mosque visit to participate in a prayer ceremony. The students who attended really enjoyed the opportunity to experience another religion in the Volta Region.

At 3 o’clock we left to go visit with the Keta Chiefs. Having the chance to learn more about their roles and responsibilities within the community as leaders were very interesting. Everyone participated in asking questions and the Chief’s humor was really appreciated.

With our days coming to a close we squeezed in a few minutes to play with the kids before starting Chow Circle. For dinner, we ate the delicious spaghetti, Bolognese. Then we went into the leadership activity to discover our “true colors.” The personality test helped us find who else in the group reflected themselves similarly.

Keith finished off the night with a phenomenal Peace Corps presentation. Hearing his experience inspired many of us to consider and respect the PCVs who are or already have served. Overall fantastic day!

Authors: Hattie Fahnestock, Anni Liu, & Kaylee Curry

Written: August 2, 2017

Title: Our River Adventure!

We started the day off with a delicious breakfast. Each group headed out to their schools, excited to teach and make bricks! After a hard morning of work, groups headed back to home base to eat lunch. Once we finished lunch, we were off to the river tour.

We drove to the river and then all boarded two motorized wooden boats. The ride was about 30 minutes to the island. It was a very relaxing ride until Steven threw the volleyball in the water which made us turn around a few times until we could get it back. To get to the island, we passed through an area where the river met the ocean. The currents and waves were very strong. When we got to the island, we put our stuff down and got to explore the island. We got to play volleyball, swim, relax on the hammock, shop and slackline. It felt like a tropical vacation spot.

When we got back to home base, we ate a delicious dinner. We had mentor group where we came up with ideas for the talent extravaganza and practiced our acts. Afterwards Keith led an activity which had us answer three questions about ourselves and share them. Then, we had the opportunity to ask all the mentors questions about themselves. We then all went to bed because the next morning, some of us would go to watch the sunrise.

Authors: Isabella Johnson, Mindy Curry, Jesse Fields

Written: August 3, 2017

Title: See Y’all Soon!

Many students got up bright and early for an optional 5:00 am sunrise viewing at the beach. Those who went enjoyed their unforgettable view and those who decided not to go enjoyed sleeping in. Today marked our final, formal day of service! After our usual breakfast routine, we headed off to our sites to start our last bags for brick making and teach our final lessons. Many pushed themselves extra hard in a pursuit to finish off strong. Two out of the three groups even beat their team brick making records, making the day one to remember!

After lunch, we went to Anloga market and did a fun scavenger hunt to help us engage with the locals! There, we also got a glimpse of the costs of common Ghanaian foods and goods and practiced bargaining for the best prices. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing games and having long discussions with our host families for our last visit together.

The night ended with a special surprise of coke floats and a presentation from two Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana! They shared their experiences and helped us gain a better understanding of life as a Peace Corp volunteer.

As our time in Ghana comes to a close, we are super busy saying our goodbyes to the amazing children we taught, coming together for our community talent show and bonfire, and getting ready for our farewell banquet with staff and friends. There is no doubt that there will be lots of tears as we get ready to leave, but we are excited to share with you the unforgettable memories we have all made.

Lots of love and see you soon!

Your GLA kidz

Authors: Maya Mutalik, Corie Alvarez, Amanda Pignataro

Written: August 4, 2017

Greetings from Odumase-Krobo Children of Africa program!!
Just a quick note to let you know that all GLA students arrived safely from Canada, Brazil, Spain and the USA.
One of our students missed a connecting flight and arrived today at 4am – to be greeted by Henry, our Local Director.  Yea!!
We are a full compliment of 17 youth ready and excited to meet the challenges of our 2 week program!!

Students have chosen Leadership Roles to participate in over the next 2 weeks – so, this will be the only blog I write!
The following students will be our ‘bloggers’:  Gabby and Ava.

Other leadership duties are the following –
Time Keepers:  Paige and Kyra
Game Leaders:  Claire and Sabrina
Agenda Writers:  Caroline and Marcella
Site Leads:  Jed and Leah
Head Counters:  Alex and Jen
Clean Space Reminders:  Isabelle and Izzy
Health Reminders:  Christian and Setah
Thank You’s:  Amy

Stay tuned for an update from our student bloggers in the next few days.

Photo’s of our Village Tour on Monday

Learning how to make beads from world renowned master bead maker Cedi – at Cedi Beads.

 GLA students designing their own beads

July 5, 2017

Saturday July 8 – Monday July 10

This past weekend we covered a lot of Ghana’s territory. Starting Saturday, we thought what was going to be a relaxing sight-seeing excursion turned into a very sweaty long hike. That being said, the views were absolutely incredible. We climbed close to 300 stairs to what was called the Boti Falls. We also hiked up to Umbrella Rock which was worth it, as we got panoramic views of Ghana’s beautiful greenery. Afterwards we were all so tired, we came back to home base and napped. Then we went to Asitey park to do our service. After dinner we watched a Tedtalk which explained the concept of a “Single Story” and engaged in a rich discussion afterward. It was interesting to realize how we can form an opinion or perspective about things such as race, culture etc but be naïve towards the actual facts. As an example, in this Tedtalk the women spoke about how her American roommate thought that just since she was from Nigeria, she grew up in poverty.

On Sunday we put on our best clothes (whatever outfit wasn’t dirty) and walked to a local church. When we got there we danced and sang to live Ghanaian music which was followed by a sermon. Two hours later before we left, the whole church called our group to the front and they all said a prayer for us which was very special. After lunch, we attempted (strong emphasis on the attempted) Batik. We used hot wax to print Ghanaian symbols on white fabric. We each had the chance to make our own and then dye them. We had another wonderful afternoon at the park, followed by dinner and then we prepped for an early morning of teaching. For those volunteering at the nursery, parents in the community were eager to meet them therefore we started an hour earlier on Monday. And the students working at the elementary school had a two hour lesson to prep for. We had our hands full with building bricks and then teaching the rambunctious grade 4, 5, 6’s.

This afternoon we had the pleasure of souvenir shopping at our home base. A man by the name Rasheed who has a booth at a local market, brought his items to us. So you can all get excited for some gifts! We also just finished a group discussion with a women named Monica who is the owner of the nursery but who is also extremely ambitious and successful as an entrepreneur, mother and wife in the Krobo community. We had the chance to ask her questions about her life and how she has managed to be where she is today given the circumstances of Ghanaian society.

Now we are taking bucket showers, playing spoons and prepping for our lessons tomorrow morning. Goodnight!!!

-Gabby and Ava

Hike to Umbrella Rock

Hanging on for dear life!!
Don’t worry family and friends – the students are actually standing on the earth!!

The entire student group at Umbrella Rock

Boti Falls

Church

Heading home after church

GLA students teaching the awesome kids at Asitey Elementary School.

Hanging and playing games with the elementary kids after class!

Chillin’ at Asitey Park after many active games with the kids of the village.

Hello family and friends!

Sadly, this will be our last blog post but that means we are close to talking about our adventures in person rather than over the web. On Wednesday we taught at the nursery and elementary school. We had a cultured afternoon as we helped prepare with our lovely kitchen staff, a traditional meal for dinner called ‘Red Red’. Then we learned the skills behind hawking (carrying heavy objects on our heads). This proved to be just as hard as it looks. Big shout out to Sabrina and Seta for being champs and Jen for being the biggest sport about it despite her clumsiness. Afterwards as usual we went to the park for a couple of hours and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. In the evening we took a short drive over to another neighborhood where we were greeted by live music using traditional bamboo instruments. Many locals were there, singing and dancing along with us while we learnt new Ghanaian music and dance moves. We will have to show you when we’re back!

Today was a treat as we got to go to a special place called Sajuna beach. GLA had rented out the entire area just for us which was awesome. We spent the day swimming, kayaking, playing beach volleyball, eating and most importantly having a nice chance to relax after the hard work we have been putting in. It was a lot of fun, except for those who tried to get their tan on but are now a little (a lot) red. On our way back to going to the park we stopped at a market bead shop. There was lots of variety and all for a great bargain! The park today was a little bitter sweet as we know that tomorrow will be our last day with the kids. It truly will be heartbreaking to say goodbye to all the locals and the friends we’ve made this trip. As cheesy as this sounds, we’ve all made friends that will last a lifetime. This group has bonded more than we ever anticipated and the locals have been so so friendly. There will be many tears tomorrow, we are looking forward to our last day and a special goodbye dinner to follow.

Saturday morning is going to be an early one for those on the JFK flight, which has ended up being 1/2 of those here. They will be setting their alarms for 4:00 A.M L . Those flying through Europe will spend the day doing more souvenier shopping at some markets. Easy to say it will be a long and emotional day for all but we are all very excited to see our families and share with you our experiences face to face. Love you!!!

P.S Thanks to all who have read these posts and commented. It’s been great to read what you guys have said. Extra special shout out to our second parents on this trip; Wendy, Kaye and Henry. You have all been very good at your jobs and have made us feel at home since the minute we walked out of the airport. Another shout out to our fabulous kitchen crew for the delicious meals. Also to Nanama and Francis for being the best.

See you soon!
Gabby and Ava
Preparing the ingredients for ‘Red-Red’, a traditional Ghanian dish

Learning the fine art of ‘Hawking’. Beginning with a piece of wood balanced on the head, and working our way up to plastic containers used for carting water and then bundles of firewood.

7/14/17

Photo’s of GLA students at service at Edmon Nursery Odomase Krobo.

Saturday, June 24th, 2017

Title: Arrival Day!

Greetings from Anloga, Ghana! After making their way around the world, through airports, layovers, and many long flights, all 34 of our students for Session 1 (June 24-July 14) have arrived safely! It has been a long day of traveling, first by plane and then by van/minibus for the three hours from Accra to our Home Base in Anloga, but after taking some time to settle in to the Pin Drop Hotel (our GLA Home Base and our home away from home for the next three weeks) students were greeted by a stunning rainbow and given an opportunity to meet and play a few games with some of the kids that live around our neighborhood. After dinner, our GLA students participated in an initial name game ice-breaker and had some time to get to know each other for a bit before heading to their rooms for some much needed rest.

The GLA staff team here in Anloga has been working hard preparing for the students’ arrival and trying to fine tune our schedule for the next few weeks, and we are all very excited to have everyone here with us now. We will be going through an Orientation tomorrow morning after breakfast that will include an introduction to Ghanaian culture, safety and security protocols, highlights of our service learning activities and adventure excursions, and a few other minor details (like staying hydrated in sunny Ghana!). After our orientation, we will be diving into an initial language lesson on Ewe, the local dialect spoken in this region of Ghana, and a drum and dance session to begin to get a sense of the rhythm and music that is such a profound component of the local culture.

We’ll be getting an early start tomorrow morning so we’ll wrap up this first blog post here. Future blog posts will be authored by our student leaders and will include pictures from our busy days as well so be sure to check back often for updates on all the amazing adventures we are having together in the Ghana!!!

Author: Keith Wingeard (International Director)

Title: First Day Hooray

Today we slept in until 8am and had delicious Ghanaian pancakes for breakfast. We then started orientation with name games to get to know each other. In groups, students made skits regarding what not to do.

GLA students were introduced to their Ghanaian host families for an awesome lunch of salad, rice, papaya, and plantains. Following this cultural meal, we broke into 3 groups for rotations that included language learning (Ewe), dancing, and a tour of home base.

Time for another great meal! We ate lots of coconut rice, avocado, chicken, and apples. After dinner, the GLA staff prepared us for a Ghanaian naming ceremony. Students were given a Ghanaian name based on the day they were born. In the time we had in between dinner and the ceremony, GLA surprised Koko for her birthday. We had Fanmilk (ice cream) and birthday fruit cake to conclude our night. We are off to bed now after a very fun and exciting long day.

Author: Kelly Marx and Natalie Sendelbach

Date Written: June 25, 2017

June 26, 2017

Title: Brick-making and Meeting the Community

Before we all separated and went to our different service sites, we started off the day with a delicious breakfast consisting of toast, eggs, oranges, and oatmeal. Today was our first day at the schools. It was a national holiday, so we did not teach but we got a jump start on brick building. We all learned how to use the cement properly and create the right mold. Overall it was pretty tiring work but nothing we couldn’t handle with plenty of rest and hydration.  Team Believers (Brooke, Camryn, Amanda, Parlin, Remy, Nathan, Maggie, Jessie, Bella, Abby, and Tasha) came out with the most bricks made at 57, using three bags of cement, with Amanda the star after lifting a 100 pound bag of cement alone.

When we returned from brick making, we ate a tasty lunch with Chinese noodles, vegetables, cassava, mangoes and papaya salad. Then, we all went and hung out with the local children before starting our next activity. Some people played a game of futbol (soccer) while others had a dance party or played cards.

Later in the afternoon, the GLA participants went to the beach to start a scavenger hunt! We were joined by many local kids on our walk. Once we were on the beach we embarked on an adventure around the area. We had to take pictures of various things that we encountered. For example, a person riding a bike, goats, thatched roofs, yams, and fishing boat, etc. We had to use our Ewe (the common local tongue that is spoken by many natives in the area). Interacting with people outside of the GLA community was an exciting beginning of our relationship with the local people.

Author: Brooke Burgess, Lexie Hill, and Koko Wing

June 27, 2017

Title: Day 4 Back For More!

We started off the day with sausage, baked beans, watermelons, and toast. After breakfast, GLA volunteers dispersed into their three respective groups for brick building. Once we finished brick building, two of the groups went to see cultural festivities performed by the local schools’ students. The third group was able to observe the classes they were going to teach in their assigned school. The groups met at Home Base for the daily lunch which was tuna stew, egg stew, bean rice, avocado salad, and apples (DELICIOUS!!!).

After lunch each mentor group divided into different excursion trips to either an island/lagoon, a foster home for former child slaves, or stayed at Home Base to refine their Ghanaian cooking and braiding skills (+WIFI). On the island trips, volunteers experienced a 30 minute canoe ride to a village of 2000 native people. They were given tours of the island and learned how to weave mats and baskets. Afterwards, they played with the native children and shout out to Volunteer Ashtyn for introducing the kids to hopscotch! On the island, they met with local priests and were exposed to the Traditional Ghanaian religion (IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!). Another group visited “Father’s Home International,” a foster home meant to rescue children from slavery. Jeremiah, the head of the home, explained graphic stories about the origin of the 13 orphans they have currently recovered. Volunteers listened intently to the admirable and laudable actions of Jeremiah while being shocked by the ongoing issue of child slavery. Meanwhile, the final group remained at Home Base where they worked with local cooks to make a meat dipping sauce for yams. Soon after, a local hair braider visited to braid everyone’s hair. To finish of the day with a blast, we all had dinner (spaghetti, mangos, papayas, cucumber salad) and then moved onto various icebreaker games, then off to bed. Students are thriving and having a blast—check in later!

Authors: Nam Lam, Natalie Sendelbach, and Remy Benitah

Written: June 27, 2017

Title: Week One Conclusion

The end of our first week was filled with another day of sun and activity in Anloga, Ghana! It was the second day of teaching for two of the groups and the third day for one of them. The students are beginning to get more comfortable with the teachers (us!) and starting to learn our names and grow connections. The individual groups are developing a better system on how to make the bricks quickly and with higher quality.

We finished up the rotation today for the mentor excursion groups. Each group had an amazing and/or eye-opening experience that opened their mind to new possibilities.

The afternoon of activities concluded with another delicious meal curated by the wonderful kitchen staff. We all chowed on seasoned chicken, fresh mangoes, coleslaw and classic French fries. Our evening activity had us split into three separate groups, where each person had a different sense taken away. We then all tried to collect a bag that was surrounded by obstacles. Each team used a different strategy to complete the task. Some succeeded efficiently, and others struggled. The goal was to collect a bag that held our individual dreams which we had written down earlier along with symbols of the GLA Experience. We then headed off to bed, satisfied with the success of our first week in Ghana!

Authors: Kajsa Holland-Goon, Maggie Wolf, Cole Smith

Written: June 30, 2017

Title: First Saturday of Immersive Culture and Clean Laundry

We started off day 8 with breakfast at 8:00. Then, each mentor group went to their respective schools and did 3 hours of brick making service. Because of the extended amount of time, each group was able to break their own personal record of bricks made. After 3 long hours, we all assembled back at home base for lunch and ice cream! Each group had half an hour to debrief their experiences of their first week. We were then split up into groups of 3 or 4, and visited local host families to experience Ghanaian culture. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions and immerse themselves in typical Ghanaian life.

Once returning back to home base for dinner, we enjoyed playing Mafia with the entire GLA group, and then watched the U.S.A. vs. Ghana soccer game together. After a long and tiring 8 days, GLA students are ready to take a day off, catch up on sleep, and prepare ourselves for another week of fun and service. More updates on our adventures soon.

Authors: Camryn Simon, Matt Hwang, Alissa Wang

Written: July 1, 2017

Title: Relaxing Sunday

We started our relaxing Sunday with a late breakfast and the option for students to participate in a local church service. Many students attended. It was full of song and dance and preaching, and the local congregation closed it off with a prayer for our safe travels and service. Many of us took part in communion and paid our tithing. While we attended, students back at Home Base took the morning off, relaxing, sleeping in, and playing games. After the church service, we all returned for lunch and had some time to do some lesson planning and laundry.

Later in the afternoon, we visited the local chiefs for the Keta region and heard them speak about their duties. While we were there, there was a funeral going on, and we got to hear the gunshots, meant to scare away death, and learn about how Ghanaian funerals were carried out. Students had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the chiefs and we learned a lot about what it means to be a chief in the African culture. We headed back for dinner and then watched part of the movie Amistad in preparation for visiting the Keta slave fort later this week. After a long week, it was nice to take a day of relaxation and to enjoy home base with the local kids before starting service strong again tomorrow morning. We are ready and excited to start the new week!

Authors: Hollis Robinson, Jess Jacobs, Tasha Peterson

Written: July 2, 2017

Title: Dancing in the Rain

Our leisurely Monday began with a delicious meal of oats, bananas, and toast with Nutella. After breakfast, we diverged into our mentor groups to solely build bricks, as there was no school due to a national holiday. We kept our energy high by dancing to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry throughout the tiring work. Not even the rain could lower our spirits! In fact, we just found ourselves dancing more. Collectively, the three groups made over 300 bricks for the local schools today. We returned to home base for hearty lunch of sweet potato porridge, spicy pasta, and our beloved mangos.

Then, we set out for the Anloga market for a shopping scavenger hunt. Students had a chance to practice their Ewe language and bargaining skills in addition to picking up some souvenirs for friends and family. Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to the market without grabbing some ice cream. We earned our dinner by participating in a friendly soccer match against Ghanaian high school students, which took some of us back to our younger years playing the sport. Even though we lost 5 to 2, each player put his or her best foot forward. The game was followed by yet another dance party.

We devoured a dinner of curry rice, pineapple, chicken, and avocado salad. Just before bed, we welcomed two guest speakers onto home base. Jeremiah of “Father’s House” spoke about child slavery and his personal experience working in the orphanage. The other speaker was a nurse from a hospital in Keta, who spoke about Ghanaian health care and the problem of HIV and AIDS. We concluded the night with polishing up our lesson plans for the following day and spending some time with friends.

Authors: AJ Vitiello, Martine McLaughlin, Abby Kanter

Written: July 3, 2017

Title: The Forts of July

On our patriotic Tuesday, we started the day with a hearty and nutritious meal of toast, pancakes, and apples. After the balanced meal, we set out for our routine day of service. We began by spending the first part of the morning building bricks before teaching our eager students. Dangerous games of Duck-Duck Goose took place followed by educating them about American Independence Day.

After a busy morning, everyone headed back to the home base for a long-needed meal of tuna stew, egg stew, rice, and apples. Then everyone had time to wind down and relax by playing card games, finishing laundry, and taking well-deserved naps before our cultural excursions. The group was split into two: a Keta slave fort and the GLA home base for the Building Healthy Villages program. The slave fort was an emotional out-of-body experience filled with wet eyes and heavy hearts. We learned about the harsh conditions that the Ghanaian slaves had endured. Our tour guide, Bella, was full of knowledge and eye-opening stories. After the tour, one of our local staff, Wisdom, took us for treats and refreshing beverages on a dock overlooking the beautiful ocean. The other group was taken to Meet Me There to meet Christian, the manager for the NGO Dream Big Ghana. We were first given a tour of the lodge with the added learning center. After, we were taken to see one of the many compost toilets that him and the other GLA students have built in the local community. Then, the group was taken back to the lodge for a fun time in the lagoon swimming and using the canoe.

After a chill and educational afternoon, both groups were taken back for a festive night. All mentor groups participated in a watermelon eating relay race to determine the order for dinner. But before eating dinner, we celebrated the Fourth of July with refreshing and sweet Coke-floats. The Ghanaian birthday tradition was followed by pouring water on Nathan, the fellow birthday boy. After the festivities, everyone gathered for a delicious meal of pasta carbonara and oranges. The night was followed by getting to know one another through the personality tests taken to better understand our leadership styles.

Authors: Lexi Flesch, Grace Hwang, and Jessie Schwartz

Written: July 4, 2017

Title: Breaking Down Board-ers

            Still recovering from a fun Fourth of July, many people drowsily trudged to our hearty breakfast of French toast, pineapple, and watermelon. Now filled with energy, we were on our way to school. Once there, we hustled to work rejuvenated and with a can-do attitude. Our strong efforts were met with a successful morning of building bricks out of sand, water and concrete. We then entered our classrooms ready for an exciting hour of games, activities, and eye opening discussions. So brick by brick, lesson by lesson, we grew closer to those around us.

For lunch we had pasta and corn beef stew along with some papaya. We had a short break in order to recover from our strenuous morning, and went to the local boarding school. At the school we played several icebreaker games in order to familiarize ourselves with the students, and allowed them a window into our lives as well. Through various activities including geography games and ice cream socials, we were able to connect with a diverse group of our peers living in Ghana. Their eagerness to learn inspired us to appreciate our own education. Many of them had ambitions to expand their horizons by continuing their educations, some even dreaming to someday come join us in the United States. A lot of them also enjoyed playing many different types of sports, namely “futbol”, or as we call it, soccer. Surprisingly, many of them had Facebook, Snapchat, and other social media platforms, which gave us an opportunity to create and maintain lasting friendships.

For dinner, we indulged in a typical American meal, such as French fries and mangos. For the night, we closed our day by listening to different speakers about healthcare and human trafficking in Ghana. The group learning about healthcare from Bridget, a head nurse at the local hospital, was told about the upsides and downsides of the Ghanaian health system. The other group was then reminded of the challenges faced by Ghanaian children throughout Ghana by Jeremiah, the director of Father’s House International.  Finally, we danced in the pouring rain as we listened to music, and were reminded to “be the change” when we return to our communities back in United States.

Authors: Nathan Aloisi, Tyler Egan and Sophie Furman

Written: July 5, 2017

Title: Service, Slave Fort, and the Sea

Today we were awoken by a storm. It was a big boy. A select few actually showed up to breakfast, while the rest stayed cozy in their bunks. We were given the announcement from Chief Keith, who enlightened us with the wonderful news of leaving later due to the inclement weather. We all had some extra time to get ready for teaching and headed to the schools.
The rain drummed on the roofs of the classrooms (because they are made of tin—VERY LOUD) and we taught some interesting lessons, such as American slang (now, every time Bella walks into the classroom the children greet her with “bro, wassup”) and body parts (Liz experienced some interesting stick figures drawn by the kids, which had many extra limbs in unique places). We went outside after our lessons and were surprised by the news that we could not make bricks because of the rain.
By afternoon, the rain had ceased and the sky was a pale gray. Half of the group went to the Keta Slave Fort, while the other half went to Meet Me There. The slave fort was informative and saddening, as we learned about the history of the fort and events that had occurred there. It shared a big part of the culture here. Keta was partially destroyed by erosion in the 1970s, but the US Government donated money to the Keta relief fund and really lent a helping hand (thanks Bill Clinton!) Overall, it was a somber yet enlightening experience.
Post-fort, we headed over to a local bar where Stephen bought us all pop/soda, and we danced, played games, and just enjoyed each other’s presence. What a fun time!!!!!!

Authors: Liz Frissell, Bella O’Brien, Vera Targoff
Written: July 6, 2017

Friday, July 7

Title: Hi-Ho Hi-Ho, Off to Ho we go!

We started off our day with breakfast at 7:00 am. Then we all got into the vans and drove 3 hours to get to Ho. Along the way, we stopped at the New Seed International Orphanage and School. After being welcomed by traditional drumming and dance, we listened to a presentation on how New Seed International functions. We then jump roped with the kids and said our goodbyes. Following this, a little further down the road we arrived at Sky Plus Hotel. We were excited to be in a new place and enjoyed eating hotel lunch for a change.

After a fulfilling lunch, we headed to a village exchange to batik and learn about what they are doing in the community. We learned about micro-financing and what this NGO was doing to help young women around the area. We then headed back to the hotel for a delicious dinner followed by a mentor session. After this we had free time to roam around the hotel and get a good night sleep for our adventurous day tomorrow.

Authors: Kelly Marx, Camryn Simon, Lexie Hill
Written: July 7, 2017

Title: Monkeying Around Ho

To start off day 2 in Ho, students woke up early to go to Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. This sanctuary is home to several different families of monkeys. Students were given bananas which enabled them to interact with the monkeys on a more personal level. Some students even found themselves with monkeys perched on their shoulders!
The group headed back to Carlito’s Pizzeria for lunch, where they recharged for their upcoming hike to Wli Waterfall. After the delicious meal, the students embarked on the hike. About 45 minutes later, the group arrived at the bottom of a stunning waterfall. Wli waterfall is the second tallest waterfall in West Africa! Some students chose to hang back and take photos, while others ventured into the waterfall. After spending some time taking in the beautiful landscape, the students made their way back to the beginning of the trail. Here, students were given some time to explore many shops with carvings, art, jewelry, and other souvenirs.
After this fulfilling day, students headed back to Sky Drop Hotel where they were greeted with a fantastic buffet. Students gathered as a group after the meal to reflect upon their most memorable moments in Ghana.

Authors: Amanda Olsen-Dufour, Natalie Sendelbach, Grace Hwang
Written: July 8, 2017

Title: Goodbye Ho

After waking up from dreams of waterfalls and monkeys, our group gathered together for one last breakfast in Ho. Before leaving, however, we split into two groups in order to learn about Kente weaving. Some of us got to try our hands at the process, which involved using our feet in a pulley system. Then we were given the opportunity to purchase original items such as bookmarks, ties, vests, and purses. Following a filling lunch at the hotel, we packed our bags and hit the road.
The drive back to home base was bumpy and long, but some of us were lucky enough to catch up on some sleep. Before devouring a meal prepared by our kitchen staff, we enjoyed a few hours of free time by unpacking and playing with the local children. As the sun began to set, we walked to the beach in order to meet with our mentor groups. We reflected upon our exciting weekend in Ho and discussed our goals for the last week of service. Then, we attempted to create a human pyramid in the sand. It failed miserably, but the photos were very funny.
We concluded our day by talking about our passions and values with the entire group. Keith, James, Ariel, Ashley, Fafa, Wisdom, Jerry, and the other counselors shared stories from their pasts and what inspired them to join GLA Ghana. After quickly lesson planning for the next day, we hopped into our beds for sleep.

Authors: AJ Vitiello, Cole Smith, Tasha Peterson
Written: July 9, 2017

Title: Canoeing into Our Last Week

After getting a full nights’ sleep back in Anloga, groups were able to head back into brick-building service and teaching with focused and determined minds. Our relaxing time in Ho allowed all groups to head into our last week with a revitalizing kick!
Once all service was completed, we headed off to Keta to experience a beautiful river tour via large motorized canoes. The trip was filled with music, drums, dancing and laughter. Upon the completion of the tour, we stopped off at a local beach to enjoy the sun, ocean and many dogs (and puppies!).
At night, we all gathered for a leadership activity hosted by mentor Ariel. The activity included placing ourselves on a spectrum based on our own values for two separate traits. This concluded with us coming back together for a final discussion on our own experiences with decisions in our own culture. We also began our planning for the upcoming “Community Event Extravaganza” show!
As we move further into our last week, we continue to live in the moment and grow as leaders.

Authors: Matt Hwang, Maggie Wolf, & Liz Frissell
Written: July 10, 2017

Title: Baby Got Back

Today, we started off the day with a delicious breakfast including oatmeal and toast before starting service. We continued to build bricks for the schools and teach the children. We returned to Home Base after finishing up our lessons for lunch, which was followed with a series of cultural activities.
One of these activities involved learning to balance baskets on our heads as well as carrying babies on our backs. It was extremely difficult as it was very different from our culture and therefore hard to grasp. Another activity was a dancing lesson from our very own Wisdom and Jerry, the local staff. It was overwhelmingly fun, yet challenging in that it can be intimidating to dance in front of other people.
Following these cultural activities, we met with our mentor groups to make finishing touches on our talent show performances. It should be interesting to see what everyone brings to the table tomorrow night! After dinner, we had the opportunity to listen to our International Director—Keith—speak about his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer and ask him any questions that we had. It was incredibly helpful in allowing several of us to look further into a possible future endeavor. To close the night, we finished up lesson planning and had some free time to get to get to know each other even more.
We are very excited to continue our adventure and sad to see it start to come to a close.

Authors: Abby Kanter, Hollis Robinson, Ava Scatoni (AHA Take On This)
Written: July 11, 2017

6/17/2017

Here is our complete team for the first session.

June 18, 2017-

After what seemed like countless hours of traveling, we all eventually arrived here in Ghana. Some of us arrived earlier in the day, but most of us got here closer to midnight. One of us ended up flying in Saturday due to delayed flights.

On Saturday after breakfast we began our day with orientation and various games. A local seamstress came into our home and talked to us about Ghanaian fashion. She then took our measurements and we headed out to the market to buy fabrics, which she will eventually turn into pieces of clothing of our choice. Later in the afternoon we made our way down to the local park to play with all of the children. They quickly warmed up to us and we all spent several hours playing various games. Playing at Asitey Park soon became a unanimous favorite activity among the group. We ended the day with a bit more orientation and team building.

Today we began our day with delicious pancakes, sausage, fresh mango, local organic peanut butter and honey and oats. After that we walked to their local church, where we participated in many songs and dances. Everyone was very welcoming and at the end of the service they even prayed for all of us and our mission here in Ghana. The whole experience was beautiful and inspiring. After several bowls of peanut butter soup, chicken and rice (and vegetarian options) we learned how to batik, which is an art form where one can design fabrics. (You stain the fabric with hot wax and then dye the whole thing.) Shortly after, though interrupted by rain, we once again returned to Asitey Park to play with the kids. After dinner, Henry led us in some songs, dances, chants, and stories at a bonfire. We were then able to buy different snacks from a convenient store that came to us.

We are having lots of fun in Ghana and all of the group has become close. Be on the lookout for more blog posts about our upcoming adventures!

Rachel and Victoria

Student Bloggers

Getting to know you games

Going to the market in the ‘CoA Krobo’ Family Van!

Negotiating prices for fabric at the market

Finding the perfect fabric pattern and colour.

Just a few of the bolts of fabric to choose from!!

Church

Walking home from church

Our fabulous Kitchen staff!!

The art of Batik!

Playing with the children at Asitie Park.

The photo after GLA students danced in the rain!! (Soaked and Happy)

Finishing up Batik even in the rain.

On Sunday, we spent the day at Sajuna Beach Resort and made a stop at the bead market on the way home. The following day, we made bricks in the morning & enjoyed the afternoon shopping for souvenirs. Later, we visited our host families for the last time and played at the park. That night, we had a guest speaker speak on business women of Ghana. On Tuesday, we taught in the morning and took classes at the Krobo Girls School that afternoon. The night was spent listening to cultural stones & dancing. Wednesday our last day, was spent teaching at the school and packing our belongings. Additionally, Jackie, the  seamstress, brought us our clothing we ordered. Later we visited the park for the last time & enjoyed a slideshow that showed the past two weeks. The past 2 weeks have been unforgettable & none of us are quite ready to leave. Tomorrow, we depart for home but will say one last goodbye to our village friends at the nursery & school.

-Rachel & Victoria

Teaching and Learning at Asitey Elementary School

Playing with bubbles at Edmon Nursery

Good bye hugs to our GLA students from the students of Asitey Elementary school

 

Ghana Blog – July 30
These past few days have been a flash of adventure and fun. Saturday was one of our few days off from work, and we spent it playing football with some locals from the village. The field was made of stark white hard packed sand and the goals were sticks of bamboo with the remains of a net hanging between. We picked teams, mixing the yevu with the Meet Me There staff and the local boys who came. The competition was fierce and the final score of 3-0 didn’t reflect the level play. The game MVP award would have to be given to the legendary Mr. Wildlife, for his impressive goalkeeping skills in the first half and brilliant goal in the second half. After we finished our game we said goodbye to our new friends and returned to Meet Me There. We had a bit of free time and a brilliant lunch from Justine and the rest of the kitchen crew and eagerly anticipated the next portion of our trip, the Volta River boat ride. We drove to the end of the road and hopped out. A long wooden boat was tied to the dock. Everyone packed in, with three or four to a row, and we were on our way. We were lucky enough to have the Black Man Drumming Group provide us music for the entirety of our journey. We left our protected section of river and approached  the Volta estuary. We emerged from the mangroves and we were indulged in this grand scene. Behind us was the beautiful mangrove jungle, teeming with with it always seemed as if some creature was moving in the leaves. To our right was the massive Volta River snaking farther inland towards Lake Volta. Ahead of us the colorful deep sea fishing boats decorated the far bank of the river. To our left was the powerful Atlantic Ocean, its enormous waves crashed on the sand bars making a cacophony of noise and seeming sealing us into the Volta. The strength of the Atlantic was confirmed with the sight of a large metal boat wrecked on sand bar. We dropped off some of our passengers and turned around heading back to our final destination, Papa’s Beach Bar. We arrived and each purchased one of the world famous coke floats. Soon the group dispersed, some participating in several volleyball games, some joined in the dancing and drumming provided by Black Man Group, and some sat at the bar befriending local children and engaging in conversation with more friendly Ghanaians. We wrapped up our games and headed back to the boat. The sun was setting and the sky was dyed purple. Our return trip was fun and we were sad to see it end.

The time-lapse of our return journey from Papa’s Beach Bar:

We disembarked and loaded into taxis heading back to Meet Me There. After dinner Josie leading an amazing workshop on creative writing (with the ulterior motive of coaxing a second blog post out of us). Then we had a great late night talk with Alison and Amber and headed off to bed.

On Sunday we got back work plastering the outside of our toilets. We returned, exhausted and covered in mortar (some people had trouble aiming…) but we were quickly rejuvenated by Justine’s Ghanaian style pizza. The Kilele drumming group lead us in a great drum and dance workshop and by the end of the session we could perform a traditional dance and play the accompanying drum part. After the session a few of us talked with several members of the group, Weezy, Cephas, and King Mo. They shared their knowledge on a large variety of topics including but not limited to: Lil Wayne, American rap in general, reggae, Bob Marley’s legendary status, Jamaican slang, American culture’s strong tie to Ghana, Rastafarianism, dreadlocks, hygiene, their impending tour in the U.S., love and marriage, the difference between Ghana and American, and King Mo’s style of English. We had dinner and began the celebration of our birthdays for today. Amber was turning 27 and Ballo was turning 23. As per Meet Me There tradition they were to be covered in water, covered in flour, then thrown into the lagoon. Amber was hesitant but accepted her fate and was quickly soaked, covered in flour and took a reluctant late night swim. Ballo took more convincing, we cornered him in the kitchen and tackled him. Ballo (and everyone holding him) was soaked with dish water. We picked him up and slowly carried him to the deck. He splashed into the water and quickly swam to shore. His birthday hazing was over. We ended the night with a song and a special birthday ceremony lead by Weezy. We reached passed around a cup of sugar and water each saying a blessing to Amber and Ballo and taking a sip.

Amber and Ballo celebrating their birthdays:

We cut the cake and told fable style stories until we all went to bed.

It is Monday morning now and we are all finishing breakfast and our tea and coffee. We are all prepared for our last two days of work to put the finishing touches on our toilets, including the stylized number seventy-five on one of our toilets to honor the privilege we have to provide the seventy-fifth toilet to these communities. We are sad to be leaving so soon but are focusing on or time together now.

Akpe from Ghana and talk to you soon.
Ethan

First post:

Hello from Ghana! We are ten days into this adventure and there’s simply too much to tell you. Ghana is a country that is rich in culture, happiness and of course, fabulous style. Recently, the ten of us visited the local market to find fabrics that we’d like made into clothing so as of Wednesday we will all be dressed to the nines in traditional local clothing measured and tailored to our sizes.

Since arriving, we have noticed the misconception of Africans and their way of life. They are easily the kindest and happiest people I have come across and wherever we go, we are welcomed with so many smiles and introductions. By being well accepted into the country, we are able to embrace their culture to our hearts content which is an incredible opportunity for ten teenagers.

We have also been included in festivities at the home lodge, celebrating staff birthdays and bonding quickly with the adults around us. We arrived as very jet-lagged teenagers who didn’t really know anyone and we will be leaving as one big family.

Thank you to everyone who made this adventure so brilliant.

See you all soon!
Georgina

Hello all,

It is Friday. Today was orientation day. That means we were able to just hang out at home base the entire day and get to know the area of Ghana we were staying at better. Today was a very fun and relaxing day. We have just arrived to Ghana. After arriving at the airport in Accra, we drove to home base. It was a long drive- about three hours- but a very nice drive. We drove through the city and through villages. We have explored the culture of Ghana and that was when we first saw how different Ghana was from the U.S.

When we first arrived at home base, we instantly fell in love with the place. It has a non-alcoholic bar, volleyball courts, and a nice beach by the lagoon. We all got along very well from the moment we first met each other. We swam in the lagoon for a little while and talked to one another. Then we played games that would help us know each other better. As we got to know each other better, we got along better. Our first day in Ghana was a wonderful experience.

Tom

The setting of the lodge is beautiful. When I heard that we would be in front of a “small” lagoon I immediately looked it up on google maps. It looked quite alright. But then when we arrived the first thought that came to mind was: “WOW this place is Beautifull”.

Ballo is the mason responsible for making sure that everything runs smoothly and is being built in the right way. My team consist of 6 people: Ballo, Kailas, Derek, Bea, Amber and me. And then our site has an “audience”. This audience consists of all the children that are located close to our site because they have their summer break they don’t go to school and because us building their toilet is quite exiting they are very excited and always ready to help.

On Wednesday we went to the local market on a scavenger hunt to complete a list of items we had to buy with only 20 cedis to spend which resulted into a lot of bargaining. After we completed that list we had time to walk around the market and buy things of our own. There were a lot of stands with fabrics. So I ended up buying loads of fabric to make those into clothes. It was  really interesting to walk around an African market, you see loads of stuff and food that you have never seen before which makes you want to try it.

While I am writing this we are day 11. Today during work we finished painting our toilet and tiling the inside of it. Also making sure that it looks neat again around the toilet. And tomorrow is our last working day. Then Wednesday we are going to the opening ceremony of the 75th toilet built by Dream Big Ghana. Which will be very exciting. That same day we will also be going to the local tailor to get our new Ghanaian clothes which will be awesome.

Well that was it…. see you next time

Tristan

Day 4

Today we started the day off with a nice breakfast at 7:30 am. After we finished, we got ready to head to our sites.

Today was our second day of working on the toilets. It was a hard work day that consisted of carrying many, many, bricks and mortar to build the foundation.

After service, we all went for a refreshing swim in the lagoon, and indulged in a delicious Ghanaian lunch.

In the afternoon, we took a taxi to the local health clinic. At the clinic, we learned about the various issues that are treated there. After we went back to the lodge, a nurse named Rose came to talk to us about her job and the health problems that people face in Ghana. These issues ranged from malaria to diarrhea to family planning.

After Rose left, we ate a wonderful dinner prepared by Justine and all of the kitchen staff. We then all moved to the summer house for our ewe lesson from Professor Boots. We learned a few common words and phrases so that we could make some conversation with the locals. Some of the most important words we learned were “Akbe” (thank you), “E f’oa” (how are you),  and “rrotu” (shut up).

After the ewe lesson, we all took turns swallalala-ing papa’s coke floats. After joking around for a while, we all headed to bed exhausted from another long and exciting day in Ghana.

Kailas

The first day i came in to Ghana 🇬🇭 i was shocked 😮 to see how the people live here. It was all chaos in every way you  can imagine. People are driving 🚗 like crazy, everywhere you go there are mosquitoes, and trash everywhere. As my days with GLA  in Dzita went by I learned how to appreciate everything and I learned a lot as well for example, that men can have multiple wives. First I wasn’t really fond of this idea 💡. But when the nurse 👨‍⚕ came and talked about it and said that they actually don’t really care and that it was normal as it is part of their  culture. This made me aware that you have to respect the culture.
Another example was that the local people here in Dzita are really happy with almost nothing, whilst the spoiled western people wouldn’t be happy with what they have.
People here in Ghana 🇬🇭 are awesome 😎 and are happy by just giving them a small high five 🙌. I am definitely coming back for the surf 🏄 here because the waves 🌊 are incredible.

Maximo Coppens

August 1, 2017