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April 7, 2008/0 Comments/by Jessie

Tunke-Aye Bisina

Report from the Field

Oporoza: Beckoning for aid

By Tunke-Aye Bisina

Tunke is a journalist from the “creeks” riverine area of the Niger Delta, currently living and working in Warri. He recently made a trip to Oporoza to help research and plan for the Global Citizen Journey Nigeria 2005 trip.

The story of Oporoza, traditional headquarters of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, located in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, is an apt description of the general decay, deprivation and underdevelopment the oil rich Niger Delta has been subjected to in the Nigerian Federation. The Gbaramatu Kingdom, one of the Ijaw speaking parts of Delta State, according to Chairman of the Oporoza Federated Communities, Hon. Matthew Diofelo, besides little hamlets, is made up of 19 towns. “To the sea side we have Tebujor, you have Opodobubo, you have Opuede, Okpelama, Epopo, Sagara, Oporoza. Then if you come towards the Warri end we have Azama, Ibefan, Inikorohgha, Ugoba, Kunukunama, Okerenkoko, Krutie, Kokodiagbene, Ebama, Benikrukru,Abiteye, Kenyagbe.” By the 1991 national population census figures, the area had a population of 23,000 inhabitants, though the figures of the census were disputed across the federation.

Gbaramatu Kingdom lying on the bank of the Atlantic Ocean fortunately is an oil rich land with American and Anglo-Dutch oil giants Chevron-Texaco and Shell having their operations in the area. Diofelo explained that Shell has four flowstations, Jones Creek, the biggest in West Africa, Egwa, Odidi I and Odidi II, while Chevron-Texaco has flow stations at Abiteye (Ikiyangbene Flow station), Makarava (Utunana).

Diofelo lamented however that the operations of the oil companies have not impacted on the Oporoza community in any way. The community, which he said has a population of 5,000, has suffered neglect and deprivation both from the various levels of government and even the multinational oil companies. He noted that there is virtually no government presence in terms of social infrastructures in the community. The village, he explained, lacks hospital, portable drinking water, affordable means of transportation, electricity and other infrastructures.

“There is no single drinking water here. What we drink is this sachet water coming from Warri. The only grace that will make people to drink good water is during the raining season. You have to collect some during the raining season for the dry season… No toilet here, what you do is, you go to the waterside to the canoe, and if you are ashamed you go to the bush… If you are sick you only pray God to survive it. In severe cases, it takes about three hours to run you from here to Warri. There is no hospital here. You see a house there, it is a hospital project from OMPADEC (Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission) but it is abandoned. In the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom there is no single hospital. If somebody is sick, what you just do is to hire a speedboat to rush you down to Warri,” the community chairman lamented. In the area of electricity, the community he admitted was fortunate to have a generating plant provided by the local government administration noting however, “We cannot put it on every day, because we do not have the ability to sustain the running cost. It is operated and fuel by community effort.”

Oil operations in the area, which naturally should have brought development to the area, Diofelo said has rather impoverished the people. “As you come in today as a visitor, the next thing you go inside the village is to see that you see fish. People give you freely, you don’t buy. But hardly could somebody give you fish now because with the oil operations, with oil spillages here and there, there have not been sufficient catch for them to be so kind to their next neighbor. So it has affected us so greatly even in our eco-system, it is very bad. The whole thing gas flaring, if you see every roof in the community, the few that are built with zinc, they are all burnt with this gas and heat coming from the gas flaring. It has affected both wild lives, fishing operations, even the forest,” the community chairman lamented. He explained that a pipeline outburst from a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Chevron facility behind the village almost wiped out the entire population.

Diofelo said that the only government institution in the community is the Gbaraun Grammar School, which coincidentally is the only college in the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom. The school itself transformed from a community school. According to Mr. Pius Soroghaye, principal of the college, the school was established in 1980 as a community school but was later approved by the government in 1994.

This was the principal’s account about the school, “This school, Gbaraun Grammar School, is a school I was posted to in May 2002. And from the record I met on ground here, the school has passed through many stages. As a community school headed by different persons and emerged as a government approved school in the year 1994. It was established in the year 1980. Right now the student population is 300.

“The staff strength is grossly inadequate. Right now I have only four teaching staff. Non-teaching staff I have five. As a matter of fact, this has been one of the seething problems here and that is why I have cried to the community, cried to companies but there seems to be no response. These four teachers are qualified and sometimes they still spend some extra time teaching the students even after school hours. Some of the teachers that are augmenting the short fall in the teaching staff are the community staff. We have about four community teachers augmenting the other four. The least qualification among the staff is NCE (National Certificate in Education). The community teachers, because we just have to make do with what we have, some people are WASC (West African School Certificate) holders with good results teaching the junior secondary classes. We offer all the subjects in the senior school certificate exams. The major subjects.”

He blamed the problem of inadequate staff on the Delta State Post Primary Education Board. The Board he explained was “supposed to post teachers to this school but as I said earlier on, the powers that be seem to have neglected us and so all effort to get teachers posted here has not yielded any result. That is why we are still having this poor staffing here.”

Diofelo provided further insights into the problem. “Most teachers don’t like to come to the riverine to be employed and work for their money, they like to stay in the urban areas. So there is this issue of lack of teaching staff. And majority of the parents prefer taking their children and wards to urban cities, Warri which is very close to us.”

The community he said has not been sleeping over the issue. “As a matter of fact, we’ve not been relenting all this while; we’ve been working with the principal to coordinate the issue of bringing staff to the school. The principal has been so committed and he has not relented all these while. We are making every effort to see that the government sends more teachers to the place,” he noted, adding that the community pays the salaries of teachers it has engaged to augment the government teachers. Besides, the principal of the school said, “We are still crying to the Post Primary Education Board, the Ministry of Education to remember us in this part of the country. That we need teachers because there is no other way you can acquire the knowledge expected of the learner if there are no teachers to teach them adequately.”

Nevertheless, the principal views the absence of library in the school as “one of the greatest problems because we are cut off from the cities were we have state libraries. In a place like Warri, you have the state library were students go in to do some extra studies, or research work but because we are cut off far from the urban centers, no assistance. In short, you can’t get bookshops to buy books. So the need for the library here is a very serious one. In fact if we have a library around here, it will enhance teaching and learning in this place. It will not be of use to only the students but even staff will have reference areas to prepare their lesson notes. So the need for a library here is very important to us here where government and companies operating around the area have neglected us. Because if you look, nothing is coming to aid education here in this part of the country.”

He emphasized, “I think it (the library) is going to be one of the greatest achievements in this community and even not just the school and the community but the entire clan will enjoy the benefit that is coming. If really we have a library here, it is going to serve a very good purpose. Students will spend their leisure appropriately. It is a plan in the right direction. We will appreciate it and we pray God that it becomes a reality.”

His vice, Mr. Godwin Miebi also noted, “Lack of library in Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza has immensely caused a lot of damage to the school: interest to read books by the students is defeated; students are not acquainted with the spirit of reading at the appropriate time; students are not well organized in the mode of reading; students lack ability to go ahead with research work; needed books to read at the appropriate time are not there.”

Mr. Sawacha Tamaranpiriye Felix, Physical and Health Education teacher in the school speaking against the background of sports noted, “If library is built here in the school, it will serve a reference purpose for the school in terms of sports, they will know more about sports. What they will read and see will be refreshing in terms of sporting activities and that will help them broaden their knowledge and scope of learning in the various aspects of education.”

Chairman of the community also highlighted the benefits of the library to the school in this way: “It will help a long way to ensure that the students get to know that the culture of studies should be imparted into them. Once an environment is conducive, there are books available, they will always know that it is a good thing for them to gather together to study. It will help go a long way to see that the children are educated.”

To Elekute Macaulay, a library in the school will “increase the standard of learning; give students the ability to work hard; make learning easy; encourage many students who have stopped schooling to come back to the school; and enhance students performance in external examinations.”

A student in the senior secondary II, Guwor Justina, says that the absence of a library in the school was detrimental to the academic interests of students, nothing, “Students therefore are not making good use of their time; thereby making learning to become difficult. The presence of a library will make student to use text books which our parents cannot buy for us.”

Another student Zibimoghan Marvel says, “Since a library is very important to students and teachers, I will be very happy if a library is built for Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza.”

The principal of the school stressed that besides, the school was faced with other problems like ill-equipped laboratory. “We have what we call a laboratory but not a standard laboratory. It is just a multi-purpose open hall we just use it as a laboratory. It is below standard but just because we have to prepare our students for the senior school certificate exams we just have to make do with what we have, but as I have said earlier it is below standard.”

Soroghaye lamented further, “If you look around there are no infrastructures in the school. No toilet facilities, no administrative blocks, you can see my office. What you see now here, the roof is leaking through the length and breadth during the raining season. You can see the color of the ceiling. You can see how hot it is. You can see how I am sweating. Not well ventilated. All the corridors are dilapidating; the walls are giving way and no help from anywhere so it is a very pathetic situation. It looks like we are not part of the system in the country we are living in.”

The community chairman on his part attributed the problem of infrastructure in the school to government’s general neglect of the riverine communities. “You have the post primary education board: if you go to the urban cities you see them building primary and secondary schools here and there. But in the riverine, they don’t come to do anything. There is no project of note in our secondary school. The only class room you see existing was built about eight years past by Shell. After then there has not been any development, even the one you see there that is down. It is over about twelve year now and I think there has not been any effort from the government and even the oil companies to assist to build up and make the environment very nice, decent place for studies. It is even the effort of the community to put one and two together to see that there is a little place for the students to study.”

Surprisingly, the principal said the students still make good results in their external examinations through the extra efforts being put in by the teachers. “We’ve been making some good results in the past. We have made nothing less than 60 per cent in our WAEC (West African Examinations Council) and NECO (National Examinations Council) Exams. Students have been passing well. A lot of them have gone into higher institutions on yearly basis despite the shortage of staff. That is to say that we are putting in extra effort to keep up with the shortfalls but we will do better if more teachers are posted to us. Then we will expend less energy to produce what we are producing now.”

Residents of the sleepy town despite the deprivations, like every other community in the Niger Delta, still take life easy, undisturbed. Diofelo says “Basically what we do here for a living is just fishing and a little bit of subsistence farming to gather food, maybe a little of vegetable for family living and that’s all. We are not too much into big farming. Basically our occupation is fishing; that has been the means of livelihood to sustain an average family.” Mr. Nelson Ogelegbanwei also spoke in the same vein. “We are Ijaw people. When we wake up in the morning most of us engage in our daily fishing because most of us are fishermen. We go for our fishing according to the tide. Some go for their fishing by the high tide, some by the low tide. It could be in the night, in the afternoon and so on. When we come from the fishing we have to relax till the next tide that you set for the fishing again” Mrs. Rosemary Omula on her part says, “Women here are into fishing. In the morning you wake up and go for fishing and later we rest.”

Movement from one community to the other and even for their fishing endeavors is usually by local canoe and paddle, except a few on trading ventures who use engines to propel the boats. Men in the community, after returning from their fishing expenditure, find time to gather in groups to crack jokes and take some alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, while the women work almost round the clock. They are either seen weaving fishing gears or cooking or engaged in one domestic chore or the other. Ogelegbanwei summed up the leisure life of male residents this way, “The young ones play football, people of our category we sit down and refresh ourselves.”

Their foods consist mostly of cassava products eaten with either cooked palm fruit or oil soup.

The Oporoza Community is less than 50 kilometers from the Chevron-Texaco Oil tank farm located at Escravos on the bank of the Atlantic Ocean. The community is usually accessed through Warri by means of water transportation, which takes about one hour thirty minutes to three hours depending on the boat being used. The fares ranges from N1,500 to N2,500. Because of its closeness to the ocean, the river water is always salty throughout 365 days, hence they have to depend on rain water for most of their domestic chores as the community chairman pointed out earlier.

Houses in the community are a mixture of traditional raffia with thatched roofs and modern block and cement with aluminum zinc roofs. The traditional houses do not have toilets and bathrooms. Owners of such houses build small structures to take their bath and go to the stream and inside the bush to defecate. Cooking in those houses is usually with firewood. The modern buildings, which are going to accommodate the Global Citizen Journey Team, built by persons who have resided in cities like Warri, on the other hand, are a direct opposite of the former. They have toilets, bathrooms, kitchens, all in-built with modern wooden beds and foams as obtains in the cities.

April 1, 2008/by Jessie

Press

Thank you for your interest in Global Citizen Journey (GCJ). We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to creating connections and dissolving boundaries between communities all around the world. Our roots began in Africa and then India, but our aspirations are to facilitate the creation of a network of people that spans the globe.

GCJ’s journeys join hearts in conversation and hands in work by connecting U.S. delegates with citizens of a host country where they work toward a common goal and common understanding. In 2005, we took 20 delegates from the Puget Sound area to the Niger Delta in order to build the first library in the region in partnership with the Niger Delta Professionals for Development (NIDPRODEV). In 2006, we took a second group of delegates to Ghana to build an orphanage and community center in partnership with Western Heritage Home. Then for several years we worked in Liberia with 30 local peacebuilders. In 2017, we brought 12 westerners to join with 16 Indians in Pune, India at Maher, a community for destitute women and children.

Our current journey is in Kashmir, India, in September 2018 with our host partner ELFA International. As we prepare for this journey, we will develop an online packet of information designed to be informative to the press.

For more information about Global Citizen Journey and for a complete list of links to recent news articles about GCJ and about JRMB/YRWD founder, Prosper Ndabishuriye, please see the news section of our website.

If you have any questions or wish to learn more about our organization, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

March 8, 2008/by Jessie

Site Map

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February 10, 2008/by Jessie

Resources and Bookstore

Burundi Resources

AGRA Resources

Downloads

Articles for Global Citizens

Noelle Sullivan: When Volunteering Abroad Does More Harm Than Good
Ben Okri: Healing the Africa Within Us
Tijn Touber: The World According to Ubuntu
Lee Brown: Cherokee Prophecies
Told to Joanna Macy by Tibetan Buddhist Choegyal Rinpoche: Shambhala Warrior

Websites for Global Citizens

The Compassionate Listening Project: www.compassionatelistening.org
Human Rights Watch: www.hrw.org
Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org
Anti-Slavery Society: www.antislavery.org
Fair Trade Foundation: www.fairtrade.org.uk
Minority Rights Group: www.minorityrights.org
Tourism Concern: www.tourismconcern.org.uk
Worldwide Fund for Nature: www.panda.org

Films

Iron Ladies of Liberia: http://www.whydemocracy.net/film/8
Pray the Devil Back to Hell (trailer):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxEvsj80fsE
Poverty, Inc. (trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPmawWgpX0s

December 28, 2007/by Jessie

Traveling Positively

Tourism can be helpful for local economies, but it can also have devastating effects on the places we visit. How can we make sure that the impact we have while traveling is a positive one?

Shop locally

Of course, shopping locally and using the services of local people are good ways to contribute. Buy souvenirs from the craftspeople who made them rather than via middlemen who will siphon off profits, and shop at small street vendors rather than big supermarkets. Don’t bargain to a price below what is reasonable; the difference may be the price of a drink to you but the price of a whole family meal to the vendor. Stay in locally run accommodation rather than foreign hotel chains. Use the services of a local guide or a child who wants to help, and pay a fair rate. Bring with you only those supplies that you know you won’t be able to find on the spot and buy the rest in local stores and markets (pens, notebooks, toothpaste, etc).

Begging

We may encounter beggars. How you handle the problem is a very personal matter, but just remember that the ‘visible’ misery of those thrusting their hands out to you as you pass is not necessarily any worse than the ‘invisible’ misery of those suffering silently at home; so a donation to a relevant charity (for the homeless, orphaned, disabled or abandoned) is likely to mean that your money is used more effectively. But sometimes it’s hard to walk on by.

If you decide to give cash on the spot, then do look the person in the eyes, smile and say an appropriate ‘good morning’; being given a coin is probably far less of a novelty to him or her than being treated like a human being. (And prepare for the onslaught as others nearby spot that you’re a soft touch and suddenly materialise.)

Just occasionally you can turn begging into an encounter that’s pleasurable for you both. Many children do it from habit and would much rather be playing; so, if you turn it into a game, they’ll remember the fun of it far longer than the handing over of a coin. Also try learning ‘What is your name?’ in a few appropriate languages. The effect is astonishing on someone, whether child or adult, who’s used to being ignored or pushed aside. Even if you only learn their name, tell them yours and then say goodbye, you’ve lifted them several rungs up the scale of humanity – and again, that’s what they’ll remember. Or if you’re refusing to give, then use their name politely as you say ‘no’. In fact this is a great way to connect with children at any time; by using their name you give them dignity, and they respond.

Do bear in mind the damage you can do by giving little gifts (coins, sweets, pens, toys, cookies or whatever) to a child or youngster who comes up and begs, however cutely. If the begging bears fruit, he/she will start to pester all visitors some of whom may react aggressively. Or begging may appear more profitable than going to school.

At the end of your trip

Here’s a final chance to be useful. Don’t take home that T-shirt you probably won’t wear again, that half-full bottle of baby lotion, that soap, that pen, that pad of paper, that length of string, that torch, those spare batteries… collect them up and give them to a local charity. This should include all your meds too, but keep enough for the end of the trip. Organizations looking after the homeless or running children’s homes can turn pretty much anything to a good use. And then you’ll have more space in your bags for all those bulky souvenirs that you couldn’t resist.

Tourism and change

Developing countries need the foreign currency that tourism provides, but the benefit isn’t purely financial. Tourism also affects inter-ethnic or international relations and cultural interaction. Ecotourism is still a relatively new concept in many areas but will develop as education spreads. Nor is our visit a one-off, complete in itself; the behavior of any tourist can affect the welcome given to those who follow after, which in turn can affect their reaction to the country and thus the extent to which the country benefits from their visit. We’re all interlinked.

Tourism as an industry can cause positive change by offering the hosts new markets, new sources of employment, new tools for development and a new knowledge of the world. However, that’s not to say that travelers should aim to cause change themselves. The old adage about taking nothing but photos and leaving nothing but footprints still makes sense. We travel to experience different countries and different people and, ideally, to see them as they are, rather than as we (outsiders) feel that they should be. It’s easy to criticise the unfamiliar. We’ve probably all asked exasperatedly ‘Why on earth don’t they – ?’ at some time or another, but in the end that’s much less useful than an interested ‘Why do they – ?’. There’s often a good reason.

And finally…

Whichever way we travel in developing countries, we are always going to be seen as ‘the rich’. We may or may not decide to remain involved at the end of our visit. We may or may not be able to teach, donate, sponsor, volunteer or otherwise share the life of the country and its people. However, it’s good relationships and good interaction between individuals that are the key to just about everything in the end, and here we do have one very positive component to offer. We can offer ourselves, our own genuine interest and friendship. At least in that, if in nothing else, we can ‘give something back’!

December 28, 2007/by Jessie

Beyond Axim: follow up projects in Ghana

Konongo Odumase Secondary School Library Collection

After our Journey to Axim, Ghana Project Co-Director Barbara Gilday visited the Konongo Odomase Secondary School where she taught many years ago while in the Canadian University Services Overseas. She was disturbed to see that the only books to go in the library were very few books and generally out of date, so she made a commitment to raise $20,000 to purchase new books for the library.

Konongo Odumase Secondary School (KOSS) is a government boarding school serving 1600 students in the Ashanti region. It was built in 1953 as a part of the new democracy of Ghana under its first president, Kwame Nkrumah. It was his vision that boarding schools would mix students from different tribal backgrounds giving them a sense of being Ghanaians first and from their tribes second. This has been a successful strategy and Ghana as for the most part been free of tribal warfare. Barbara Gilday taught there and served as librarian while a Canadian volunteer from 1966-1968. Recently the Ghanaian government began implementing a policy of improving the infrastructure of senior secondary schools, and KOSS has been designated as one of the schools to be upgraded to take pressure off some of the larger and better known schools. Many alumni from KOSS have become leaders in business, communities and government in Ghana. There are many who envision a new generation of leaders emerging from KOSS, supported by an adequate library with an updated collection.

Barbara’s team has completely fulfilled her commitment to raise funds to purchase books for the library. With other former volunteers and a former student, this dynamic group completed their goal of fundraising in order to buy $20,000 of new books. Alumni in Ghana raised $2000 of this. The Chief Librarian of the university nearby, a KOSS alum who purchased and catalogued the books, plans to make this a model secondary school library that other schools can emulate.

Students and staff were elated at the opening. One comment made to the Headmaster: “Do we get to read these books?”

Ghanaian alumni are completing a teacher’s housing duplex and will then work on increasing the library collection. One of the staff has been part of a student training for assistants in another school library, and he will institute this at KOSS. The headmaster has requested that a National Service library graduate be placed in Konongo to run the library until the collection is large enough to warrant hiring a full-time professional librarian – their ultimate goal.

At Konongo, Barbara also trained 1000 students and 35 teachers in Appreciative Inquiry, a process that inspired them to consider their own talents and resources and formulate a dream in order to make positive plans for their lives and work.

Appreciative Inquiry in Ghana

Jim Taylor and Barbara Gilday taught Appreciative Inquiry techniques – a strengths based methodology to find an individual or community’s resourcefulness and empower them to create their own visions of their possible futures. It is used extensively in corporations and coaching as well as development work. They taught over 1100 students, teachers, business owners and board and community members (including students and staff at Konongo and the WHH Board in Axim). They have been asked to return next year to work with small communities, other schools and Chambers of Commerce.

Life Story Project

A major focus in Barbara Gilday’s work this year was collecting human interest stories. Hagar Hajara Yakubu seen here has an inspirational story of her vision and the challenges growing up and getting an education. She is now the Director of the Community Development Vocational Institute in Axim. As a successful career woman, she has helped many others to manifest their dreams. The focus in the interviews was to help the interviewees see that their lives are important and to highlight their strengths and values. These stories are informing North American presentations and will likely become the basis for a book. When we come to know our neighbors, and become aware of their wisdom, are inspired by them, and are thoughtful about some of the lessons we can learn from them, we will become better global citizens ourselves.

Back in North America, Barbara is traveling and doing educational and engaging presentations and workshops in schools, churches and communities to inform and transform our ways of thinking about the world. See www.BarbaraGilday.com for more information.

December 22, 2007/by Susan Partnow

Leadership

GCJ Leadership

All GCJ directors and staff volunteer their time. Our heartfelt thanks to all.

Susan Partnow, Founder & Executive Director

Susan has lived and worked abroad in Israel, France, Vietnam, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Switzerland, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Japan, Germany and Mexico and has traveled to Turkey, Azerbaijan, most of the EU, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Scandinavia. She speaks Spanish, French and some German.

She founded Partnow Communications in 1986 to provide organizational development and training services in the public and nonprofit sectors. She worked as a Sr. Organizational Development Consultant at Swedish-Providence Health Services for over eight years. Susan teaches communication skills and works with clients to release and transform the energy locked in conflict to creative change, wise outcomes and enhanced relationships.

She specializes in facilitating dialogue and large group processes, using such cutting-edge techniques as Open Space, World Cafe, Appreciative Inquiry and Sustained Dialogue. A former teacher and speech pathologist, Susan received her M.A. in Communication Disorders from Northwestern University where she was a Rearwin Fellow, and B.A. with honors from the University of California at Berkeley.

Susan has served as Board President of Kadima Community School and the Earthstewards Network, board member of Global Peoples Assembly, Earth Charter Community Summit-Seattle, The Compassionate Listening Project, Transpartisan Alliance, National Coalition on Dialogue and Deliberation, and African American Jewish Coalition for Justice. She is the co-founder of Conversation Café, Compassionate Seattle, Compassion Games and Let’s Talk America. She is Sr. Certified Trainer for The Compassionate Listening Project and apprenticed under Dominick Barter in the practice of Restorative Circles.

Email Susan at susanpartnow@gmail.com

Project Directors

Joel Dimiyen Bisina, Nigeria Host Country Director. | Bio | email
Mary Ella Keblusek, Nigeria Project Director. | Bio | email
James Kainyiah (Nana Kaka Bulla II), Ghana Host Country Director, founder WHH. | Bio
Barbara Gilday, Ghana Co-director. | Bio
Richard & Maryanne Ward, Ghana Co-directors. | Bio | email
Emmanuel G.V. Dolo, Liberia Host Country Director | Bio | email
Prosper Ndabishuriye, Burundi Host Country Director | Bio | email
Sister Lucy Kurien, India Host Founder of Maher
Gaus Sayyad and Mangesh Pol, India Host Country Co-directors
Irene Michon, Kashmir Project Co-director
Mehran Khan, Kashmir Host Project Director,

Board of Directors

Susan Partnow, President
Mary Ella Keblusek, Vice President
Jeannine Florence, Secretary
Jim Peckenpaugh, Treasurer
Irene Michon, Director
Leah Green, Director

Team Leadership

Keerthi Sudevan, Social Media and Communications | email
Jim Peckenpaugh, Accounting Support | email

December 18, 2007/by Jessie

Finances

Global Citizen Journey seeks to be completely open and transparent about every aspect of our organization. We are an entirely volunteer-run organization with no paid staff members, no rent and very little overhead organizational costs which means that we can put 99 percent of the donations we receive toward our projects.

For a better idea of where GCJ spends its money, check out the links below.

December 18, 2007/by Jessie

Ghana Blog

Monday, May 26, 2008

Global Citizen Journey Completes Ghana Legacy Project!!

Global Citizen Journey is proud to announce the completion of the Western Heritage Home Children’s Home and Community Learning Center in Axim, Ghana.

In Fall of 2006, 30 North American and Ghanaian delegates spent three weeks in Axim, Ghana, sponsored by Global Citizen Journey. There we engaged in group facilitation processes, sponsored a Town Hall, engaged in various educational, health, sanitation, women’s workshops, and conflict resolution mini-projects. We also embarked on an ambitious longer-term project to support Western Heritage Home, our hosts in Axim, in building a Children’s Home/Community Learning Center in Axim.

It took us about two years, but the facility is virtually complete. All of us GCJ delegates, North Americans and Ghanaians alike, look back with pride and a little awe on this life-changing experience. We have made new life-long friends. Our understandings of our own and each other’s cultures have deepened. We have proved Ghanaians and Americans can work as a team. None of us will ever look at the world in quite the same way again.

As Global Citizen Journey travels to other countries on other Journeys, we North American GCJ Ghana Project alums are staying in Ghana to focus exclusively on our work there. To support our work, we have formed a non-profit called “Ghana Together.”

We of Ghana Together are grateful to Global Citizen Journey for its vision, teachings, and for initiating our connection with our partners in Axim. We are building our future on the conceptual underpinnings we received from GCJ about interpersonal understanding across cultures, how to be “global citizens,” and how to use group facilitation processes to develop close relationships with our Ghanaian friends and draw out the power of the Axim community. All of us who have at some time participated as delegates in a GCJ Journey, regardless of the country of destination, feel a sense of family and shared heritage. We encourage others to follow our footsteps. We invite you to read about our Ghana Journey and this blog, an accumulation of thoughts and events during and after our journey to Axim.

posted by Maryanne at 1:16 PM

WHH Community Learning Center Nearly Ready for Operations

Thanks to a generous grant to Global Citizen Journey Ghana Project from the Boeing Corporation’s West African headquarters, the Western Heritage Home Board of Directors has been able to fund the completion of the second floor of the WHH Children’s Home/Community Learning Center. This marks the completion of GCJ’s legacy project in Axim.

Local workers are laying tile, painting, installing electrical fittings, fans, etc. When finished the Board plans to start computer learning classes for teens and older adults, and launch a remedial exam center for local students studying for their secondary school graduation exams.

Students who finish secondary school must pass comprehensive exams covering their entire educational experience to be able to qualify for technical school. Typically, students spend about three months preparing for these exams, in study groups with a trained tutor. There is no such program in the Axim area currently, and most students either end their education without taking the exams, or go to live with family in larger cities that do have such exam study centers. The WHH Board plans to sponsor a program in Axim in their facility—a major addition to the educational opportunities in this area.

The building will also provide room for volunteers, community meetings, and modest conferences, leadership training, and women’s entrepeneurial activities.

We are grateful to Produce Buying Corporation for a cash donation, and also to Volta Aluminum Corporation for a deep freeze, fridge, sewing machines, two gas stoves, a blender, and other items. Both are Ghana-based companies.

And, Global Citizen Journey Ghana Project delegates and Western Heritage Home Board and staff join to thank Boeing West Africa and the more than 250 individuals and families who helped fund this project. We have been told this is the first substantial building erected in Axim since the British left exactly 50 years ago! The much-needed facility will provide a home for many activities aimed at improving the educational, social, health, and economic life in Axim.

posted by Maryanne at 12:26 PM

WHH Children’s Home Operational

Rich and Maryanne visited Axim in April 2008, and found to their immense satisfaction that the WHH Children’s Home is up and running with twenty children in residence. All but one of the children attend Manye Academy daily. Charlotte will continue at Morning Star Academy until the end of the term in September, and then she’ll transfer to Manye.

Generous friends had given some cash to take with us, and we were able to provide some finishing touches to the children’s residence: screen doors for malaria prevention; some adult-sized chairs; bookcase, kitchen storage shelves and work table; extra mops, brooms, etc. so the children can help with Saturday family cleanup activities; hoes for farming; wall clock; and shelves for books and learning materials.

We had an emotional moment when walking home from the Catholic Youth Service with the children, and upon seeing the roof of the building in the distance, one yelled, “See Mum, there’s our Home!!”

Other generous friends donated a dozen used laptops, and 35 chess sets. The press came for the dedication ceremony. Meanwhile, we taught the older kids and some staff how to play chess.

Eli, a young friend, who recently graduated from a three-year program in computer technology and networking, is setting up Ubuntu on the computers.Soon they will be placed in service in the Computer Learning Lab on the second floor.

posted by Maryanne at 11:39 AM

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Hand-washing Promoted in Schools in Axim

[Posting article from “The Daily Guide”, a newspaper published in Accra, Ghana]

Unfortunately, we have no photo of the dedication or of children using the veronica bucket method)

IN ORDER to break the chain of infection and inculcate the habit of hand-washing among pupils, an American professional nurse, Madam Jeanie Birchall has donated hand-washing materials to some basic schools in the Nzema East District of the Western Region.The gifts, which were made up of 40 wash basins, 40 stands, 40 ‘Veronica’ buckets, napkins and packets of soap, were delivered to seven basic schools and an orphanage in Axim last week Tuesday. The beneficiary institutions were the Catholic, Methodist and Anglican basic schools, Manye Academy, Saint Augustinus Preparatory school, Roman Catholic Creche, Axim Girls’ Secondary School and Western Heritage Home.

In 2006, Madam Birchall, who is a member of Global Citizens Journey, a Non-Governmental Organization, went to some schools in the Nzema East District to teach hygiene, and followed it up with the donation.

Mr. John Abugri, Nzema East District Environmental Health Officer, who presented the items on behalf of Madam Birchall, entreated teachers to intensify the teaching of environmental hygiene and personal cleanliness in basic schools.Having demonstrated the proper washing of hands to the pupils, Mr. Abugri pointed out that parents should promote environmental sanitation in order to reduce diseases and medical bills.

Receiving the items, Nana Akye Blay, Public Relations Officer of the Nzema East District Education Directorate, expressed the gratitude of his outfit for Madam Birchall’s gesture.He intimated that teachers in the beneficiary schools would ensure that the items are put to good use in order to fulfill the objectives of the donor.

From Sam Mark Essien, Axim

posted by Maryanne at 10:00 PM

Sunday, January 06, 2008

REPORT ON THE CHILDREN SINCE THEY MOVED INTO RESIDENCE

(Note: not the greatest photo, technically, but shows most of the children and James Kainyiah, Chair and Founder of the Western Heritage Home Board.This report covers the period between 05/12/2007 to 02/01/2008. It was compiled by WHH staff.

05/10/07 The children came into residence. They brought their things in the morning and went to school. They came back after school at 3pm. They were served their 1st meal of Jollof rice and boiled eggs at 4pm. 10/12/07 Peter A. had a severe stomach ache. He was given aerodros and the pain went down.

11/12/07 Dorothy A. also complained of pains in the stomach. She was given the same treatment and the problem was solved.

12/12/07 Adiza developed boils on the head, Wahab complained of stomach pain, they were both taken to the hospital.

15/12/07 Olivia also complained of stomach pain, Eric M. also had the same problem.

17/12/07 Mother started deworming all of the children with Litamox. They were all dewormed in batches. It was found out that the children were suffering form worms. Now they are all better.

15/12/07 Mr. Chamsu the Country Director for the Boewing Company visited the home to acquaint himself with current developments. He visited with Nana Kaku Bulu alias James Kainyaih of Jamkay Enterprise who is also the Board Chairperson for the Heritage Home. Mr. Chamsu gave the children 2boxes of kalypo drink (24 in a box) and some biscuits. One box was reserved by the children but other box was reserved for X-mass.

24/12/07 Philomina M. became seriously sick. She was so weak that she couldn’t walk. She was carried on the back by one of the cooks to her caregiver since it was near X-mass for lack of money and also it is reported that the sickness is recurring, she was treated with the usual medicine the caregiver often uses for her. Mother will consult her for details of the medication.

25/12/07 She returned to the home quite well. She is till here.

24/12/07 A man gave his name as Moses donated to the home 1 crate minerals and half bag of rice.

24/12/07 Nana gave meat to the children enough for 1 meal.

24/12/07 A live goat was donated to home by Inspector Adarkwa of the Ghana Police Service-Axim

30/12/07 Madam Beatrice Woode Essiene who has returned from UK donated the following items to the home.

1. 1 panful of cassava
2. 1 big bunch of plantain
3. 1 small panful of beans (about 10 margarine cups)
4. 1 gallon Gino oil
5. 4 tins mackerel
6. 40 margarine cups of gari
7. 1 maxi bag of rice

31/12/07 Fredrick J. knelt on a broken bottle that has contained his pomade. A deep cut was made on his left knee, he is being treated. The wound is almost healed.

Isaac Anvo K. is coughing. He is being treated with local herbs and the situation is under control.
A few caregivers have also donated a few items.

Mrs. Theresa Essien a widow also brought a head load of cassava on 28/12/07. this served as a meal for the children. It was pounded into fufu.

Mmo Nyona a caregiver also brought 2 smoked fish on 26/12/07.
Since the beginning of the year 2008, from the 1st to the 2nd nothing has happened to any child. They are all happy.

The mother took them to church on Sunday 23/12/07. on the 30th 10 of them also went to church. Only 10 went because they were leaving home earlier for the 7:30am service. Breakfast was not ready yet because they left earlier, so, only older children who said they could skip breakfast and take it later went to church.

The children celebrated the X-mass season with special soup made from the donated goat. It was slaughtered and half was cooked for them.

Half was preserved and this has been cooked for them. They enjoyed groundnut soup and fufu for 2 lunches from it. They are happy.

Compiled by Madam Anna E., Mother

posted by Maryanne at 12:14 PM

Friday, December 21, 2007

Christmas Greetings from Ghana

James and Justine Kainyiah called today and asked us to convey on behalf of the Western Heritage Home Board, staff, and especially all the children whose lives have been touched by us, a heartfelt Christmas blessing. They especially thank Global Citizen Journey and its Ghana Project delegates for their continuing support and friendship. And they wish they could personally thank the many North Americans who have helped build the orphanage/community center facility and all the other projects we’ve worked together on during 2007. The orphanage enjoyed Opening Day on Dec 5, and is now providing a home for 28 children. Those of school age are attending nearby Manye Academy, a public school, thanks to our collective efforts.

Not all of the children shown in the photo above are living in the orphanage but all are in need. Most are living with their extended families, but their families do not have the financial ability to keep them in school and in many cases, to provide adequate food. Thanks to your help, many of these children will see their lives improve during 2008. They are are on a new and hopeful path.
We Global Citizen Journey Ghana alumni also add our heartfelt thanks to all of you for an amazing and wonderful year.

posted by Maryanne at 9:36 PM

Friday, December 14, 2007

Small small update

Hi,

I had a nice conversation with Anastasia today. She said “the children are wonderful. They LOVE it here.” She said today was so nice, because it was a holiday, and so she worked with them on spelling a lot–first the boys, then the girls, then back to the boys, back to the girls, with an assignment for Monday. They also worked on reading, and those who can read are helping those who can’t.

She said they also are working on “please” and “thank you.” They must say, “please”. She said most did not do that or say their own names clearly.

I asked her if they’re sleeping OK at night (new place, scary???). She said they are “sleeping well, very very well.” She emphasized how much they really really love the sheets on the beds (probably a new experience maybe for all of them). They also love their school uniforms.

We talked to Mr. B (Manye Headmaster) on Wednesday. He said “the children are doing well, they’re doing well. They’re into a regular life now—home and school.” He has tons of ideas of how their lives should be ordered from sunup to sundown. We suggested he work with Esi on all of that!

Anas’ computer is stlll down. Had conversations with Frank, Anas, and Leif today on that. I think we’re getting it worked out.

Maryanne

posted by Maryanne at 5:43 PM

Thursday, December 13, 2007

MOVING DAY AT WHH CHILDREN’S HOME IN AXIM, GHANA

Hi everyone,

WE DID IT!! Believe it or not, on Dec 5, 28 children moved into the Western Heritage Children’s Home, right there on the hill above Manye Academy, a short walk from the main road, and downtown, into their brand-new beautiful “Happy Blue” Home!

Unfortunately, our Jerome who was there to witness the entire thing had his camera stolen in Amsterdam on the way back from Ghana, and so we have not one photo to show at this time of this “highlight of the year” event. But keep an eye out—the Ghanaians are trying to get some digital shots to us.

Last we heard, the kids had moved in. They arranged the beds the way they like them! Someone gave them a huge roll of bed sheeting, and they were trying to cut “sheet-size” lengths for their mattresses on the bunkbeds. The mattresses themselves were a gift from Volta Aluminum Co (Valco) in Ghana (thank you, you good guys, you). The only scissors they had wouldn’t cut it, so Jerome used his pocket knife to start the cut, and they tore them. We heard Annie, our home mother, was last seen sitting on the table hemming sheets.

She was sitting on the table, because thus far we have NO CHAIRS. Nor do we have kitchen counters, cabinets, etc. But, the kids are happy; they consider themselves “pioneers”, moving in before everything is perfect, and paving the way for others.

Older kids are taking responsibility for the younger ones. When James left on Sunday about 6:00 the older kids were ironing the uniforms for the younger ones for school on Monday morning (ironing and wearing freshly pressed school uniforms is just what you do in Ghana!)

A little harmless green snake creeped into the girls’ bathroom, and caused shrieks and screams all around. The boys set up a make-shift soccer field, with bricks for goal posts. They loved the big styrofoam “world puzzle” Jerome brought. WHERE IS GHANA????

John, our Ghanaian public health extraordinaire, reported he’d delivered 34 veronica buckets to the schools and orphanage, and will soon conduct workshops with staff on their use.

Mr. Browne, Headmaster of Manye, says the kids are attending school every day, and are “doing well.” He has a million ideas for how their lives should be ordered, from sunup to sundown. Mr. Browne, we love you, your many good ideas and your unending caring spirit.

We look back on this event-filled year in wonder and amazement. We’ve accomplished a lot, and we’ve really had a lot of fun, too. And we’re not done yet…

posted by Maryanne at 10:45 AM

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Photos from Axim Ghana

Labels: Ghana, Scenes from Axim

posted by Maryanne at 6:41 PM

Children – Church – Village near Axim Ghana – Library at Legon Campus, U of Ghana

posted by Maryanne at 6:33 PM

Global Citizen Journey Alums return to Axim, Ghana and engage in various projects

In addition to the “BIG” events in Axim Ghana — Kundum, Manye Science Day, and WHH Building Dedication — we engaged in many other activities.

RICH and MARYANNE visited a UN Refugee Camp about 25 km from Axim Ghana and surrounding villages in the Nzema East District. We traveled there with Major Domino the Camp Manager and Clifford, his body guard. In the villages, there was no electricity, no sanitation to speak of, and no sure source of clean water. Yet, when asked what they liked about their village or what was special about it, people said they liked the people because they are not greedy. They liked their coconuts and fish and their beach. One woman said she liked the sunsets (Atlantic Ocean setting). The kids said they liked their school, which was one room with nothing in it at all except one blackboard. They also said they very much wanted water, sanitation, “lights” (i.e., electricity), better school, and closer medical facilities. They have to walk several miles to a clinic, esp. difficult for woman in labor. They welcomed us warmly in a dignified manner, setting up two plastic chairs for us under a small canopy of rattan and leaves. They gathered around their spokesman to welcome us and answer our questions. It was a very special and emotional experience for us.

BARBARA interviewed more than 30 people, men and women, about their life stories, including market women in Axim Ghana. She will publish this information in some form. The stories she heard are inspiring and moving. Barbara conducted AI sessions in several other venues as well. At the end of the journey, she traveled to Konongo School to help dedicate the books for which she raised major funding. While there, she conducted Appreciate Inquiry sessions for the teachers, and two sessions of 500 high-school students in each session. Who knows what these young Ghanaians might be inspired to do?

TOM visited the Ghana Telecom to learn more about plans for internet access.

SUZ conducted a numbe of HIV-AIDs sessions with the Methodist Youth Group, the kids at Manye Academy, and groups in Cape Coast. She made a big hit with her colored condoms!

TOM, RICH, and MARYANNE met with the District Head of Dept of Education, headquarters in the town of Axim, along with many circuit heads. We discussed science education. They asked if we could find a scientist who is highly creative and innovative to help them teach the concepts in their curriculum with all local materials that they don’t have to buy. They have so little money. One told of needing milk of magnesia to do an experiment, but couldn’t find the money for it. They told us HIV-AIDs education starts in every class, beginning with nursery school and up, every day, the first thing in the day, in an age-appropriate manner. They are well aware of the threat of HIV-AIDs and are determined to manage it. They cannot afford antiretroviral drugs, so if a person gets the disease, there is not much hope.

RICH met with Reverend Banson, Pastor, and Isaac Bentil, Lay Leader, of the local Methodist Church. They are interested in forming a sister-church relationship with an American Methodist Church. The church in Axim Ghana has a cluster of smaller village churches associated with it and served by Rev. Banson.

BARBARA and LOUISE conducted an Appreciative Inquiry session with the Western Heritage Home Board. WHH is very fortunate; the Board is composed of well-established, mature local leaders from Axim. As an active locally-based NGO, WHH, although relatively new, is beginning to enjoy wide respect in the community. During the workshop, they focused on what is positive and special about WHH, what their dream for the organization is, how to design their Board and staff to achieve the dream, and how they themselves can strengthen their commitment and skill to achieve those dreams and goals. It was a wonderful session. We especially enjoyed seeing Awulae, the King of Lower Axim, with probably several hundred years of tradition behind him, partnering with Anastasia, a young, computer-trained woman of 22, who wants Hillary to become our US President, so then maybe Ghana will elect a woman president someday, too! Somehow, together, they represent Ghana as it now is, during its Jubilee Year of 50 years of independence.

BRYCE got to know the Axim Beach Hotel staff well, and also the birds and other “wildlife” around the hotel—mostly birds and geckos. He interviewed each individual orphan, and got some really good shots of each of them. Bryce has a natural affinity for small children, and at 14, was a big brother to kids, esp. during the Kundum Festival. Bryce was also our “water treasurer”, making sure we had enough safe water on hand and collecting money for it. Some of the girls decided he needed an “African” hairdo, and braided his hair!

LOUISE joined in the Science Days, joined Barbara in the AI session with the WHH Board and staff, and did a lot of videography. She and Bryce showed us all how a Grandmother and Grandson can have a wonderful friendship and a lot of fun together! She made sure Bryce and she experienced everything, including church, exploring the beach, exploring the town and people, drumming, helping drag in the fishing nets, and engaging at Manye during Science Days.

MARYANNE worked with Anastasia and Esi (WHH Staff) on the WHH bookkeeping system and on financial matters generally. The staff has done a remarkable job of ensuring receipts and data entry for the hundreds of purchases needed to supply all the materials, labor, transport, etc. for the building project. This is not an easy task, given the fact that this is basically a cash-only economy. We also updated the WHH office computer’s anti-virus software.

BARBARA and MARYANNE met with the King, Awulae Attiburukusu III, who welcomed us, and discussed the new fishing harbour being built, the new girls secondary school which he initiated, his efforts to enforce stopping inappropriate “easing” on the beach, thereby fouling the very area where the fish are brought in, the new compulsory education ruling and the government’s capitation grant to pay basic school fees, and the recent finding of a high grade of oil in the ocean not far from Axim. This relatively young King has studied business administration in California, and plans to continue next year. He hopes to do a few internships in American companies. He is known as a man of principle, who takes his duties seriously and does his best for this economically-challenged community. We are very fortunate to have his welcoming and suportive presence when we are in Axim.

BARBARA, RICH, and MARYANNE with James, attended a funeral in a small, very well-kept village about 1.5 hrs drive from Takoradi. It was in a beautiful tropical jungle, with banana and plantain trees, coops for chickens and rabbits, and a nearby forest where their hunters find food. Funerals are important to Ghanaians. Although many leaders are trying to convince people to have simpler, less costly funerals leaving more money for investment, school costs, etc., the people themselves use funerals to maintain family ties and to reconnect with their villages. Gifts of money are given to the bereaved family, to help defray expenses. We were honored by the chief pouring libations to bless us and the event. He poured a small amount of gin on the ground, offering up his prayers as he did so, and then each of us took a small sip of gin from a glass, spilling some on the ground, and offering up our own prayers and blessings as we wished. There were drummers, and we were told the dancing was the traditional funeral dances. The man who died was a 49 year-old school teacher, and we met some of his fellow teachers who genuinely were mourning his death and the loss to his students.

JEANIE, with our Ghanaian friend John, raised money and arranged to construct 34 veronica buckets, which we dedicated. “Veronica buckets” are used for hand sanitation. They will be distributed to five local schools, near the lunch facilities, and also in the WHH Children’s Home. These are hand-washing stations to be used when piped water is unavailable.

And we all enjoyed the beach, visiting with our Ghanaian friends, and the care and concern of the Axim Beach Hotel staff. For the most part, and with care, we stayed healthy.

Ghana is a “third-world” country, so there are safety and health challenges, but by taking precautions we had a good time and kept safe. Perhaps our biggest fear and danger is the possibility of auto accidents. We insist on seat belts, and firmly tell drivers to slow down. One of our members actually saw a little boy killed when he ran into the street and was struck by a truck. This was traumatic, and highlighted how dangerous the roads are. We were careful about our malaria prevention, too, and about hand sanitation, and about not overdoing it in the warm and humid weather conditions.

In general though, Ghana is a warm and welcoming country, with interesting people, culture, and tourist sites. The “new” re-dominated money made it easier for us, because it’s more like the US dollar — no more “millions” of cedis for ordinary purchases. The STC bus we rode from Accra to Takoradi was efficient, and handled our eight suitcases (the science stuff, remember?) with ease. The MTN cell service was having problems, but generally, the cell phone system works extremely well. The electrical power is off quite a lot—we used our headlamps! We saw the potential for photovoltaics, with the very dependable 12 hours of daylight and generally evenly warm temperatures of around 80-85F. The only internet connection in town, at the Beach Hotel, was down the entire time we were there, with the exception of about 15 minutes (just time to update the virus checker!). There is a Swiss man there who is trying assist the manager to get it working, coordinating with the provider in Takoradi. We did see fiber optic cable being laid along the roads. Ghana is hosting the Pan Africa Games in 2008, and is laying cable to improve communications for that event, so we hope ordinary folks will benefit from that in time.

Ghanaians are proud of Ghana in spite of some corruption, poverty, poor environmental quality, and other woes. They told us over and over that Ghana is peaceful and they are proud of that. They like their drumming and music, and beautiful cloth and traditional festivals and so do we! They are proud of their democracy and their new modern money, with its foolproof iridescent stripe against counterfeiting. We were told again and again that they are the “financial capital” of West Africa. A man in an extremely poor village said he was proud of the new President’s house, because Ghana’s President should have a beautiful house! (Others think it’s an extravaganza, but…). One man told me he was proud that the Americans have built “the biggest embassy in West Africa” right in Accra. W visited the central library on Legon Campus and enjoyed using the completely modern computerized catalog search system. We heard from a student that their University of Ghana is the “Harvard of West Africa” and that the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi is a leading West African university. They have what might seem to be very challenging problems, but hope appears to be alive and well. They are blessed with a rich traditional culture and a democratic spirit.

We Global Citizen Journey alums have an ongoing relationship with Axim and the Nzema East region. If you have ideas about how this area might develop economically, or how children can be given a boost, or how you may wish to support a project in the area, please contact us. We are in regular communication with leaders there, and may be able to find the right match for you.
—The GCJ alum group.

posted by Maryanne at 5:23 PM