DEDICATION OF WESTERN HERITAGE HOME CHILDREN’S HOME AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER IN AXIM GHANA
Definitely, definitely, this was the HIGHLIGHT of our journey!! What a day!!
First, we must acknowledge the heroic efforts of so many workmen and women who put in so much effort to get the building ready for the dedication. We especially honor and appreciate the dedication and energy of Patrick K, the WHH Logistics Specialist, who has overseen the work, purchased most of the materials, spent his day on the building site and even sleeping there on occasion to protect the construction materials. Patrick is also an elected District Aseemblyman, and is a dedicated community leader. In the days leading up to the event, the electricity had failed numerous times, and three terrazo machines (two from Takoradi) broke down because of the inadequate electrical current. Terrazo machines are essential “cement polishing” machines which prepare the floors in this humid climate with a hard polished surface. This is necessary for cleanliness and to prevent mold.
Meanwhile, workers were painting the building, cleaning up the site, hauling in chairs from “somewhere” (we suspect we owe a VERY big thank you for the Catholic Church and Father Paul and Esi Biney, Church President). When we all arrived at the building, we were ushered inside by proud WHH staff members in their beautiful blue and brown patterned WHH “cloth” outfits, made especially for the event. The conference room on the 2nd floor had been transformed into a clean, spacious room, complete with a beautifully appointed head table covered with a white cloth and flowers. The WHH Scholars arrived in their Manye Academy uniforms, with Mr. Browne, and Felicia, the Nursery School teacher, and our own Mustapha, himself a teacher and headmaster, helping them to find seats, etc.
Those of us associated with GCJ and WHH Board and Staff members had lovely blue and brown Ghanaian style shirts and dresses, with cloth specially designed for the occasion.
Other distinguished guests arrived: the King and Queen Mother of Upper Axim; the Queen Mother of Lower Axim and her sister, the Acting Queen Mother; Father Paul of the Catholic Church; Father John of the Anglican Church; Mr. Kojo Armah, the member of Parliament for this region; Mr. Joseph Elimah, the District Chief Executive; and many friends and family members, including the two women, mother and daughter, who were the water carriers supplying water with their headpans to the workers over the months of building. And of course, our WHH Board members, led so capably by Mr. James Kainyiah and his wife Justine, who are the visionaries and leaders on the ground. Other Board members present were Miss Frances Polley, Father Paul, Mr. Isaac Bentil, Mr. Joseph Quansah, and Awulae Attiburukusi. They were joined by GCJ Ghanaian alums, Gifty Asmah and her husband, the Headmaster of Nkroful Secondary School, Stephen Kwabia and wife Deborah, Frank Cudjoe, Esi Biney, Annie Essien, Dina Cobbinah, Mustapha Abdullah, and Francis “Old Soldier” Nokoe. Our friend from Bellingham, Kathryn Roe, who has a program supporting secondary education in the Cape Coast area, also honored us with her presence. As you can imagine, this was also a wonderful reunion for all of us GCJ Ghana Project alums, North Americans and Ghanaians.
The King of Lower Axim, Awulae Attiburukusu III, our friend and WHH Board member, officiated. The dedication was conducted by the Archbishop of Metropolitan Accra, a native son of Axim. Barbara and Maryanne attended the Catholic Church the day before, where Father Buckle preached about children and encouraged the congregation to care for all the children of Axim. His Mom, the mother of twelve children all of whom are educated, still lives in Axim, and we were honored to meet her as well.
Esi Biney was the master of ceremonies. James Kainyiah gave the opening remarks. Anastasia Amoo, WHH Administrative Assistant, gave the closing remarks. Ann Essien presided over the dedication of the veronica buckets.
Best of all, the children who will soon call the WHH facility home and some of their temporary guardians were there. Several older children participated in the ceremony. The Catholic Band played festive music—kind of an Africanized version of our New Orleans type of music–gay and upbeat for sure!! (After all, where did this music originate???!!!) Everyone was dressed in traditional cloth—a colorful and celebratory atmosphere!
I believe all of us there felt a kinship and partnership that goes far beyond our respective national borders. We did indeed feel a global connection centered around the care and love of children and what we adults can accomplish if we come together in a spirit of understanding and sincere desire. For a little while, we forgot about the bad phone connections, the electrical breakdowns, the lack of internet connectivity, the communication challenges exacerabated by wide cultural differences, the economic disparities, the heat and humidity, and all the other obstacles we have collectively faced. We just allowed ourselves to bask in our mutual feeling of accomplishment and our collective determination to continue step-by-step, not quite knowing where the future will take us, but having faith in ourselves and God that we will together find our way.
posted by Maryanne at 11:15 AM 
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Kundum Festival in Axim
Kundum is an annual festival of the Ahanta people, whose traditional center is the city of Axim. What a week!! The drums beat furiously, wonderfully. The rhythmic complexity is astounding. Families reunite around the “family homes”, with traditional Ghanaian food, music. Everyone is dressed in traditional clothing—esp. the women with their colorful batik dresses.
Let me tell you a little about the Kundun festival in Axim. It’s one of the larger ones in the country. For 4 weeks, the drums move around and get closer and closer to Axim. At the beginning of the week, heads of families, and kings request that anyone holding grudges in the community come forth and reconcile with their opponent. Thus many rifts are healed. The next day everyone cooks, and anyone can walk into to anyone’s house and eat. There is a day of remembering and mourning the ancestors. There is a day of killing of a fowl, 4 goats and more drumming and cooking.
On the high festival day, the royals – the co-director of our project was one this year – the first white person ever to be so honored — all arrive at the palace about 10 to dress and await the parade. 3 Of us went elsewhere to be dressed in royal cloths. Maryanne was carried in the palanquin as the development Queen of Axim (Nkosohema). Thus did Axim honor and thank our GCJ group for our work in Axim during this past year. We walked behind her. It was quite an affair – colorful, rhythmic, joyful. We ended up at the field and listened to speeches and music and dancing, and then it was back into the palanquins in what seemed a bit like a rodeo. The carriers danced back and forward and bounced the palanquins quite a bit. Some of the more experienced riders stood up and cheered them on. It was very colorful! Finally we ended at the palace for dinner. It actually reminded me a bit of Mardi Gras. Not surprising – where did Mardi Gras come from? What a day!
All in all, it is a time of peace, reconciliation, remembering the departed, generosity and celebration of life. A good thing, I think. Although some Christian missionaries tried to stamp it out as pagan, and current Pentecostal churches pan it, others are now being more tolerant. (text by Barbara G)
posted by Maryanne at 9:50 PM
MANYE ACADEMY SCIENCE PROJECT
We’re back from Axim, Ghana, with seven of us GCJ Ghana alums plus one grandson spending three weeks in Ghana. Alas, no internet access so no opportunity to update this blog while we were there.
As reported earlier below, we brought with us 7 suitcases, of about 50 lbs each, of elementary/junior high level science supplies and equipment for Manye Academy — microscopes, measuring instuments, charts of all kinds, resources for teachers, etc.
Why Manye Academy? Manye is the school which 20 of our orphans attend. The school has welcomed the group of children the WHH Board has selected to live in our children’s home, and receive assistance in education. The Director, Mr. Browne-Umar, is trained in science himself and wants to improve science education in his school. Maryane visited the school in May ’07, and discovered that although the school and teachers have both a school goal and a goal set by the Ghana Dept of Education to improve science education, there were virtually no supplies or equipment with which to carry out the learning in the Ghana Science Curriculum. Thus was born our “science project”. Working with Mr. Browne during the summer, we enlisted the help of many friends, and local Northwest Washington teachers (thank you!) and pulled together a basic collection of teaching aids. This represents our “thank you” to the leadership and staff of Manye for their acceptance and dedication to education for all children, regardless of prior educational deficiencies.
The school put on a colorful and moving dedication, complete with student color guard and drill team and all students present in organized formation in their beautiful blue shirts! What a welcome!!
We were especially honored that Professor Nokoe, the school’s owner, was present. Prof. Nokoe is also the Acting Chancellor of Ghana’s University for Development studies, and has extensive scientific training himself, holding a PhD in Biometrics from the University of British Columbia.
Some of us with science training and interest worked with the teachers in workshops designed to review the materials and explain the workings of the microscopes, etc. We also met with Manye students, and Suz did an HIV-AIDs workshop with the students. Professor Nokoe hired a bulldozer to build a playfield for use by the school and also our Western Heritage Home Scholars, as they are known by the Manye staff and students. Our team walked the path through the little settlement and up the hill from the school to the WHH Facility. The school looked great—it had been fairly recently painted blue, the school color, with the blue shirts on each student matching the blue. We sensed the pride and dedication of students and staff.
Now for some speedbumps before and after the school, to protect the children who have to cross the busy street from the speeding vehicles—a constant danger in this area. Indeed, one of our group witnessed a tragic traffic accident on the highway just outside of Axim in which a four year-old boy was struck and killed by a truck. The newly paved streets are a great improvement in holding down the dust, but now the traffic dangers have increased.
posted by Maryanne at 3:48 PM
Friday, August 24, 2007
PACKING UP!!
A group of 7 GCJ Ghana Project Alums are returning to Axim in September. While there, we’ll take in the Kundum Festival, a traditional gathering of the local Ahanta people, whose traditional center is Axim. Watch this Blog for photos!!
AND more importantly, we will particpate in the dedication of Western Heritage Home. We’ve worked long and hard on this building and we are looking forward to dedicating it and seeing it put to good use. We’re hoping the children can be moved in in mid-September. Next goal is to raise funds to finish the second floor, put the community learning center’s conference area to good use and develop the computer learning lab.
Meanwhile, Mr Browne-Umar, the Manye Academy’s Executive Director is focusing on deveoping the science program at his school. Since the school has so warmly embraced our children — our Western Heritage Home Scholars –, we have decided to pitch in and bring science equipment and supplies not readily available for purchase in Axim. Jerome, Suz, Jeanie, and Rich (shown), and Tom have gathered six suitcases of science equipment and supplies. Thanks to so many friends, esp. teacher friends, for their generous help. Mr. Browne-Umar is organizing an orientation and workshops with the teachers and work to coordinate these materials with the Ghanaian Dept of Education’s science curriculum.
posted by Maryanne at 2:42 PM
Wow, the ROOF looks GREAT
The Western Heritage Children’s Home and Community Learning Center building is getting there. We’re still short funds to finish off the second floor, but the first floor is just about finished, and will soon be ready for children to move in.
posted by Maryanne at 2:38 PM
