January 2008

Charles Harding - Last day in Ghana

Unpublished
Jan24
By shawnrubin
Today is my last day in Ghana. My flight leaves late tonight for Italy, and I will land in the U.S. mid day on Friday. Saying goodbye is never easy, but I am confident that I have done good work and helped develop the PROFESA school for future success. Yesterday Mesh and I took a trip to Ghana Book Trust, a fully sustainable NGO which resells donated text books at low cost. I think it was thrilling for Mesh to see the success of another NGO. Afterwards I taught my last computer class at PROFESA and said my goodbyes.

Charles Harding - Rioting in the streets!

Unpublished
Jan20
By shawnrubin
After a couple of days under the weather, things really came around this week. I've been teaching computer classes at PROFESA and the students are seriously engaged. Its a lot of fun to work with dedicated students, and I think they have just as much fun getting to work with a foreigner with a funny accent. I've also been working with francophones on some basic english. These experiences have been rewarding and a real thrill. After weeks of doubts, Meshach finally came through and got tickets to the Africa Cup.

Charles Harding - Back from the Volta

Unpublished
Jan17
By shawnrubin
After a busy two weeks here in Ghana I decided it was time to see a bit more of the country. I left on a tro-tro (small bus) from Accra with no real destination but north, and nothing on my back but my guitar. Reading my guidebook, I decided to go about 6 hours to the Likpe village cluster in the eastern Volta region.

Charles Harding - Developments in Abeka

Unpublished
Jan12
By shawnrubin
So much has happened since I last posted. Mesh and I have hit the ground running with the Career Development program which will target highschool students in Abeka and show them options for furthering education, careers, and health. We have networked with 5 schools in the community who have agreered to the program. PROFESA students are signing on to be peer counselors to the highschool students.

Charles Harding - First day at PROFESA

Unpublished
Jan08
By shawnrubin
Classes have resumed at PROFESA, and I finally got to see Meshach's program in full force. All my doubts were squandered when I saw the incredible teachers working at PROFESA. The teachers work long hours (one of them works 6am-7pm teaching daily), but have the privilage of teaching to small and engaged classes. The students are truly passionate about their secretarial work and see it as a way of moving up in society, as many of them work as street sellers for low wages during the mornings. To be honest I learned a great deal in English class revising all my grammar etc. from the text books.

Volunteerism

Unpublished
Jan07
By shawnrubin
JET Volunteers Demonstrate True Meaning of Volunteerism The Dalit people of KI Village were so happy to host another group of volunteers, but a little sad to see them go. They already miss the International Volunteers, who worked on the Building Communities project from 25th December 2007 to 3rd January 2008. The volunteers spent almost 10 days with the villagers, working and playing along side them.

Charles Harding - Traveling to Arkra, Ghana

Unpublished
Jan06
By shawnrubin
Greetings, Its been a number of days since I posted because I was traveling with Meshach and his family to his father's home village (Arkra, it sounds much like Accra and I get them confused) along the coast. The trip took four hours, a taxi, a tro tro, and another taxi, which broke down along the way. We arrived just past dark and greeted our host family. After some Kinki (corn mush) and anchovies for dinner, we retired to the beach where the villagers sleep because its quite a bit cooler.

Charles Harding - Arrived in Ghana

Unpublished
Jan02
By shawnrubin
Last night I arrived safely in Ghana. Meshach met me with his father outside the airport and we took a taxi to the hotel in Abeka. Meshach took one look at me and said "you need rest." He was very right and I passed out quickly. This morning we explored the main market street for food before meeting his family. His father is very ambitious and wants me to visit the entire country in 4 weeks. I think we have some serious work to get done, but some travel will be good.

Charles Harding - New Years in Amsterdam (on the way to Ghana!)

Unpublished
Jan01
By shawnrubin
I've arrived safely in Amesterdam in 2008. To much chagrin, there was little ruckus on the flight over, no complentary bubly or anything. However, this did allow me to get some pseudo sleep for a couple of hours. I'm not good with time zones but I know I'm not supposed to be awake right now. I'm also pretty sure that a good amount of my friends at home are still up from the night before. Nevertheless, I've got an enormous trip ahead of me, a great way to great the New Year.
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