A Little Slice of Heaven

Last week was a bit of a dream – I was in Accra (Ghana’s capitol) for a week-long conference. We’ll come back to the conference, but let me first share some of my simple joys with you from that time “away” that I had been looking forward to for months. Before even arriving for the conference, I met with Melissa to go to a church recommended to us – it was great to sing worship and hear doctrine that I am used to, but I still miss my church back home. Then, we adventured... to the mall! What simple joy we took from shopping in a “westernized” grocery store, seeing other white people, and eating Chinese food and Frappuccinos. Then, we stayed at a friend’s house – this friend, a nice French guy we met at the beach a few weeks ago, is living with his parents while they are all working in Ghana. His dad just happens to be the general manager for one of the largest banks in Ghana... so let’s just say it wasn’t only a house. I will simply share a photo of his family’s kitchen (where their personal chef cooks) to paint a picture: I was drooling over this kitchen. It was the nicest house I’ve ever been in! And I’m in a developing country! Such a strange paradox. I guess it gives a good image to the concept of “poverty gap.” However, it was a nice retreat for the night. Then we went to another mall to hang out/get more (real) coffee! Finally, we checked into my hotel for the conference.

This is my dream kitchen... and I found it in Ghana?

So many obroni hair care products! Our excitement all weekend.

This hotel wasn’t anything super fabulous, but it was nice (shout-out to the parents for sponsoring it!). My room had air conditioning, hot running water, electricity (all the time), a mini-fridge, and a TV! I know, you’re thinking “well, duh, doesn’t every hotel room have those things?” Well, not in Ghana – this was high class, and those items were definitely a luxury that I realized I too often take advantage of in the developed world. I even got to eat KFC and (my fav) wild berry Skittles! It was like being back in the States. Now here I am, back in my village, sweating while simply sitting and charging my phone constantly because I am unsure when the next “lights off” will be. But then again, I knew the nice retreat had to come to an end, for this African experience wouldn’t be complete without the lack of those luxuries we all take advantage of in the developed world. You could think that I am “suffering” through it, but I really don’t mind not having running water or AC in my home here: they are just nice things that I enjoy when I am able to access them. Plus, I was glad to get home to Felix, my new cat.

Okay, now for the conference reflections. ECHO is a faith-based NGO devoted to sustainable agriculture. They held their first ever West Africa Anglophone Networking Forum in Accra last week, and I was proud to represent AgriCorps at the small, yet successful event. There were about 50 participants (lower than expected, but hey, it is the first time) from countries across West Africa, including: Nigeria, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Senegal. Most participants were national development workers, so it was great to engage with Liberians, for example, who are passionate about progress in their own country. I don’t think I expected this –I guess I was hoping to see more white people, but this was a blessing in its own way! I am always advocating development as driven by local community members (and not by a temporary foreigner, AKA me) so I was thankful to see these participants who not only knew their culture and potential barriers, but were prepared to overcome barriers to reach development goals. It was so great to dialogue with people who are doing work in the SAME COUNTY that we were supposed to be in Liberia! I also got to watch one of the most entertaining people I’ve ever seen give a presentation about what he is so passionate about: beekeeping. Plus, he gave me some of his super delicious honey! It was a good time, overall. Hopefully, my connections will help 4-H (Ghana and Liberia) and AgriCorps continue to develop their reach for greater impact over the coming years.

A new friend from Nigeria, Lekam. He's a masters student in animal science!
He and Melissa had a great convo about cattle in the tropics! 

The conference was great, and I was able to end the week by hanging out with one of my few Ghanaian friends, Esther. She met me in the city and we toured Accra. I took her to the nicest hotel in Ghana where we enjoyed caramel cake and drinks (a milkshake for her and iced mocha for me). It didn’t matter that we didn’t look like we belonged; we felt special and that made it a memorable experience. Plus, I got tickets to go PARAGLIDING this coming weekend with John and Courtney! That’s right, I’m going to jump off a cliff in a developing nation because the tickets were so much cheaper than in the US... don’t worry, it’s run by foreign professionals. No deaths have occurred in the 10 years of running it. J Stay tuned!  

Esther and I, enjoying our fancy drinks at a fancy hotel after walking around the city.

And as a great “welcome home” from my 8 days away, my sweet corn is coming up! WOHOO! It should be ready right before I leave! So excited! Sorry, we ag development workers get excited about plants.

Check out that little sweet corn plant. He's so courageous!

P.S. My photography website is updated! Check it out to see what I get to see here in Ghana (or anywhere else for that matter) through the lens of Boaz, my faithful DSLR camera! 

Saviour 4-H Rock Stars

National FFA week (USA) took place during the third week of February. As an opportunity to connect agricultural youth leaders around the world, I reached out to my student teaching cooperating center FFA program to connect the Pennsylvania FFA members to Ghanaian 4-H members. 4-H in Ghana looks very similar to FFA in the US: It is school-based, tied to classroom curriculum, and encourages home entrepreneurial projects (known as Supervised Agricultural Experience in the FFA). 

The plan was to exchange some preliminary information and some photos of the two student groups in honor of National FFA Week. So I got out my camera and let my 4-H members pose away! (note: Ghanaians love taking photos) I also asked them about their basic “biographical” information and why the love 4-H. Here are the responses and photos of some of my star members!

Name: Asare Boateng Samuel

Age: 15

Grade: Form 3

Position in 4-H/committee: Secretary

Home entrepreneurship project(s): Gardening, literature

Why you joined 4-H/why you like 4-H: I want to be a successful entrepreneur in the future and I know 4-H will help me.

Some other notes about Asare: Asare sought out and competed in a national contest to draw a “car of the future” and I got to accompany him to the capital, Accra, to deliver it to the Toyota headquarters. He is extremely creative and curious: he has written stories since primary school and even wrote a song for 4-H a few months ago.

Name: Awayigah Ebenezer

Age: 15

Grade: Form 2

Position in 4-H/committee: Crops committee assistant chairman

Home entrepreneurship project(s): Gardening

Why you joined 4-H/why you like 4-H: 4-H is the only club at the school, so I joined. I have learned many things that have helped me – like how to grow crops well, how to speak in front of groups, and how to prepare and present reports. If it wasn’t for 4-H, I would never have learned these things.

Some other notes about Awayigah: Always the first one at the 4-H garden and the last one to leave, he takes his role as an officer very seriously. He seeks new knowledge and always tries to do what is best for the club. He often comes to help me at my home garden and always warms my day with his lovely smile. He was the winner of the “Growing Greener” award at the end of term 1 – an award given to the most dedicated member in the 4-H garden.

Name: Rosemary Asirifi

Age: 15

Grade: Form 3

Position in 4-H/committee: Chairperson for marketing/outreach committee

Home entrepreneurship project(s): Book designing and typing skills

Why you joined 4-H/why you like 4-H: I want to be skillful and develop critical thinking skills – I want to be an entrepreneur in the future.

Some other notes about Rosemary: After a few months of term 1, Saviour 4-H formed the Marketing and Outreach committee and Rosemary was elected its leader. Though I had not seen much leadership potential in her prior to her election, I quickly saw why the members chose her: she is motivated, creative, and hardworking. One example is how she took advantage of an opportunity in her community to publicize Saviour 4-H in the Saviour Church Calendar – a calendar that goes out to the entire country and its various Saviour churches. Rosemary won the “Best Marketer” award at the end of term 1.

Name: Paddy David

Age: 14

Grade: Form 2

Position in 4-H/committee: Animal Husbandry Committee Assistant Chairman

Home entrepreneurship project(s): Gardening, Pig rearing

Why you joined 4-H/why you like 4-H: I want to learn more agricultural skills, like how to raise pigs properly and how to have a successful farm.

Some other notes about Paddy: Paddy is one of those boys who you can count on. He is dedicated and loves to get his hands dirty. He has been the key caretaker of the Saviour 4-H pigs – so much so that he has his own key to the piggery! Along with his best friend, Awayigah, he is always at the garden when 4-H says they will be working there and though he is quiet, he is a vital contributor to the 4-H club. Paddy, as everyone expected, won the “Animal Husbandry Award” at the end of term 1.