Today was my birthday! It started with a very noisy chicken outside the room. It was quickly followed by Sian calling for everyone to wake up. Then I found out that there was a prayer call at five in the morning! It was quick and early breakfast as needed to leave for the chief’s palace to be there by 7 for our welcome. We got there at 8:30. We were greeted by the chief (and his kitten) and other members of the hierarchy. We then presented a gift to the chief (a very strong alcohol 50%) which was then poured on the floor in prayer. We were led back to the camp and then split into our different projects.
The projects were designing murals (KG), painting classrooms, and smashing and re-laying concrete floors. Fruit was handed out in the morning.
For the washing up team, lunch was a long exercise (2 hours to be precise). After lunch project work was quickly finished so everyone sat around sleepily. We are all quite sleepy.
When dinner finished, the locals started to put the campfire together. During the campfire ‘Happy Birthday’ was sung a lot and a tray full of Ghanaian doughnuts were brought out. I was swarmed by the team wanting the food. There has been some nice singing and drumming this evening.
I could really do with a fully charged phone and a pack of chocolate digestives (hint, hint).
-Annie R.
I’ve just realised, I’m not the only one with swag in Ghana. -Jack F.
Day 15
The different calls to prayer were much louder this morning so we all woke up much earlier, for breakfast Augustina had made us pancakes, which we ate with sugar or jam. We then had a fairly long wait until we went off in our duty groups to the different churches; meaning you either went to Pentacost, Methodist, Catholic or African free, everyone was made welcome. We then came back to eat our lunch which consisted of spaghetti with vegetable sauce. After we got ready for our African drumming and dancing workshop, Kobi (the chief drummer) split us into 3 groups where we all learnt different dances and a drumming routine, we then performed them to the local community who appeared to find it rather entertaining. We then had a late dinner of rice with palava sauce and beans, and spent the rest of the evening dancing around the campfire with our buddies and other locals.
Love from Emily and Sophie
Day 16
Today we woke up to the sound which has now become a tradition in team 11 with Thomas saying “morning Canters” and waking up not only Emily but the rest of the team. We had a new breakfast this morning of porridge and toast, which gave us enough energy for our final day of project work.
We started off our project work by adding the finishing touches to the many murals around the kindergarten building, painting cupboards and other odd jobs which needed doing. By lunchtime we were all hungry, and after tucking into our sandwiches, everyone put in a lot of effort for the last afternoon of project work.
Once we finished our project work we all packed up our suitcases with what we need for Volta, so we’re ready to leave early in the morning for Ayensudo. After a tasty dinner of rice and chicken sauce as we reflected on our successful project work, the evening was spent making the most of the time we had left with the children at Dwabor, and of course, dancing around the campfire.
We are all sad that our time in Ghana is coming to an end, however, we are all also looking forward to our own beds and favourite foods. I for one am looking forward to m&m’s and apples when arrive in London (hint to mum).
From Georgie and Phoebe