The photos show a meeting at the village of Timber Nkwanta, with everyone amazed to learn that a group of UK barristers and a young man called Rufus have decided to sponsor them for latrines. Apparently, the work is going really well – everyone very well motivated and anxious to get on with the work and get their latrines.
Dave Banks has just returned to Ashanti, where he’s got off to a flying start with his teacher-training project. He spent Mon/Tues preparing and planning; Weds training circuit supervisors; Thurs training 50 headteachers; Fri planning/training at St Monica’s teacher-training college. All very busy and positive, he says.
SpecSavers of Leicestershire have just returned from ten days in Ashanti, where they screened, treated, prescribed for or referred over 1,400 people. People came from all directions and from as far away as the northern regions of Ghana. They included important traditional rulers like the king of Nsuta, District Chief Executive Officers, and top government officials. Some of the pictures show the size of the daily queue.
The Ashantis (and Ashanti Development) are immensely grateful to SpecSavers for using their holidays and their own money to give sight to so many people. We had initially worried that local people, who are very poor, would just sell their spectacles on. We were wrong and in recent years when we visit remote villages we increasingly encounter people wearing tribal robes and spectacles – which look good together.
BIg thanks to Sara and Steve from Crofton Junior School in Bromley, who sent a crate of jumpers to their twinned school, Bonkron Primary in Ashanti. The smiles on the childrens’ faces speak for themselves.
Last Saturday we did our annual sponsored walk from St Pancras Old Church down the Canal to Limehouse. It rained almost all the way, which at least kept us cool. At Limehouse, we stopped for a beer or a cup of tea, and came back to central London by riverboat.
We raised £931 initially, but since then the total’s risen to £1,306, and we’re told it’s likely to go even higher. Thank you so much to everyone who took part and specially to Albert Antwi (sitting with his hands up) for organising it. Here are some Before and After pictures.
A while ago, we reported on two new villages, Timber Nkwanta and Domeabra, located not far from Abuontem. They’re not on any map, but Nicholas discovered them when he was running a latrine project at Abuontem.
Brilliant news! Timber Nkwanta has found itself a sponsor in the shape of a joint project by barristers Joanna Lampert and Tom Weekes, and after just three days they’ve collected half the £6,500 needed. If you’d like to help, there’s a MyDonate page for Timber.
Joanna and Tom are asking their friends in the legal profession to contribute, and hoping that way to widen Ashanti Development’s contacts, and maybe even find a few more village sponsors.
Softwire, a London-based computer company, has long been a sponsor of Bonkron village, and provided them with sanitation, a kindergarten and other benefits.
Crofton Primary School is twinned with Bonkron Primary School. The two schools communicate in writing or via Skype.
Softwire and Crofton collaborated to provide Bonkron Primary with a fully-equipped IT room, as shown in the photo. This will increase the children’s life chances immeasurably.
The most unfortunate people in Africa are probably the disabled. In Ghana, for example, disabled babies are often killed at birth, while the adult disabled are left to beg or otherwise live on charity. No-one will employ them. Many people even dislike associating with them.
The Disabled Association of Nsuta was set up in 2008 by Anthony Duku, who lost both legs in a car accident at age of eleven. At his own expense, Anthony registered as members 451 physically disabled people in the District, together with a further 99 who were deaf or blind. He subsequently shamed the District into passing on to the Association an annual sum of £1,200 provided by central government for disabled people, and set up a committee to distribute this money. They use it to educate disabled children; to train disabled adults on how to trade; and to buy wheelchairs, crutches etc.
At Ashanti Development, we’re trying to extend our microcredit scheme to both male and female Association members. We’re also building the Association a new centre. Here’s a photo of work in progress.
Helen sponsors Dagati, a village of settlers from the north of Ghana/ Sahara who came south to look for an easier life. She’s already sponsored them for sanitation, and is determined now to give them clean water as well.
Dagati is on the east of the area we cover, and luckily boreholes in the east often strike water (unlike the west, where we have to resort to water filters). Helen’s in Ghana now, and is employing a hydrogeologist and others to find the best place – if there is one – to drill for water. Luckily they’ve managed to identify two in Dagati and one in the neighbouring hamlet of JY, so it looks as if these two villages will have a lot to rejoice over.
At present, one baby in every two of three dies in Dagati before age two. By the time Helen’s finished, very few babies will die of water-related disease. In the longer term, the birthrate will fall since people will feel more secure, and less anxious to have lots of children to look after them in their old age.
Sorry for the long silence. A very nasty computer virus was to blame. I’m waiting for people to send in photos of Taste of Ghana, so I can put them on the website. Meanwhile, here’s one of our newest volunteer, Saulius Sliackus from Lithuania, with his wife and with the driving force for the day – Martha, who had spent the preceding week peeling yams and slicing plantain. It was a lovely day, with lots of Ashanti Development volunteers and supporters, and others on the point of joining us. I’ll put up more photos when I can.
