Ok, so I really cannot bug my student too much about not posting on their blogs when I have been so wretched about keeping up with mine. Seriously, we are only 2 weeks away and there is so much going on that it is hard to focus on the trip. So...I will provide the highlights:
Everyone has their passports and 5/6 of us have our visas
Plane tickets are purchased
500 pounds of books (yes 500 pounds!) are on a freighter on their way to Ghana already- Thank you everyone who made donations!!!
We have 2 "Macgyver Kits" ready to go thanks to our Grad II students- these will be used to make adaptations and mobility equipment for children with disabilities.
We have hotel rooms (I think)
They know we are coming (for sure)
Ok, I am definately getting excited; Ghana here we come!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
HIV/AIDS in Ghana
One of the few blogs that I follow is written by a mom that I know who works as an adoption coordinator in Ghana. She raised a really interesting (and disturbing) issue in her latest post related to HIV Aids in Ghana. Take a look...
So much about what we have been discussing in our course is related to how health and human welfare is so dependent on the culture, traditions, and infrastructure of the country. While I can see both sides of the situation she raises; I still feel that this is yet another barrier to public health in Ghana.
So much about what we have been discussing in our course is related to how health and human welfare is so dependent on the culture, traditions, and infrastructure of the country. While I can see both sides of the situation she raises; I still feel that this is yet another barrier to public health in Ghana.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Worlds Worst Travel Diseases
Here is a link on the worst travel diseases and how to prevent them...
God, please don't let anyone get sick on this trip!
God, please don't let anyone get sick on this trip!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Resources
Well I am obviously doing some "net" searching today with the general google topic "Ghana" (or combinations of "Ghana Blogs", "Ghana, elections", "Ghana Rehabilitation"). I have come across a few great resources for those traveling to Ghana (a few I wish I had before my trips), or for others who are just interested in the rehabilitation in developing countries. The first is a blog by an Irish teacher volunteering in Ghana. His most recent blog entry provides an insightful view on how "white" people (or westerners in general) are viewed in Ghana and what this means. He also provides some good packing tips for travelers.
The other resources are books which I have found on Amazon. The first is Disabled Villiage Children which I have been eyeing for a while but finally purchased. It was written over 20 years ago, which has been my main hesitation in purchasing it. But on the cover is a boy walking with a wooden walker, and I can't help but imagine us needing to make-shift some similar devices while we are in-country (or teaching others how to do so).
Another book I found is called Helping Health Workers Learn: A Book of Methods, Aids, and Ideas for Instructors at the Village Level.
Again, it was written in 1982, but I think the concept of empowering people to meet their own needs and the needs of their community is key to the work I/we hope to do while we are in Ghana.
The last book is a general travel guide for Ghana. When I went to Ghana the first time I took with me a guide to West Africa, which only had one chapter on all of Ghana. I found myself envious of my fellow travelers who had a guide book just about Ghana. They had a much better grasp on local places to go and thing to do. Here is the most recent travel guide I could find; it is by Bradt and was published in 2007.
If anyone knows of other good resources please pass them along!
The other resources are books which I have found on Amazon. The first is Disabled Villiage Children which I have been eyeing for a while but finally purchased. It was written over 20 years ago, which has been my main hesitation in purchasing it. But on the cover is a boy walking with a wooden walker, and I can't help but imagine us needing to make-shift some similar devices while we are in-country (or teaching others how to do so).
Another book I found is called Helping Health Workers Learn: A Book of Methods, Aids, and Ideas for Instructors at the Village Level.
Again, it was written in 1982, but I think the concept of empowering people to meet their own needs and the needs of their community is key to the work I/we hope to do while we are in Ghana. The last book is a general travel guide for Ghana. When I went to Ghana the first time I took with me a guide to West Africa, which only had one chapter on all of Ghana. I found myself envious of my fellow travelers who had a guide book just about Ghana. They had a much better grasp on local places to go and thing to do. Here is the most recent travel guide I could find; it is by Bradt and was published in 2007.
If anyone knows of other good resources please pass them along!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Ghana Elections
Well a few week ago I posted about the elections that were taking place in Ghana. Well after the preliminary vote, the two major parties were so close that there will be a run-off this Sunday. Here is a great blog that has all of the most current information:
*** January 2, 2009; It seems like the voting is still going on in certain areas. Here is a rather gloomy article about what might (or might not) happen if the current goverment in fact looses the election.
*** January 2, 2009; It seems like the voting is still going on in certain areas. Here is a rather gloomy article about what might (or might not) happen if the current goverment in fact looses the election.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Five is Enough
Well, the trip is on! I knew when it came down to people actually committing (financially) for this trip that the numbers would be low; but I said, as long as I got at least 5 people on board I would make this happen. Well five it is; and five invested and dedicated students (along with one ambitious professor) will certainly be enough to make at least some small impact on the world, right?
There is a lot to do and I am beginning to get very excited. We will be working with Eric Anan from Sovereign Global Missions (http://www.sovereignglobalmission.org/) and volunteering at two schools for children with disabilities in the Accra region. There are materials to gather and ship along with travel arrangements to be made; but there is plenty of time...
On another note...Ghana is having an election on December 7th 2008; just a few days away. The two dominant parties are very closely tied in the race and there is some threat that either or both parties may sacrifice optimal moral behavior in order to gain the majority vote. Given the strife that has accompanied so many elections in Africa over the past year (Kenya, Zimbabwe) I am hopeful that Ghana is able to continue their position as one of Africa's model democracies.
There is a lot to do and I am beginning to get very excited. We will be working with Eric Anan from Sovereign Global Missions (http://www.sovereignglobalmission.org/) and volunteering at two schools for children with disabilities in the Accra region. There are materials to gather and ship along with travel arrangements to be made; but there is plenty of time...
On another note...Ghana is having an election on December 7th 2008; just a few days away. The two dominant parties are very closely tied in the race and there is some threat that either or both parties may sacrifice optimal moral behavior in order to gain the majority vote. Given the strife that has accompanied so many elections in Africa over the past year (Kenya, Zimbabwe) I am hopeful that Ghana is able to continue their position as one of Africa's model democracies.
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