So this may be the last post from our Ghana trip, and this is not even about Ghana. Its September 1st and the air is cooler, everyone’s thoughts are turning to school,  work and next chapters. Footsteps to Ghana in July seems like ages ago, however we know it will be within us in small ways forever. For instance, recently one of the adults told me as she was waiting (and waiting) to make a major presentation at work, and was getting frustrated and anxious with the delay. Then the Ghana phrase popped up “any moment from now” which made her laugh and remember the amazing wait times we had in Ghana, never knowing the answers to “what” and “when” and it broke all her tension for her. So many great lessons learned…if we can hang on to them.

Last night we had a get together for the travellers and their families. It was a wonderful opportunity to see each other again (its pretty strange to be with 34 other people 24/7 for three weeks and then….nothing…..) So we had some great visits, told some funny stories, looked at photos, looked at movies and slide shows and made a collage of the trip using all kinds of crazy stuff we brought back, everything from local dirt to cedis to Obama cookie wrappers…FUN. The evening was beautifully hosted at the CUBE Gallery. Angie suggested we take up  donations for the famine relief in East Africa….a terrifying and unimaginable reality that is far from what we experienced on the other side of the continent. So we did ($261 she told me this morning) and she will pass on to CARE Canada today.

Hayley and I are looking forward to receiving a photo book of the trip  “presented” to us last night (in fact because of Hurricane Irene it ended up in Memphis so its on its way, but we saw the slides) . It was a lovely gesture from the parents and youth. Thank you! There are some really stunning pictures taken by some and we plan on making a card series…stay tuned for that.

Although most of the kids in Baobab Youth are coming back this season some of the kids will be leaving the group (as happens!) to pursue their other interests, focus on school and just move on with their lives. Last night was poignant in that both energies were felt in the room…lots of chat amongst the youth about these changes. Many of the kids have been with us for 4, 5, 6 years and its such a pleasure to watch them grow, change, deepen and reflect together.  A privilege for me. Always. I am seasoned enough that I can embrace the cycle…even if there are a few tears shed in private :)

A few of Augusta’s favourite photos (check out her writing on Ghana post  #14) :

And now one of mine: we always try to bring back drums purchased from local drum makers. Almost all of the drums we needed had been assembled but there were no axatses  (gourd rattles) to be found locally so they were brought in on Motorbike. It was quite a sight. They have the courier thing down in Ghana for sure!

For good reason, many of these “Notes from Ghana” posts have focused on the youth in Baobab and their experiences in Ghana; their connection to the kids and culture, especially Dagbamete.  You have also heard about our terrific manager, Hayley,  and some history about my relationship with Ghana. However, these kinds of trips do not happen unless there is  solid support from the Baobab parent community,  and in particular, those entrusted with accompanying the youth on this important journey. We had six chaperones, Evie Gray, Jenni Tipper, Christopher Duschenes, Shelagh Murray, Lynn Rainboth and our Baobab Board Chair Nadine Powers. And serving as a first aid point of contact, Claire Thompson.  Also accompanying us were two other musicians, Rory Magill and Jennifer Moir who provided some great mentoring and connection with the kids. What an awesome team we had! This is the third trip to Ghana we have taken with the youth since 2001. When deciding the right “next time” to go, there are many factors that I look for, including of course,  the particular kids in the group. I am also looking for the elusive but cohesive parent factor, as that can make or break 18 months of fundraising followed by a VERY intensive trip. This particular group of adults, got along famously and we shared many,  many laughs and poignant moments throughout the trip. Their curiosity and connection to village life was amazing and they spent a lot of time getting to know locals and helping out in the school, making friends, talking about development issues, and of course looking out for the Baobab Youth. Our daily conversations at the “Spot” and at mealtimes were at times, funny, gross, illuminating, interesting, over the top and occasionally delving into “Eat Pray Love” territory (insert personal opinion here). We learned and have now adopted as our personal mantra,  Kwasi’s Ghana phrase “Happy Yourself” as “No one go happy you”.  No kidding.  Now that we are back, this group is galvanizing to direct their energies to better the village in whatever way works best, as well as wanting to keep the connection strong between themselves, and keep that sense of daily community present. I am extremely grateful to ALL the parents who have taken the leap with us to go to Ghana with teenagers each of the three times we have gone. Here’s to you all. Yes it is crazy and yes we did it.

On our last night in Ghana, at a special outdoor restaurant in Accra, we thanked and paid tribute to these wonderful individuals with a special Kente cloth woven with the Dagbamete name  in a nearby town by a master weaver.  THANK YOU.

Donations: Canada to Ghana

During the eighteen months of planning and fundraising for the trip, we also were raising money and collecting much needed supplies for some of the cultural groups and schools and libraries we were visiting. What a pleasure to be able to present these while on our trip. Thank you to the greater  Ottawa Community, both businesses and individuals for their generosity,  as well as the Baobab families for gathering,  packing and transporting these items to Ghana. For a full list of cash and in-kind donations see our donor page.

Our first opportunity came when we visited Kwasi’s mother’s village of Dzogadze to see the amazing performance of Atsiabekor and other pieces (see blog entry #13). We always give monetary donations to support the cultural groups performing to us in this village,  but this time we were able to give more than usual to the groups, as well as some money and school supplies to the community on general.

For almost twenty years members of Baobab Community have facilitated donations to the local school in the village of Dagbamete, our home in Ghana. This year was no exception. During our last week, we gathered outside one of the buildings one morning where the students, teachers and some elders and school officials had assembled. our manager Hayley presented the Kindergarten supplies, geometry sets and sports equipment, as well as presenting cash which enabled the school to buy a new computer and printer which they had been sorely needing. The students at the school gave a couple of wonderful cultural performances but the highlight was the Kindergarten class reciting their poems….absolutely CHARMING, especially our special friend Esther Dunyo (or as she says, ” My name is Dunyo, Estah“)  granddaughter of Kwasi, who captured all our hearts  from the beginning of our stay, with her affection and mischievous spirit (see her in sunglasses in Ghana blog entry #3)

The final destination of the donations was reached on our last full day in Ghana, when we visited the Nima Library for a cultural exchange with the Kathy Knowles Theatre Troupe. This library is part of the OSU Library Fund libraries in Ghana, an incredible story and organization to check out if you don’t know them.  This was an amazing afternoon of  artistic exchange….young dancers and drummers impressed and inspired the Baobab Youth, with exuberant performance skills and smiles that could knock you back a few feet if you were directly in front of them. After viewing a few pieces by the resident group, our kids reluctantly and nervously moved to the stage area. Knowing they could not even come close to that incredible energy and style, they nonetheless gave their own “best performance” full of the smiles and the joy that they feel when drumming and dancing. It worked. After only  a minute, the Ghanaian kids were cheering and encouraging our kids on, THRILLED that these kids form Canada were interested and skilled enough to “try” which made the performance even BETTER. Could not have asked for a better exchange. The drum and dance was followed by a funny and moral tale by the Theatre group, written by their director Martin Legend (is that a great name or what?), an inspirational leader for these young people in one of the poorest areas of Accra. During a break in the program, we were able to present Martin Legend and Joana Felih with bags of donations of paper, pens, pencils, backpacks (which went to the performers) shoes and clothing for young children books for the various libraries and a cash donation of $775 USD for the cultural group. It was a pretty special afternoon for sure and a nice way to send us back to Canada, after an amazing trip.