Third Week in Senchi Ferry

Reflections and Photos by Kathleen Ismail
My heart is like the sea today….swells of in and out. In, the excitement of returning home to loved ones; out, the sadness of a tide drifting away from other loved ones.

Yes, I have loved many more these last three weeks. I have loved my Obronies, the remarkable intelligent, giving, patient and open Americans who joined me on the odyssey of sharing, serving and learning in this chosen community of Senchi Ferry. We have become siblings in our family of Ghana. And just outside our St James home are the community members, whom we too have grown to love and understand as we have worked side by side during oppressively hot days to achieve the common goals that they have set for their children. It is all about health and learning…..they want their children to learn. They don’t talk about cars and fancy houses. They talk about growing a mind and serving in a fulfilling job that allows one to help family and community. And this community is a community of harmony. There are poor and less poor. There are Christians and Muslims. They live in peace and harmony. The only difference is in their dress and not in their beliefs and values. To them, God is one God to be worshipped and glorified in your manner of choice. And this, this wisdom coming from the small, unknown, unmapped village of Senchi Ferry. How Washington and Palestine and Israel could learn from these wise few.

Our day was rich, our days have all been rich. We began with a visit with the Queen Mother, the Chiefs, our Host, the teachers and construction crew. It was to be a small ceremony of thanks and parting, acknowledging each other’s contribution to each other and our joined contribution to the village of Senchi. Our Team had collected our humble gifts and presented them to the Chiefs, as required by the Global Volunteers “no individual gifts” policy. In turn, the Chiefs handed a box to each school Principal and to the head of the Clinic. The items are to be shared by all.

Knowing that the community had informed Global Volunteers of the need for team uniforms for the volleyball and soccer teams, I donated these uniforms to the Chiefs on behalf of Global Volunteers. These are gifts to the schools to be used by the players for the duration of their performance on the team.

Frances, one of the coaches, invited us to join him as he handed out the uniforms to the boys. They were thrilled. In their important game next week, they will be a team pulled together in spirit, teamwork, effort and yellow jerseys and pants to shine on their game! I am so happy.

At the closing of this morning’s ceremony with the village leaders, I was generously given a traditional outfit by Joyce, my co-teacher. She and the Queen Mother hustled me into the Queen’s chambers, where I discarded my western dress in favor of this hand made, gift of love and appreciation. I stood proud in my new outfit when cheers and clapping rang in my ears as I approached the steps to display my fine attire to the crowd.

I walked proudly through the community back to the school for a last day with “my kids”. There is no such thing as a proper good-bye and I informed the children it was not “good-bye” but “see you later”.

As always lunch was wonderful as we all gulped down our last repasts prepared by our two distinguished cooks, Monica and Millicent. Then it was off to the community for our last stroll and our last day of reading with the children. They, being a little older, know what today meant. No more of these Obronies, whom they have come to love. We all pushed back tears and did our best to have one good long and final read. As we walked our familiar path back home to the St James, the familiar band of “regulars” hung on our arms and talked about when we will be back. No one asked for anything but good memories. It was touching.

That evening the heavens opened up and it poured so hard we lost our electricity and feared losing our roof or being swept into the gutters and out to sea. It was an extraordinary downpour the likes I have never seen.

But I know why. These are the tears of heaven. We are all crying in joy for the gift of new friendships yet crying in pain as we part for distant shores. In truth, there is no sadness; so let us call this rain “the tears of joy” for when love is real and love is strong, it follows you always in that special place, your heart.

Quote of the Day:
"If your plan is for a year, plant rice. If your plan is for a decade, plant trees. If your plan is for a lifetime, educate children." 

By Confucius

The Work Continues

Back at the construction site, more progress. All the bricks and mortar are in place in the first section. I am told that on Monday we will start poring sand to level the ground. Cant’ wait!!

Lucy and I arrive at the school to a scene of eager faces, who race to greet us as they do everyday…..they hug and paw and entangle themselves into our more that welcoming arms.

Ben was kind enough to photocopy a number of projects for me so I am well prepared for the day. I remain deeply proud of my band of little learners as they enthusiastically engage in our morning of activities. I feel like an extremely proud parent of my 22 young ones when they shout out the correct answers with confidence and glee. How quickly the day goes by and we discover over lunch that Katie has had a packed morning too with a scramble of non-stop activities at the clinic this morning. She reluctantly pulled herself away and arrived home just in time for lunch.

After a quick rest, we strolled our familiar path through town to the library, where our students have gathered in anticipation of another afternoon of reading. But….hold on, girls….we have a surprise for you!

While Nana and Deb gather the boys under the shade of the trees for another tasty book, Katie and I played “hooky” with the gaggle of girls. It was our beckoning that drew them from their beloved books as we engaged them (and ourselves) in an afternoon game remembered from my childhood. It was a game of folded paper with numbers and counting with a unique message under the number of your choice. Yes, this was a learning experience for them and we all had a glorious time-sharing a game passed from girl to girl, from generation to generation and now from continent to continent.

At 3:00pm we make our journey back to tutor our kids. They are waiting for us and this time someone has the keys to open the library. Katie and Sam decided to draw tattoos on all of the kid’s arms and it’s a big success.

We are back at the ranch now at 5:30pm. The Big Party starts at 7:00pm with everyone from the Queen Mother to several Chiefs, great food and lots of wild dancing had by all. The Global Volunteers team had to say a few words about their experiences during the past two weeks and we all talked about the love of the projects and the people from the village. I could feel the love from all until Ruben asked me to dance!

As we strolled back to our peaceful little corner of Senchi, a cold drink and a shower, I couldn’t help but think that we only have a brief three days left. How did it all go by so fast? Through the gift of camera and an armload of pictures, I know I will remember this heart full, warm and beloved community. I shall sit by my fire in Vermont pouring over little faces and dooryards and grins of the elders with the wisdom streaks across their faces and know I was there.

On this day, the 25th Anniversary of the beginning of Global Volunteers I am reminded of this coming together of two worlds and this love developed between multiple people from multiple generations and say with confidence and conviction…
YES WE CAN!

Quote of the Day:
“Literacy is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her fulfill potential.” Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General September 8, 1997 International Literacy Day.


Wednesday Journal
Sam continued on to her school but the rest of us poked our heads into the junior high class to observe their religious prayers and song. They sang a beautiful hymn led by the instructor and you could see that many of the students took this time very seriously and spoke to God in their own way.

After a few minutes, I decided I’d better get moving to the clinic. I found an empty waiting room. The head nurses were having a meeting so I went to the back room to wait for the day to begin, which never really happened. I think I saw 2 patients come in all morning. So instead of dishing out meds, I engaged the 2 guys, probably in their 20s, who keep the books in a discussion about religion and politics. One of them was especially interested in my opinions on President Obama and his promises and expectations the Iraq War, religion in school and so on. It was refreshing to hear such a young person be so aware and concerned about other countries and cultures other than his own. He enjoyed comparing Ghana to the US.

After lunch we head back to the schoolyard for tutoring. I’m reading a book about bugs with my girls and we get to a story about a certain beetle that some kids will catch, tie a string around and fly it around like a kite. I start to laugh and say how silly that sounds until all of my girls are excitedly telling e how they do this! The cultural differences never cease to amaze and entertain me.

After tutoring, we go on a walk through New Akrade, the other village Global Volunteers works in. There are many children out and about, playing with soccer balls and their own homemade spin wheels. On the way back to the guesthouse, Benjamin takes us on a small detour to show us where he lives when he is not busy tending to all our wants, needs and questions. His pride in having an apartment he can call his own is apparent and we are all delighted to get a glimpse into his life outside of being our gracious team leader.
-Katie Schumacher

Quote of the Day:
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”
By J K Rowling.