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Starting Work
Thank you so much for all of your lovely messages. They made me smile, even the one where Glenn is still happy to trade me in for a goat! I was chatted up today, but I declined again! Another man also did some kind of suggestive eye movement, so I sped up! Terri - I love the optimism, there is no such thing as running hot water in Ghana… cold showers all the way. Zoe - Jenna brought loads of mini cheddars, Pringles and biscuits don't panic. Oh and thank you for your puzzle book, it has got us through a few boring hours!
Thursday
On with the journal… On Thursday we woke up quite early, despite the offer of a lie in. We were called for breakfast by Fouzia, who is the maid (we think) for the Dr. we are staying with, we were relieved to find that it was bread and strawberry jam. Kamal picked us up later on mopeds and took us into Tamale to meet the Director of Social Services, who would receive our suitcases of toys on behalf of the orphanage and ensure that they got there (he was not there). It was a bit scary, we were interrogated by Madam Patience. It really did feel like an interrogation, it felt like she didn't really believe that we were here to help, but as Jenna said, if this is their equivalent of a CRB check, it was pretty tame! We seemed to spend the rest of the day going backwards and forward. First we visited the orphanage. It was pretty basic, as we had expected. But the staff seemed friendly and the children instantly ran to us shouting hello, grabbing us and hugging us. We thought it was going to be ok. We had our first Ghanaian meal in a restaurant which was Jollof again. I liked it but I could tell that Jenna was worrying about getting a funny tummy. Kamal also owns a shop so we spent a lot of time watching the world go by. The children are so fascinated by us. They walk past smiling and then pluck up the courage to say hello. The goats wander everywhere, past the women carrying things on their head. We were given a guided tour of Tamale, it is the smells that we notice more than anything else, they are really overwhelming, I will never moan about the smell of manure again!
Later we went back to the Social Welfare office to meet the Director and hand over our bags. It was an interesting journey on the back of a moped with our large suitcases! My worst journey so far (please don't panic, we are safe!!) They were really pleased to receive them and they insisted on doing a formal handover with photos and a little speech, very strange!
Kamal then took us to see the swimming pool that is at a clubhouse out of town. It looked great, we were looking forward to using it! We also passed by the new football stadium, it was very impressive. Would have looked good even in England.
In the evening we finally met the doctor who is a researcher. He is part of an institute that looks at local fisheries and how they can improve, including the quality of the water (which is why we even have drinking water). We also met Ralph, who is another volunteer staying here from Holland, although I had met him first thing this morning when I burst into the toilet and there he was sitting on the loo. Oops! He is a bit weird, he stares for too long when he speaks and minces everywhere in his pants of towel, Yuck!
We spent ages that night trying to put up our mosquito nets, until Fouzia finally came to our rescue and helped us... it only took about 2 hours!
Friday
Our first day at the orphanage. Kamal picked us up, I think the best way to get it across is to copy the email Jenna & I sent to Eric after our experience!
Hi Eric We have settled in well in Tamale and Kamal is looking after us very well. We have experienced lots of Ghanian culture and food. Our host family are also brilliant, very warm and welcoming. We are very happy with all of the VIGs arrangements, however we have some concerns about the orphanage placement. Perhaps our greatest concern is that although the children have cloth nappies, these quickly become very wet, to the point where there are puddles of urine all over the floor. The children are then playing in these puddles, so they become wet all over, as well as their toys. This also means that we go home covered in urine. We tried to ask if we could change the nappies, but it was clear that they were only changed at set times. The children are also treated with little affection and are often picked up by their arm. In England this would be considered wrong, therefore we find it hard to deal with. We do understand that ways are different here but it was still a shock, we had prepared ourselves for beatings. For most of the time we were in the playroom with the children. We found very few toys, lots of them were dirty or broken. We felt that the children cried a lot through boredom and to seek attention. When Jenna went to ask a question, she found that the other women were asleep. This morning we had a conversation with another volunteer who told us about some other volunteers who had similar experiences. As well as these they also found that any donations that were made did not get to the children but were taken home by the women, We are very concerned about this as our children in England brought their own things in to donate and would be heartbroken if the children do not receive them, The volunteers also decorated the playroom and found that these decorations were removed the next day. We have spoken to Kamal about the donations and about the nappies. He helped us to buy some better quality nappies as we thought that this would help a little. However we both came to Ghana hoping to make a difference and are concerned that our efforts will not be welcomed or have an impact. We want the children to have nappies that don't leak. We discussed buying 'pampers' but realise that this will be too expensive. So we then talked about funding disposable nappies when we returned to England. We would only want to do this if we believed that the resources were getting through. Having good nappies would increase the cleanliness of the home and perhaps allow more time for the women to spend with the children, as well as volunteers having a good time and ensuring that they recommend the programme to others. Sorry for the long email! We know that change happens over time, but know that You, Rose & Kamal are dedicated to make it happen, so we thought you had a right to know. We hope that you can help us to make a difference. Dawn & Jenna
We left feeling really upset and angry at the conditions the children were in, plus we were very filthy! We quickly agreed to only wear one outfit to the orphanage and to leave it here in Ghana!
We were so down we just chilled for the afternoon (after scrubbing ourselves) and then I spoke to Glenn and sobbed to him on the phone!!
- comments
Leila Oh mate. Ofsted would have a field day! I can't imagine being there and seeing what you have seen. I totally understand why you are so upset as it's not an acceptable thing for children to be neglected to such extents. I really hope you can get some things changed - even if it's just the better quality nappies and new toys. Just remember that the whilst you are there the children will be benefitting from having you and Jenna there which IS making a direct difference to their lives, albeit a temporary one. Play with them and cuddle them but don't end up bringing one back with you or else I'll have to start calling you Angelina or Mads! Love you mate. xxxxx
Sue Hi Dawn and Jenna What a shocking start to your adventure! I hope that Eric has listened to your concerns and that the situation has improved (even a little bit would make such a difference I'm sure). I'm thinking of you both all the time. Keep your chins up! Lots of love Sue xx
Zoe Crikey love! How awful! Well done for writing the letter, very honest and frank! Lets hope it gets the message across so change can begin! Keep up the fabulous work! Really glad you're eating, have thought about you loads actually .. often wondering if you're hungry !!!! You do make it sound as though our woofing experience was a luxury!! I bet you'd kill for a chocolat chaud! Im not even sure of your return date but I think it may be soon?? Anyway, I'm storing all the goss up .. not sure there is any actually ..and i'm eating on your behalf!! Enjoy the crosswords! Big love, missing you xx
Julie Heartbreaking reading Dawn, well done both of you for the letter, lucky we have got people like you two in the world,really hope it makes a difference. Hope you are managing to stay well and getting enough to eat (or you will you be a size 8 by the time you get back) lots of love Julie L xxxxxx
Terri & Paul oh god dawn!!! i've got a lump in my throat just reading about it! how can people treat children like that, if only the women showed them some love the rest wouldn't be half as bad, at least you'd know they were getting the love and attention. I REALLY hope they take notice of your email and that things start to improve. Try not to let the children pick up on any sadness, they're very good at that! just do what you do with Joshua and Harvey and they'll love you. I'd quite happily send a pack of nappies a week, if i knew it went to the children and made it better for them. i know 1 pack wouldn't last long at all!!! Dawn i ask you now, bring them home with you!!! i'd look after them :( Leila is absolutely right, just you being there is making it better for them( althought she's wrong about not bringing them home lol). i'm soooo proud of you, i couldn't do it i'd be crying every day and would def bring them home with me. Love you loads xxxxx