Over the past four weeks we have been conducting about 3 or 4 out of school workshops each week. I think the out of school workshops have been my favourites. We have had meetings with seamstresses, hairdressers, draftsmen, taxi and trotro divers, market women, and did a series of radio shows on Kings radio which broadcasts all throughout the entire Ashanti region of Ghana.
There is something very rewarding about doing in-school workshops. The students are all in their uniforms, crammed into small classrooms (three to a desk) eager to learn and excited to see us. However, although these workshops are essential, the out of school workshops were the ones that really got me excited about our project. We met with hundreds of young adults (but normally only 5 to 10 at a time) and were able to discuss issues in regards to HIV/AIDS that many had never been given the opportunity to learn about before; either because they were not able to attend school or because they finished school before HIV/AIDS education was on the education systems radar.
In these small groups the people we met with felt comfortable to ask questions and we were able to afford them the personal attention they deserved. The questions they asked were very interesting. Questions such as “can a mosquito infect me with the virus?” or “if I kiss someone, am I at risk?”
Typically, in each presentation we discussed the modes of transmission, prevention, played a high risk / low risk game where we would give participants scenarios and ask if they were dangerous or not, do a condom demonstration, and then take questions. But it was nice that this structure was informal and a lot of the time we would go where ever the workshop took us based on what the participants needed to learn. Normally we would make appointments for only half an hour, but by the time we were ready to leave, we had spent over an hour and a half with each group.
The only area of the workshop that ever left me feeling like our work was not finished, was when it came to application. We could discuss how you get HIV and how you protect yourself, and we could discuss the criteria to evaluate risk, however when it came time for participants to apply what they had learned, they found it challenging.
I think this was the result of two things. First of all, these misconceptions are so engrained into the thought process here, that one 1 ½ hour conversation is not going to change someone’s beliefs right away. So we could explain that you can only get HIV through blood, vaginal fluid, semen or from a mother to a baby and the participant would understand, but then would find it very difficult to apply this knowledge to how he or she felt about sharing a drink with someone who is HIV positive.
The second reason why I think application is challenging for many people here is because application or logic is not emphasized. The school system is very rigid and focuses on mathematics, engineering, science, etc. There is not a lot of room for critical thinking and as a result, those skills are not developed as well as they are in a country like Canada. Also, there is a very formal social hierarchy here. In a school, you respect your teacher and repeat what he or she says. In your work place, you respect your master who tells you what to do. And in your home, you respect your father who makes your decisions for you. Questioning the logic behind things or even having to think for yourself (at times) is not really emphasized.
That said, I still feel we got through to many people and I have come to terms with the fact that someone has to take the first step. If you need to be told that you can share a cup with someone who is HIV positive 5 times before you believe it, at least we got to do it that first time. The Ghanaian peer educators, who have all learned so much in the past two months and who are ready to keep doing their work voluntarily, will have to be the ones to do it 4 more.
By Sarah Beldick
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Lake Bosumtwi
May 25-27
by: Akosua Michelle
This weekend we went to Lake Bosumtwi, about 2 hours by tro-tro from Konongo. I was very excited, as it had been on my to-do list since pre-departure in Canada, though the suggestion met with early resistance because of the fear of bilharzia. However, after several tour books and tourists confirmed that the lake is bilharzia-free, consensus was reached and we were off!
Lake Bosumtwi is a true crater lake- created by a meteorite that would have crashed into earth about a million years ago! It is the home of the Ashanti god Twi, and it is where Ashanti souls are said to go when they die. Because of its significance, certain unwritten restrictions exist on the lake- for one, the use of dugout canoes is verboten (I don't know why). As such, there is a special style of plank canoe used by the fishermen on the lake. I was lucky enough to be able to try one, and it was an expierience! Not too difficult to use by just one person, but pretty much impossible when 2 or 3 people want to share the same plank!
We stayed at the Lake Point Guesthouse, run by Nana, an Austrian, and Stephen, her Ghanaian husband. They were both cordial and kept the guesthouse in impeccable condition. Our rooms (actually self-contained huts) were breathtaking, and the bathrooms were clean!! Very very exciting to find clean bathrooms in Ghana.
I went off on my own on day 2 to hike the surrounding hillsides. Within half an hour of starting my hike up a dry stream bed, I found myself deep in the jungle, and loving it. I passed small plantations, followed by bamboo forest, cleaved rocks and hillsides, and finally the top of the hills and the source of the former stream. I was only able to stay at the top briefly as I was low on water and being burnt alive away from the shade of the forest, but the experience of being in the middle of the rainforest, away from civilization, was one of the highlights of my trip.
The food at the Lake Point was another highlight...I'll admit I found it ridiculously overpriced (Canadian prices in Ghana!), but it was so worth it...Sarah, our cook, is amazing, but even her food can't beat cake and ice cream.
We hadmade a pact that weekend to leave work behind for a few days while we were at the Lake, which we did (very) successfully, and we left on Sunday refreshed and ready for another week of activities.
by: Akosua Michelle
This weekend we went to Lake Bosumtwi, about 2 hours by tro-tro from Konongo. I was very excited, as it had been on my to-do list since pre-departure in Canada, though the suggestion met with early resistance because of the fear of bilharzia. However, after several tour books and tourists confirmed that the lake is bilharzia-free, consensus was reached and we were off!
Lake Bosumtwi is a true crater lake- created by a meteorite that would have crashed into earth about a million years ago! It is the home of the Ashanti god Twi, and it is where Ashanti souls are said to go when they die. Because of its significance, certain unwritten restrictions exist on the lake- for one, the use of dugout canoes is verboten (I don't know why). As such, there is a special style of plank canoe used by the fishermen on the lake. I was lucky enough to be able to try one, and it was an expierience! Not too difficult to use by just one person, but pretty much impossible when 2 or 3 people want to share the same plank!
We stayed at the Lake Point Guesthouse, run by Nana, an Austrian, and Stephen, her Ghanaian husband. They were both cordial and kept the guesthouse in impeccable condition. Our rooms (actually self-contained huts) were breathtaking, and the bathrooms were clean!! Very very exciting to find clean bathrooms in Ghana.
I went off on my own on day 2 to hike the surrounding hillsides. Within half an hour of starting my hike up a dry stream bed, I found myself deep in the jungle, and loving it. I passed small plantations, followed by bamboo forest, cleaved rocks and hillsides, and finally the top of the hills and the source of the former stream. I was only able to stay at the top briefly as I was low on water and being burnt alive away from the shade of the forest, but the experience of being in the middle of the rainforest, away from civilization, was one of the highlights of my trip.
The food at the Lake Point was another highlight...I'll admit I found it ridiculously overpriced (Canadian prices in Ghana!), but it was so worth it...Sarah, our cook, is amazing, but even her food can't beat cake and ice cream.
We hadmade a pact that weekend to leave work behind for a few days while we were at the Lake, which we did (very) successfully, and we left on Sunday refreshed and ready for another week of activities.
In School Projects
By Colleen 'Akua' Robinson
The Canadians and the Ghanaian peer educators travel to a number of schools throughout the Ashanti Region ( Konongo, Morso and Odumasi)
It's hard getting up so early in the morning to be there for 7am, sometimes 8am. I don't know how these students do it!
Each workshop consist of over 70 students per class. Sometimes less sometimes more. The classes are split up into JSS1 and JSS2
The session normally begins with morning devotions ( a song and prayer... You should see these kids dancing and praising God... it's so refreshing to see) and then we begin with our workshop. They are so well disciplined. They refer to you as Madame so and so... and when you say goodmorning class, they all rise and say goodmorning all in unisen... they're like robots.
The students have been educated on HIV/AIDS. Topics covered were the Modes of transmission, Prevention methods, Risky Behaviours and Care and Support.
Each group has delivered the workshop in a participatory learning style to get all students involved. Activities and skits were incorporated into the workshop to provide a better understanding and comprehension of what was being taught. Because of the literacy level, at times the workshop would have to be delivered in or translated in Twi.
I was amazed to hear some of the questions being asked from students who are from the ages of 12-16yrs.
Example of questions were: 1. Why can't the immune system fight off the disease? 2. How long does it take for the HIV virus to develop into AIDS? 3. How can a pregnant mother protect her child from contracting the HIV virus? 4. Why is there a treatment for HIV but no cure for AIDS? and so on.
The outcome of the workshops left not only students running to us, the peer educators with more questions, but also the teachers.
I'm privileged to be working with these students.
Next task: I need to from a YLC group!
The Canadians and the Ghanaian peer educators travel to a number of schools throughout the Ashanti Region ( Konongo, Morso and Odumasi)
It's hard getting up so early in the morning to be there for 7am, sometimes 8am. I don't know how these students do it!
Each workshop consist of over 70 students per class. Sometimes less sometimes more. The classes are split up into JSS1 and JSS2
The session normally begins with morning devotions ( a song and prayer... You should see these kids dancing and praising God... it's so refreshing to see) and then we begin with our workshop. They are so well disciplined. They refer to you as Madame so and so... and when you say goodmorning class, they all rise and say goodmorning all in unisen... they're like robots.
The students have been educated on HIV/AIDS. Topics covered were the Modes of transmission, Prevention methods, Risky Behaviours and Care and Support.
Each group has delivered the workshop in a participatory learning style to get all students involved. Activities and skits were incorporated into the workshop to provide a better understanding and comprehension of what was being taught. Because of the literacy level, at times the workshop would have to be delivered in or translated in Twi.
I was amazed to hear some of the questions being asked from students who are from the ages of 12-16yrs.
Example of questions were: 1. Why can't the immune system fight off the disease? 2. How long does it take for the HIV virus to develop into AIDS? 3. How can a pregnant mother protect her child from contracting the HIV virus? 4. Why is there a treatment for HIV but no cure for AIDS? and so on.
The outcome of the workshops left not only students running to us, the peer educators with more questions, but also the teachers.
I'm privileged to be working with these students.
Next task: I need to from a YLC group!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Second Kumasi Experience
This time in Kumasi, Eva (a peer educator that stays with us at the YMCA) and Ellen (who runs the Ashanti district YMCA and is in charge of our project) joined us. We arrived on Friday and settled into the Guest Line Lodge. We were introduced to a Lebanese man that Ellen knows and sometimes works with. He took us out for dinner at a Lebanese restaurant where we endulged in the best Lebanese food I've ever had. We stuffed ourselves and smoked the most amazing Sheisha. It was definitely a luxurious experience.
That night it was ladies night at Kiravi night club, the same night club we danced at the weekend before. This time it was so packed it was even difficult to dance at times. All-in-all it was a good time and we went back to the hotel very exhausted.
We all collectively decided that we would never stay at Guest Line Lodge again after the horrible night of sleep we had. A church service started at 1 am and lasted until about 3 that kept us up. Then when that was over about an hour later there was a couple fighting in the building next door that kept us up for the rest of the night. Noise travels far here.
On Saturday we visited the Cultural Center where some of us bought traditional African gifts for friends and family back home. Later in the afternoon we went to the Ghana Social Club, which is run by the same Lebanese man, to watch a soccer match that Mosquito and Banana (two boys who work at the Kumasi YMCA and often takes us around) were in. It was the Ghanaians against the Lebanese. It was weird to see so many Lebanese people in Ghana.
We ate dinner at a restaurant called Vic Babboo's. The meal was decent but made some of us a bit sick. That night we were looking forward to a good night's sleep but unfortunately that didn't happen. The power was out and so the hotel was using a generator which made such a loud noise it was almost impossible to sleep.
The next morning some of our team went to Banana's church in the morning. Others stayed in to rest. We left shortly after that to Konongo.
That night it was ladies night at Kiravi night club, the same night club we danced at the weekend before. This time it was so packed it was even difficult to dance at times. All-in-all it was a good time and we went back to the hotel very exhausted.
We all collectively decided that we would never stay at Guest Line Lodge again after the horrible night of sleep we had. A church service started at 1 am and lasted until about 3 that kept us up. Then when that was over about an hour later there was a couple fighting in the building next door that kept us up for the rest of the night. Noise travels far here.
On Saturday we visited the Cultural Center where some of us bought traditional African gifts for friends and family back home. Later in the afternoon we went to the Ghana Social Club, which is run by the same Lebanese man, to watch a soccer match that Mosquito and Banana (two boys who work at the Kumasi YMCA and often takes us around) were in. It was the Ghanaians against the Lebanese. It was weird to see so many Lebanese people in Ghana.
We ate dinner at a restaurant called Vic Babboo's. The meal was decent but made some of us a bit sick. That night we were looking forward to a good night's sleep but unfortunately that didn't happen. The power was out and so the hotel was using a generator which made such a loud noise it was almost impossible to sleep.
The next morning some of our team went to Banana's church in the morning. Others stayed in to rest. We left shortly after that to Konongo.
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