Highlights from my first 3 days donating programs in Ghana and co-creating the Book, Ghana is…
It is difficult to upload photos from here, so you will need to create your own photos from the words below:
A breakfast of fresh pineapple and hot tea. Abigail one of the librarians at Nungua Community Library met me at Auntie Joana’s house to accompany me to the the Tro-tro (mini-van type taxi) station. What an amazing mass of confusion that place is! You hear the shouts of, “Nungua Nungua Nungua! Takoradi Takoradi Takoradi!” You see hand gestures of circles and pointing indicating where the tro-tro is headed. Grateful Abigail came with me or I would have been LOST! After an hour drive, weaving through traffic
Arrived in Nungua Community, on the outskirts of Accra city and walked the 2km (or more) to the library. Wound through several primary school compounds, a market bustling with the selling of fruits, vegetables and various plastic ware and glasses and leather goods.
The library is Gorgeous! It’s so bright and cheery, there are several cherry wood tables and also round tables with short rope stools. It’s inviting with yellow painted wood beams. It has a very open air feel to it.
The librarians were really attentive during the workshop. I was able to share several stories and talk about Why Storytelling and Traditional tales are so important; the preservation of culture as well as the lessons contained in each of the stories. It is a tradition we need to uphold. The librarians also understood the Power of Story in one’s history; the fact that he who tells the Story holds the power. The storyteller is the one with the Power to shape our history. Until the lion gets to tell his story, the Hunt will always glorify the Hunter. So true and so powerful for us to remember. We reflected on this proverb and it’s significance in Ghana. They all understood that if the British are the only ones telling the Story a huge piece of history is lost.
Grateful they were able to pay attention through the entire alphabet of activities and the participation in telling of stories as well as the Ghana Is writing exercise. I think they enjoyed it and their writing was quite good! Seth, Samohey, Lizzy and Abigail all wrote well about their beliefs for helping others and why Ghana is a peaceful place. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of their writing. YAY!
Lunch of red-red (a spicy stew) on rice and a taste of banku and okra stew. Delish!
Afternoon presenting the How to treat a book puppet play, The giant Yam, sooo much fun to tell to this exuberant group of 45 children and also act out 3 little fish and big bad shark. Can’t wait to load the photographs. The kids were just awesome! Also told Many Voices. These children had such GREAT energy!!!
Home on the Tro-tro to another surprise! Joanna got avocados for me after I said yesterday how much I love them. She is so thoughtful. I need to send a present to her! I did give her one of my books for the library too. She is so deeply thoughtful!
Leftover jollof rice, avocado and tomato salad and eggplant! YUM! Lucky me!
Spent the evening chatting with Joanna and she shared samples of all the books Kathy Knowles has created here in Ghana; they are Wonderful! And inspire me to create more; I need to ask Hilary what the cost is to design the more simple ones…. These are great because they feature local culture; they are for children and they are also universally appealing. The photos are vibrant and feature topics such as Peter’s Wish (walking) and different colors. As well as adult literacy; a hairdresser learning how to read, a seamstress learning how to read and the positive impact on their being able to find work. The books are beautifully done; both in photographs shared, culture shared and general layout! Inspiration for next Chapter 🙂
To bed at 8.30pm! Tired and quite happy!