Baba (I'm sorry)

After recovering somewhat from an illness that slowed me, I was able to jump back into work, hiring four masons so they could continue their tremendous work. As of today they have paved three floors, three chalkboards, and finally finished with the plastering/dressing around the frames. Additionally, I set them out on repairs to the first structure, first on the face wall, and secondly an interior support wall. While these masons have been diligently working (minus one laborer, who came in drunk after lunch), the team of carpenters have been planing and shaping more wood for desks. In the midst of their work I have been able to run around the city as usual, making purchases and transporting the goods back to the site.

I started to write this article yesterday. However, the day before was a complete disappointment, and so I needed to reset, review, and then deliver...


After discussing plans to accommodate the team of volunteers in the last week, the man whom we had already met and discussed the offer with, decided to discuss a price the same day the volunteers were coming in (Sunday). This came as a bit of a shock as the paramount chief had been the man we went through in order to secure the offer a week before anything took place. As I rushed into the village I met with Godwin and another rep from the other NGO to meet with the head of the household. After an awkward discussion of his past-disgust with a separate episode involving volunteers back in July, he declared he would not budge on the price of 500 Ghana Cedis (almost 400 USD). All the planning and organizing that had happened, quickly resulted in chaos. Leaving the household highly aggravated, we decided to frantically inquire for another option. And after a couple of let downs we eventually had to give into a cost for a low budget motel. This became the decision as it was best not to make the problems aware to the team of volunteers, or else we might inhibit their efforts of goodwill. After the day ended, I was able to sleep and regroup for next mornings work.

There is a cost that attaches to volunteering. The self sacrifice is not measurable. It is not something someone can understand from reading; it is only understood through experience. It is equally true in understanding the life of many Africans. In the case of the foreign volunteer however, each scenario of self sacrifice presents different challenges. The foreign volunteer cannot exist without a stage of tribulations. This critical stage captures the ambition momentarily and forces a decision of the volunteer. The choice they have is to diligently push through, or simply quit. Although they may be perceived as mindless, or there actions 'a waste of time', the hardships push the volunteer to act in despair or to endure. It can create bitterness, disdain, or even resentment within an individual, in helping the needy. Either way the work of a volunteer is more than a monetary, or timely sacrifice.

After only a short time of working in any third world country, I would assume most volunteers ponder 'why such developmental problems exist' ...Or 'what can be done to fix them'. In all honesty there is no immediate solution to these questions, and often times it feels discouraging when finding out how deep the problems go, and how entangled they have become. In relation to this project and my experience, I focus on a book (about the genocide in Rwanda) that I had read while here. One particular passage seems to coincide with the concepts mentioned above.

"I often found it helpful to think of central Africa in the mid-1990's as comparable to late medieval Europe-plagued by serial wars of tribe and religion, corrupt despots, predatory elites and a superstitious peasantry, festering with disease, stagnating in poverty, and laden with promise. Of course, a key process that happened had helped European peoples pull toward greater prosperity and saner governance was colonialism, which allowed for the exporting of their aggression and the importing of wealth. Ex-colonies don't enjoy such opportunities as they tumble into the family of modern nation-states; whatever forms of government they come up with, in their struggles to build sustaining political traditions, are likely to be transitional."

Generally speaking, Africa has a trade deficit; it imports more than it exports. Ghana has that same problem. This has remained the problem since the time in which Africa became exploited long ago. Fortunately there are some reports of progress and more self-reliance around the continent. At least a lot of 'progress' in that there is less civil conflict. My thoughts about this and the concept of 'sacrifice' have often led to discussions with some of the locals. I also see why they are constantly asking to come to the U.S. as they know of a land of opportunity, little conflict, and economic prosperity. Ironically, when I ask what they would do when they get to the U.S. most of them reply "I don't know ... maybe relax."

To close the article I want to point out that without good Samaritans more hardships would exist for these people. It is because of several benevolent people (mostly of the middle class) that the third world is able to gain a small amount each year to ease their sufferings. I know that if the kids and the community of Agitome (Kpetoe/Wodome area) were able to go to the U.S. some would eventually visit their supporters, and say a big thank-you for helping them. Personally, I know that some will have great achievements and succeed in the future.