Funds and my intended goal

As of now there have been many expenditures. The money spent on the 3 room block for the school totaled 6,000 dollars. Since the use of the money raised, we have been able to raise another 1,200 dollars. After the first trip I have spent 200 USD twice on salaries for the teachers -so they would continue working (the money wasn't used all at one time of course), and health care for Godwin when he was ill. Additionally I have spent about 100 USD on an alternator for the van (that was taken form the 6,000 USD). Below is a list of what the expenditure breakdown was for the first trip I went on.

Some purchases (where some of your money went)

Before trip
Plane ticket -$1,300
Program fee to the Volunteer Organization -$300
Passport/VISA expenses -$300
Vaccinations -$300
Miscellaneous (medicine, clothes etc.) -$200
Approximate cost to go -$2,400

During trip/for the orphanage
1 Fan -$20
1 Stove/grill with 3 burners -$17.40
Gas Cylinder -$33.57
3 yards of hose/regulator -$10
15 kg Bag of rice (last day celebration) -$17.86
Additional (food for orphanage) -$13.57
6 Pair of (good/used) Shoes -$11.07
Kids Movies -$1.79

This can give you an idea as to what the cost was to me, the first time around. However, it became quite different with the construction of the school block on the second trip, even though some of the expenses were similar from the first trip (ie plane ticket). Other items on the first trip were no longer expenses on the second trip, ie program fee.

Given this situation, it has become apparent that more money is needed -to fund this project, as it is not yet finished. My intended goal is to have the school finished (constructed blocks that house students in a decent learning environment) and to have adequate tools for the students to enhance their learning experience (mainly books). This means I am hoping to finish the structure, giving it a toilet as well. The last thing I would like to do is to place three of the students out of this school into a public school that is more equipped to harness their potential. I know we can do this again and finish the project that was started. I am currently looking for more places to speak at and write to. Please don't forget about Ghana and our investment in these kids, continue giving in whatever way you are able, even if you only have suggestions -I am all ears.

If you have not received a letter from my return yet, I do apologize and have not forgotten the help you have provided. I will try and continue sending them as I get more organized.



Thank you for the support

An overdue update

I know that it has been a while since I posted anything, but the holidays bogged down my process of updates. Currently, I am finishing mailing out letters to most of the supporters about the state of the project.

Rewinding back to the final week I was in Ghana...
My last week was a whirlwind of events. Trying to finish things in time but doing so the correct way meant I needed to run around lot more. I visited an orphanage in Tsito (a village 15 minutes away form the city of Ho). While I was there I met some of the people that run it. I participated in a meeting that was set up for prospective volunteers. This meant it was an additional site under the volunteer organization (GCS). I was able to visit the village "Gorkpo", where I was kindly received. Similarly to the orphanage of Tsito this village may be a future site for volunteers. Conversely though, it has never received any volunteers. Because of this, and the obvious fact that I was a foreigner, they expressed many needs. One of those most basic problems they face is that they must walk nearly five miles during the dry season for water. Even though I visited them and told them I would remember them when I returned to the U.S., I told them I could not promise them to meet any of their needs. I later found out that no other foreigners had ever visited the traditional village of about 200. I also learned that evidence of the developed world contrasts their world as it has been able to make its way in, via clothes, music, or other products.

I continued on the project daily by going with Godwin to get/purchase bags of cement, 2x4, 2x6, iron sheets and other materials. At the end of each day I continued paying the laborers. A few days I was able to actually work building the structure and learning how they utilize their dominant building material of cement (termites). Each day I would document everything in a notebook I brought along, from the cost of supplies, to a daily wage of a water fetcher. I taught for a few days and brought some art supplies that became useful in a rare art class.

I was able to make some useful contacts while I was there in the second half of my stay. People had remembered me from my first trip and some of those ties were strengthened. On the other hand, I met new faces that were very involved in the Volta Region (i.e. Peace corp volunteer). Unfortunately, as I anticipated with a week remaining, progress was being made at a pace that was too slow. Because of this, I left without seeing the completion of the roof. I also had previously discovered that I didn't have enough money to complete the structure I was hoping to leave them. Ironically, before I left more money trickled into the account and I wasn't able to spend it. Again it wasn't easy to leave but the time had quickly approached and I was on my way scrambling to finish documenting, purchasing the last of the supplies, and budgeting for a final few days of supervised work, in my absence.

Upon returning to the airport in O'hare, I was greeted after grabbing my luggage. The encounter was a bit of a surprise to me, as a man approached me asking for help because his "sister was too embarrassed to ask". He claimed that they didn't have enough money to get a ride to the car. ...After spending time in a country of constant begging and having been asked only twice in the U.S. for money, it happened again.

Clearly everyone has a need. But it's important to understand where your money goes, what your money buys, how great the need is, and how effective the program is in reaching the expressed need. Poverty will probably never be eliminated but new opportunities can always be created.

Since I have been back I have remained in contact with my friends/fellow members of GCS. I have had the opportunity to speak again at a couple of the same churches and I have taken time sending letters out, about the experience, to most of the known supporters. Some things cannot be explained but more money has continued to come into the account again and I know I will be returning yet again. At the bottom of this page I posted a video clip that I assembled, which sums up some of the experience. The support from everyone has been incredible and I'm thankful that we can all be a part of a program that benefits the less fortunate. I will post pictures as I get enough time, but in the meantime please take a look at the video clip, and if possible, continue to support. Thank you

Building and giving thanks

It has been a long process with many obstacles. The latest obstacle has been coming from a contractor that had been very ill with malaria which meant a different team of laborers had to come in for the the project. Because of this, the contract initially agreed upon has become void. This also meant that the others who had joined in this project had different ideas as to the formation of the school, which was another setback corrected almost immediately. The payments for work are now daily, and the supervision must be tightened even more. By the end of this week the rooms will be raised and that leaves the roof. Though many problems have made this all so difficult we have been able to trudge through the mud and make progress.

This week has also been interesting as I have returned to teaching 2 classes. The struggles of teaching young, illiterate (in English), disadvantaged, and ill equipped students has been difficult. However some students have demonstrated potential and interest in learning much more -as are their stomachs, their brains are also hungry. Some are in desperate need to have their intellect developed as they have been held back from advancing due to the constant instability in the school/untrained teachers/lack of textbooks.

Two students in particular have thrived through all of these circumstances and impressed me extremely. Given a fair chance in school, they could be what they wanted... but that fair chance may never come. One of the students told me they wanted to be a nurse when they grow up. The likelihood of this is very slim as she is coming from an orphanage, and poor school with very little stability. The positive aspect is she is quite possibly the smartest girl in the entire school. It is my hope that she will eventually get her chance as it is difficult for me to watch great potential wasted.

In light of all this I am reminded of our holiday in the U.S.

We are very fortunate. Opportunity has been abundant for all of us, and for that I am thankful.

Slow progress

Well I know I came with the understanding that things would not get accomplished as quickly as doing things in the U.S. but there have been many difficulties. To start; the contract agreement we made (the contractor, Godwin, GCS, and myself) was agreed upon in Ewe (local language). Therefore there were some misunderstandings in the whole process as to what the labor fee entailed. Because of this, the cost of a 3 room block for their use as a school is more expensive than the money I have raised. I already went into different markets to find out the cost of materials, but when the contractor spoke through Godwin about what was needed not everything came through in English. As a result I will be raising 2 rooms with the foundation of a third already complete.

To make matters worse, a few days ago both vehicles used for the transportation of kids to school (and transportation of the materials) broke down. The clutch on the blue vehicle went out Friday and on the white van (main vehicle donated by the Irish group) the alternator had gone out previously. Well the planets seem to line up perfectly on a daily basis for more things to complicate every simple thing you try to do because after returning more kids to their homes, the white van overheated while we were in Togo... All of this caused a delay in the work and transportation of supplies for the project. That night we met the mechanic that has been working on the troubled vehicle and again he tried to fix the alternator (which works now) and the fan belt. This costed me an additional 110 dollars, but had to be done. If that isnt bad enough Kpetoe (the village where all this happens) has had no fuel for about a month so we have had to run on fumes to get into the city (Ho) which is a half hour away.

-I bought out all the cement bags in the village so now I have to bring it all from Ho
-No more materials can be purchased in the village
-Abundance of potholes
-Communication is always a battle

Finally all the banks here are not taking more than 250 dollars in american express travelers checks each day due to some issue with conterfeiting. This means I am having to negotiate more with the workers so that they continue working and believe that I will pay them when I get the money. Fortunately some of the workers have taken interest in the school and either have or will have their kids go to school here, meaning it has become a collaborative effort.

Another thing I didnt realize when I came the first time was social services exist here. They arent governing everywhere but I was able to meet a lady that has recently been working with Godwin to help the kids and their foster families. We recently discovered that Mabel, one of the girls I met at the orphanage in the spring, had not been taken care of properly by her family. She was being deprived of a place to sleep and as a result slept outside in the town. She also was not given more clothes than the ones she had on the day we got her. Hopefully things will turn around and she will be able to come back to the orphanage as well as the school as I know that she would be better cared for there.

Hopefully progress will be made each day. One positive thing recently was that the secretary of the area for Education thanked me for what was going on. He remembered me from the spring and was glad that people living an ocean away cared enough to help their kids in the village.

But if I am to complete a 3 room school (for 90 kids) I will need additional funds. If you are able to give still, it would be extremely helpful. I really do appreciate all the support from everyone (letters, messages, money etc.).

From Ghana

I have been in Ghana for nearly one week. Many things have happened in this short amount of time. Fortunately the flight over went well and when I arrived in the morning we headed for Ho as soon as we could, since it was in the morning it was less expensive as well as easier to leave the capital quickly. The first couple of days were needed for adjusting, as the trip of appr. 13 hours was exhausting. After the following day I traveled to Kpetoe with Godwin, who was excited to see me again. Some things are still the same as I have had to relearn; the time it takes someone to come pick you up or take you somewhere is always much longer than back in the U.S., the food is always spicy (breakfast, lunch, or dinner), and the climate is very hot and fairly dry (Ghana is entering the dry season, which also means there are more mosquitoes than usual at the moment).

When I arrived to Kpetoe I was able to see the school. Interestingly enough the contribution of the 4 classrooms was great (by the team from Ireland), but there were a few smaller issues I was not aware of until now. When they came they rushed the building process in a matter of 10 days and chose to shape the entire spread of the school in an 'L' shape. However, it is more typical for schools in Ghana to have a line shape. Many Ghanaians have told me this including teachers of Kpetoe and Ho, as well as other citizens. In addition to this discovery I learned that they were unable to finish the structure's walls to meet the roof, and to divide the final room (which is one large room) in order to have 5 equally spaced rooms. Finally, the dimensions of the present structure does not reflect that of other schools in the area, which are deeper classrooms instead of wider ones -many other schools are uniform structures with the same setup in every room ie. the chalkboards are all on the southern walls, and the windows are all on the east or west walls etc.

Because of these issues the structure I have been trying to raise either needs to stick out like a sore thumb (done the way they would like it where all the rooms are the same) by not lining up flush, or match the current structure by lining up flush but having different arrangements in the classrooms with the windows and chalkboards etc. The decision from this dilemma seems to be going in favor of matching the current structure/continuing from it, since the masons and carpenters from the area believe it would work easier. As always in any situation involving a large investment, it is important to take the time and plan it all out. We have not built anything yet, but today the contract was signed/agreed upon, the cement bags were purchased, and the plan is starting to set in for much progress tomorrow.

GCS (Global Cultural Solution) which consists mainly of three Ghanaians, has been aiding me in my search for things and we have been able to gather prices of several items in order to purchase the lowest priced ones -This was the situation yesterday. The day before yesterday I was drawing up the estimate, which was discussed with by 4 other contractors and eventually their offers were given. I have also been able to help GCS as a member by offering opinions and giving some advice where needed.

As usual, several frustrations have slowed progress. Just to name of few of them; communication issues (Godwin is difficult to understand at times, the masons and carpenters do not speak English, and some of the members of GCS do not speak Godwin's language), driving from point a to point b is always a journey (whether because the several potholes in the road or because the driver decides to pick up several more passengers), travelers sickness (I think you get my drift), another volunteers' money was taken, a teacher was let go, and the 'sense of urgency' never really exists...

Despite these annoyances there have been several good points; I have learned the area much better (I actually drove form Ho to Kpetoe -with people I know which is about a half hour), a father whose kids are attending the school called me his friend and gave me a banner, a contract has been reached for the start of a 3 room structure, another volunteer from the U.S. is at the school teaching (Kathleen), I have learned more words in Ewe, I have met more locals and I feel as if more cooperation has been happening, in this area for this project specifically.

All of these things weigh heavy in my thoughts. Throughout all of it, I have learned patience and goodwill is invaluable.

The goal

Yet another hurdle has been jumped...last week's fundraiser was a huge success as the bake sale brought in around 900 dollars. Many people from the community deserve the thanks. Several generous people gave baked goods, while others gave donations of money. Thankfully the goal has been surpassed and I'm quite confident that the school will be improved and expanded very shortly. As I spoke to Godwin recently I learned that the roster of students has grown to nearly 200. The need is great for these kids and this amount of funds should make a large difference in their well being. I hope to utilize all the funds on the School, and if anything remains after providing the necessities the Orphanage can be given attention. {For the sake of accountability I will be making a list of expenditures as I had for the spring trip -to those of you who had helped pay for some of my plane ticket.}

I will be leaving for Ghana November 5th, and staying for another month. I have received word that a couple volunteers are already there, which makes the project outlook easier. I will be doing a lot of the assessment of needs while I'm there in the first few days and record it in a journal as well as updates via the web. Although many places in Africa are of the third world and lack in technology, they do have access to internet in the cities where technology has thrived. If you would like to receive a letter through email while I am there, please send me your email address. As stated in the previous post there are some basics that need to be taken care of for the school; books, desks, plaster, another building, bathrooms, teacher training/salaries might also be a need.

I sincerely appreciate everyone's belief in this project, the contributions, and advice. Thank you and please keep in touch

Updates

Godwin is doing better since about a month ago when he became ill with what was thought to be a stomach ulcer and typhoid. I was able to wire him some funds to cover the hospital bill and some extra for teacher salaries (the money did not come from the donated funds for the school project). I found out that they received it nearly two weeks ago...

I have purchased a plane ticket today and will be returning to Ghana November 5th (flexible). There are a few more things I must take care of before heading out. Anti-malarial will be the most expensive thing to do before I go. Luckily, I will not need to get vaccinations again but the malaria medicine is an unfortunate must.

The recalculated goal will hopefully be reached by way of donations before my intended date of departure. One of the fundraisers coming up is a bake sale at the Community Center in Adams, Wisconsin October 22nd. I appreciate all the support thus far and now I intend to carefully invest the money donated into the appropriate project as I stay in Ghana again during November.

As a contributing team, we are 3/5ths of the way to the goal. I will be doing whatever I can to attain the goal before I go and I am confident that it will be reached. Many people whom I know and whom I do not know have inspired me, thank you so much.

More Progress

I have been quite busy moving back to Eau Claire and finishing up with the Ducks in Dells. I wanted to post more news; I was able to speak to Godwin about 2 weeks ago and found out a lot of details (I also received emails which gave most details). The group from Ireland that I was able to meet and team up with was able to lay down a solid start. The pictures are posted below of what has been accomplished thus far... the team was able to put in 5 classrooms!
I asked Godwin what was left to do and he listed off quite a few things. To sum it up they need a few more classrooms, plaster on the entire structure, bathrooms, electric work, desks, books, and many other items including another compound for the kids/him (an orphanage). This is great news; the school building is underway.

However, I recently heard from another friend of his, via email, that explained he was ill, and has been staying in a hospital under his friends' care. The belief is that he has a stomach ulcer and typhoid, hopefully he gets well soon.

In the meantime I am starting to plan a trip back to Ghana, quite possibly towards the end of October. As of now I have rethought a goal for an amount to bring over and fund the project. We are currently just above 50% of the goal of money raised, and I dont think anyone else was planning on going on the trip with me. Despite that, I am optimistic since the project has already begun.

I am looking forward to the challenge but with the understanding that I am not alone.

An account and the start of raising funds

The summer is nearing an end and I still have a lot of work to do. Fortunately I have been able to speak at 2 more churches and a couple more clubs.

Good news came about 12 days ago as Bethany Lutheran Church (of New Lisbon, WI.) decided to hold onto any of the money raised for the project. This non profit account was the first large hurdle to clear and it gives much needed support. I am now in a position to focus on raising funds solely for the school project.

While trying to speak at more places and set up more meetings I have realized I cannot do this on my own. I need help doing this. If you are able to give money please send it to:

618 W. River ST.
New Lisbon, WI.
53950

Make sure to designate checks payable to Bethany Lutheran AND on the memo line write Ghana Project, or School Project. I believe all gifts of money are tax deductable and receipts would be given at the end of the year.

If you know someone else that could help but they would want to hear about the project from me, or you are a part of an organization that may be able to fundraise please contact through email at jake_snake12@hotmail.com or godwinamwayschool@gmail.com. I am completely open to speaking anywhere or meeting with anyone.

Thank you for any support -most recently the support from the people I work with and work for who graciously donated more than 1300 dollars total in one day.

Mid Summer

So the craziness of another summer has set in, despite this I have been keeping in touch with my friends overseas. I have been keeping very busy at work, the days are beginning to feel more and more like minutes passing by.

A couple of great things have happened in regards to the project... I have been able to meet more people through my job, whom have become instrumentally supportive. Additionally, ideas for fundraisers have come out in the open and will be occurring before the end of the summer. As far as the funds are concerned; although I am not deliberately seeking out funds for the project at the moment, money has still come in. A few supporters have maintained reoccurring financial support and even the largest single amount has been received. This is good news but demonstrates the importance of a timely move for an account.

In the last couple weeks I have had the opportunity to speak at a couple places to present the situation. Nearly 2 weeks ago I was able to speak at a church council meeting, and even more recently I spoke at a Lions Club meeting. I am trying to schedule these opportunities in order to speed this project up. The suggestions, financial support, and kind words have all been encouraging.

A friend of mine (Rachel) had the opportunity to travel to Ghana a few weeks back. Knowing this, I was able to send a suitcase to the Orphanage, as well as my friends at the Organization in Ghana. She is currently there trying to help with our school project since I gave her a list of items that would hopefully get figured out. Not long ago she sent some pictures to confirm her arrival and the delivery of the suitcase, which was great to see -thank you Rachel! I sent a photo album which is seen in the picture to the right...