Newells Academy Fundraiser

On Sunday August 5, Newells Academy hosted a fundraiser and class 6 graduation ceremony. The money is needed to help build a proper school for the children. We were lucky to unexpectedly have electricity that day, so our expenditure wasn't as high because we did not have to rent a generator and buy fuel... But, even so, after the expenses we did have, we raised only 4,830,000 cedis. This is equivalent to about $550 dollars - which due to inflation will not go too far. Every little bit helps though, and at least its a start.

Here are some pictures of the event... the children performed dances, a play, and recited some poems. There was also lots of music, speeches, and some dancing.

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Some Questions to Ponder

My work here in Ghana has brought many new questions to my mind... ones that I did not and could not anticipate, and also which have come from unexpected places. I am grateful for all the conversations I've had with my co-researchers, host family, and community members who have let me into their daily lives and welcomed a stranger with open arms.



I welcome people's comments and look forward to a fruitful dialogue...



Here are some questions which have illuminated themselves. Thanks to Tim for asking me: What are the important questions emerging from my inquiry?



Many conversations and observations have led me to ask: What legacy does colonialism leave (especially in Ghana, 50 years after political independence; many astutely observe that economic imperialism/colonialism is far from over).



How does the legacy of colonialism affect the individual psyche? The collective psyche? In Uganda, I was told by many African scholars that post-colonial thinking was over and that nobody wants to hear it anymore! But, I struggle with this, as people talk about the legacy colonialism left in many subtle and not so subtle ways.



How can/does a community psyche and/or identity influence children? Are children brought up - either intentionally or unintentionally - to accept their life and "prescribed future"?



What implicit and/or implicit messages do children receive about their history? About their future? I ask this question because it seems that children are told, in many ways, that poverty is a given and that one should just accept their "prescribed future"...



What are the rules, attitudes, and values of "the system" in Ghana - especially institutions which work with/for children?



As I ask these questions, I wonder how they all mesh together to create the circumstances which children find themselves. More and more I hear messages in people's speech which imply that children do not matter until they are adults - they are silly, they don't know, they can't make decisions... huge hurdles when my hope is that these children I am working with will be able to create meaningful and significant change in their communities. In the end, I wonder - do nations/communities which provide children with meaningful opportunities for participation in their society perform better on various 'quality of life' indicators? How does participation of all groups of people - obviously including children - benefit a nation?

Research Summary

I am getting a lot of questions.... so what exactly is your research about? In my head it all makes sense, but I am sure I give a different answer everytime I am asked. Here is a brief summary of what my research interests are and how I have set up this project. I am sending this out to local NGOs and government ministries so that they have an idea of what I am doing and will hopefully attend the closing event at the end of September (ahh... next month already). I'd love to hear your feedback and comments...

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The following research and community development project is taking place in Oyarifa near Accra, Ghana. Ultimately, the interest for this project arose out of the belief that research with communities – rather than on communities – can be used as a tool for development. Collectively creating knowledge and recovering lost knowledge/wisdom can and should be used by a community to collectively create the transformation of their society they desire.

The question arose though – what is the experience of personal transformation that co-researchers encounter while engaging in the activities and learnings of community transformation? In other words, while the concepts of participatory development, monitoring and evaluation, and research are all now mainstream we have yet to explore the role of personal healing as an ingredient to community development. Thus, another question begs to be asked: What are the therapeutic benefits and elements of participation in a community based development project?

With these ideas in mind, this project was conceptualized as having two distinct, yet mutually important elements. The first is a twelve week research/community assessment/development experience. Twenty three children attending Newells Academy in Oyarifa, Ghana are using the Photovoice (www.photovoice.com) methodology to tell the story of the concerns they have for their community. After an initial theme creation workshop, all co-researchers now have their own camera and are taking pictures of health and safety concerns in their community. Critical reflection , analysis, and actions to address these concerns will follow, culminating in a photo exhibit. It is expected that community members, parents, NGOs, and government ministries will be present at the exhibit, where children’s voices, pictures, and writing will educate adults about what children are concerned about and want to take action on.

The second element involves focus group discussions to learn about the personal experience of participation in this project. I want to learn what role personal growth and change has in the process of community transformation – since in essence it is people that comprise our communities and societies. If they transform does the community transform? And if so, through what process and mechanisms? And how can these be incorporated into future development projects so that we all begin to see the world we desire?

Ultimately, this project is about having the voices of children heard. Too often their opinions and ideas are not sought, yet the policies created and decisions made today will directly affect them for the longest period of time. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – which Ghana was the first country to sign – proclaims that children have the right to participate and voice their opinions on matters that affect them. This project hopes to do just that and hopes that the adults in their community and country take the opportunity at the photo exhibit to listen.

Newells Academy & Link Social Club

The last month has proven to be quite the adventure, and time seems to be flying by at an incredibly fast rate. Its hard to believe I didn't manage to update this blog all through the month of July.

Here are some pictures of Newells Academy, where I am doing my thesis research. The main building also serves as my host family's home... and so I stay here too. The nursery classroom is beside my bedroom, and the kitchen outback serves about 100 to 150 students (depending on how many show up to school, which again is largely dependent on if it is raining heavily or not).

The school goes from nursery to JSS 1 - which is like Canada's grade 7. Next term (staring in September) the school will add JSS 2 (Grade 8). The facilities at the school are not great... there are usually 2 if not 3 students sharing a desk and textbook. There is no electricity or running water, no playground for the young students, and not even anywhere comfortable to sit when eating lunch. And yet, the school manages to function though there is no doubt in my mind that a better environment to learn in would benefit the students immensely.

The last picture, with the trees, is a common meeting place where all staff meetings and the like take place. So Africa and I love it!

We are hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, August 5 and I hope it is relatively as successful as my Ghana Make You Move! event. The school is raising money to build better classrooms and facilities... I hope to come back one day when they are ready to start building so that I can help out. With that said, please continue to click on the advertisements at the bottom of this screen. You don't need to buy anything, but when you click on the add I earn money which is all going directly to Newells Academy!!!

Enjoy the photos!