Love and Support from Ghana to Japan

Hi dears again.
Thanks for your kind supports in this diary.
Each of your comments deeply impress me and really energize to tell the message to the world.
So I would like to introduce you one love letter from Ghana,
to my motherland Japan,  where is suffering by disasters.

We actually hear heartbeats of earth everyday.

Sometimes the epicenter is the Northeast, where the worst quake attacked last month.

Sometimes it is around Tokyo bay, near my hometown, 

sometimes middle part, the South and so on.

We really feel its strong pulse, cant help think earth is living.

One priest said its like on the back of dragon who swim on magma of the Pacific Ocean Plate. 

In this evening, at 5pm on 11th April 2011 in Japan time, there were quite large earthquakes in the east of Japan. Of course here the greater Tokyo area too, all the buildings were shaking but people were so calm, it may be these levels of quakes are becoming normal (M3-4). But the aftermath of epicenter was severe, we had three times of M6 level earthquakes in just ten minutes in the epicenter. It has been just past one month after the worst one, M9.

Since this evening, power has been down again near the focus area and people are suffering in the place which they has evacuated. Worse, it has been rained tonight.

So in this freezing night, I would like to message one love letter from tropical Ghana to suffering Northeast of Japan.

Ghana is located in West Africa, well known as cocoa farming, gold mining, timber industry and so on. People are quite friendly and full of hospitality, (though some so some not as usual you know!) living peacefully among traditional identity and modern culture.

Japanese who are resident in Ghana organized charity event in Accra Mall, the biggest shopping mall in Ghana. (In fact, there were colorful events on that day in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, so I like to write about it later*;)) Some Japanese children made beads accessories to raise fund for the victims of the earthquake. Some Japanese performed music for people in Accra Mall, and Ghanaian people signed encouraging messages on the Japanese flag. I had known about this charity event through internet. But what was most impressed me was the pictures uploaded on Twitter, by my Ghanaian friend, Diva Yasmeen. Her beautiful voice moves all human beings but her action for caring others is also awesome, actually she is concerned in environmental issue and promote recycling and reusing.

Japanese residents in Accra took a initiative and held the event, then Ghanaian friends attended it to support. A live twittering let me know how it rose up.

It is not only rich developed countries,
who expect in return when Japan rebuild after the big earthquake.

But even from another world, like Ghana from Africa, developing countries,
Friends are really worried about us and take action to send their love and support.

We appreciate any support,
but Love from Ghana was different from others.

I just wanna tell my story.
Between Ghana and Japan.
When I found those pictures on the internet,
the flag filled by Ghanaian message,
the beads sold by Japanese children,
cello and piano peformed by Japanese in Accra Mall,
I was really moved.
Just wanna share my emotion.

That's all.

When earth beat loudly

Hello all my dears in the world.
hope u all fine, am cool in quaking Japan.

When the world had the biggest heartbeat of earth among recent records,
I was on my way from Sunyani to Accra, with several luggages to Japan.
I had just left my sweetest hometown, said good bye to my big-mamas, lovely uncles, precious bro&sis, just dotted a period to my 2 years service in rural community development for Ghana Republic. I actually didn't have enough time to miss Sunyani because of an admission to the hospital in Nyaho. So I was really unwilling to part from my people.

I always listened to music or slept in the bus, taxi, trotro, in any transportation.
My sister Afia Naomi too.
(a Japanese lady! my room mate & coworker)
but this time, we didnt sleep at all, didnt listen at all. just viewed a bus window and chatted when each reminded something in turn. About everything. We really talked everything. She has nice personality, so I never hesitated to share my joys, troubles, everything in my life. That was one of the keys we successfully developed our projects in such unexpected ways (women's group for soap making, nursery establishment for tree planting, environmental education in schools and so on). Love and Music are common issue too.

Then, my friend gave me a call during our conversation in the bus.
He saw TV and knew about earthquake and tsumani attacks.
He is one of my precious from Tema,
we would have worked together last year,
so he was worried about me.
I didnt have fine phone or any tool to connect with internet in public so,
he gave me a first notice about this disaster.
I couldnot know detail until I reached to hostels.

Then some Japanese colleagues, volunteers as well, let me show YouTube video of tsunami.
Too shocked to recognize this is real.

I went to my friend's place, to meet darlings,
they talked about earthquake and worried about me and Japan too.
Some even said I shouldnt go back.
At that moment, here was safer than there.

Next morning, I saw CNN news on a big screen at my darling's house.
They broadcasted unbelievable info and scene repeatedly.
Just lost a word to speak and teared.
On that day in an aftermath of the biggest shock,
I stayed with my darlings all day and they gave me beautiful night.
It was a quite big music event.
Fortunately I witnessed a significant moment in musical history in the world.
(would like to write about it in another day)
It was so touched night in my life.
During their performance, I was free from any concerns or worries.
Each of my darlings were so wonderful.
And they were always so kind to me.
That made me cry.
They are all talented but never arrogant like a star on TV show.
In Ivory Coast too, a week before this night.
Because they were so tender
I am here

I believe a god of music is there, he is here, in this world.
I am very sure I saw him in Jan in a rural town among forest in West Africa.
He was accompanied by angels who often played in +233.
Then, one day, he sent me messengers.
They taught me like;
'One Love, One Heart, One Music'
So to show my deep appreciation and admiration,
I would also like to follow them, to be a part of messenger of Love and Music.

Now, in aftermath of the worst quake,
we Japanese noticed, and learning and practicing
'To Do What Each Can Do In Each Place'
So that world get better.
Even small action will be a great step for us, for earth.
To change the world.
Now we stand on the point.

When earth beat screamingly, I was in Ghana.
His heartbeat gave me deep sounds.
When my heart was torn, I was cared by my people.
By a harmony of cultures and kindness
So I have to write this touched story

Blueness of the Ivory Coast

Clear blue of the Ivory Coast stick on me. 


Violin and accordion are sounding again in my mind. 


Alice is drowning in her wonderland 


struck by feverish air, vermeer blue, and cherry blossoms. 


Cuz she lost her way in spring of Tokyo 


among freezing Amsterdam and tropical Accra.




Blueness of the Ivory Coast.
that is what confuse me recently in my mind.
is it recent? No. its since then all the time.
I never drown in a shower beside abnormal studio
but in a chaos of colours and climates.
If it is instrumental one, perfect.
You raise me up to heaven.
I met a god of music among forest of West Africa.
he accompanied with angels.
they caused a flood of light and sounds
so we danced delightedly.
Before long he sent me one messenger.
That was the beginning of the story. 
Peter Pan was too free and just left Alice be in wonderland.
On a way of her adventure, 
Ivory blueness held her mind.
clear sky, shining ocean, dim dawn, dark night...
she mets so many faces and emotions of blueness. 
Even Vermeer blue is not favor. 
Rather chilly wind on the Ams river made her pine fever in West Coast.
She is now looking forward to cherry blossom blooming.
Though she knows the fever never come to her sense
even if summer come and sun touch her.
So she longs for feverish blue.

KIDDAFEST 2010

   We met KIDDAFEST on a way to plan children’s festival to celebrate the children's day to be children, and develop mutual understandings and personalities through the process of preparation and practice performing arts to emphasize on sentimental education in current school system of Ghana. 

   KIDDAFEST is a kid’s festival to improve and inherit cultural arts and let children learn and enjoy culture. KIDDAFEST is possible to held anywhere and whatever level from district to national. National Theatre and GES had used to organize national KIDDAFEST but because of absence of sponsorship, it had not realized in those ten years. But 2 years ago 2009, West African countries united and it took place in Accra as Regional KIDDAFEST.  And this year, national KIDDAFEST was given on 17^th to 19^th Dec 2010.

   Colourful program and various performers composed KIDDAFEST. Main performers and attendees are children, the program is to entertain them. Children’s group about twenty pupils came from each region led by teachers and cultural coordinator in Education Office. Two regions failed to participate in it last year because of financial matter, but all the 10 regions united in centre of Ghana this year. 

   Cultural Coordinators located in every GES office go round to improve cultural inheritance, such as local dance, drumming, drama, and so on. Children wore traditional clothes and drummed, played percussion, sang and danced following each local context. Other performing group in Accra and professional performers did modern drama such as African Cinderella, Hiphop music and so on.

   Fortunately I could meet cultural coordinator in Sunyani Municipal District, Mr.Ampomaa. I joined with children’s representatives of Brong Ahafo from schools in Sunyani and Abesim.

   First day, after the opening ceremony in front of the gate of National Theatre, ten children’s group made a line and marched on car road guarded by police and stage managers of National Theatre. And they moved to dance on the courtyard of GES, in Ministry’s area.

   Second day, all the ten regions played the drama on outside stage attached with National Theatre. When we finished the program, two district cultural coordinators and a regional cultural coordinator from Brong Afaho led children to a beach by bus, because most of the children have not seen it yet. Regional coordinators bought them Fan Ice, and children were so delighted. They were so hungry because the program did not provide them enough food during the program. They were so excited to see ocean and stand on beach. We laughed at each other and walked on the shallows. We sang together in the bus, children are not from my community but we are all from Sunyani. They gave me precious moment.

   I approached them and KIDDAFEST to know and learn how the cultural performing festival is originated by Ghanaian in Ghana. To look for opportunity to collaborate with our idea that children express their opinion and arts freely and focus on what they learn through the process. KIDDAFEST put a stress on cultural aspect. It was priceless experiment I joined my region’s people and became acquainted with each other. I learnt Ghana itself organized such a fantastic program and all coordinators were very eager about cultural matter without exception. I appreciate we shared impressive memory. But I wish we could have more time. Even some coordinators who knew our idea suggested if we could collaborate together. What KIDDAFEST aim to realize was exactly what we discussed. It is to entertain children themselves and gain what you may not study on the desk, but through the process and presenting on a stage. KIDDAFEST has unlimited possibilities for children.

Christmas Carols Concert 2010 in Akim Swedru

  Christmas Carols Concert was held on 14^th Dec 2010 in Akim Swedru, Eastern Region, Ghana. My Japanese volunteering colleague in youth activity, Afia Ayu (go to Akim Swedru! all obruni are called 'Afia' or 'Ayoo' because of her!) have commuted schools and taught music and creative arts. On that day, we played Christmas songs medley. Ghanaian teachers organized the program, and children in Methodist KG, PD and JSS performed Christmas songs. We were completely guest performers.

   Last year, we performed in Presby School in the afternoon and Methodist Church in the evening. Presby's was successful, but failed in church's because furnished keyboard was out of work. We fell into chaos and the performance was really misery. (was one of the biggest tragedy in my music life!!!)

   This year, we only played in Methodist in the afternoon. Attendees were all school kids and it was not like the atmosphere of church service at night. We never used that keyboard again, and finally finaly done well papapa!!!!! (yayadie! nyame sirawo wai!) During and after the performance, we could not speak a word because our playing sounded by full of chorus of children from upstairs to downstairs. When we looked up the ceiling, there were innumerable smiles of children like stars. We were embraced by harmony of angel’s voice. I played keyboard, Ayu played saxophone, Tomo-chan who is Ayu’s friend from Japan played percussion, and another volunteer Korkor (local name!) played keyboard harmonica (pianica). 

   We did not rehearsal so much but our combination of especially keyboard and saxophone fitted perfectly. We have played this medley again and again for children in Ghana since last year 2009. Sometimes it was in a classroom, sometimes it was a field ground of school, orphanage, hospital, church… they were all for children. We have gone round rural towns in Ghana, to play music for children, to meet more smiles of children in Ghana.

   I have not known how exciting to harmonize with other instrument and how pleased to play for others until I came Ghana. My music experience in Ghana took me completely to a whole new world. This moment in the church of Akim Swedru, really touched me, with a perfect harmony of children’s chorus.

CHILDREN FESTIVAL~life enriched with sentiment!~

   We celebrated Universal Children’s Day in an orphanage, CILIA (Compassion In Love Is Action) in Yawhema, rural town near Sunyani, capital city of Brong Ahafo region, agricultural beld of Ghana.

   JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) around Sunyani came together, concerned people there took initiative, then whole their wishes were packed in one place and it was realized.

   20^th November is a Universal Children’s Day as the United Nation proclaimed in General Assembly. As it is mentioned in Preamble of The Convention of the Child Rights, the discipline is accorded with the Charter of the United Nations. The day was established to celebrate childhood, to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children, to act initiative to benefit and promote the welfare of world’s children.

   Whole the story has been happened by Mr.Akoto saying, “I want children in CILIA to make nursery, plant trees in bare playground and be aware of environmental issues. Can you help me?”. He lives in Yawhima, where the orphanage is located, and is the headmaster of Chiraa S.D.A. J.H.S. by occupation, where Naomi Ishida JOCV has given a workshop to provide headmasters in Chiraa with growing seedlings raised by the Football club team based on Chiraa. 

   Samuel Akurugu was also invited and observed this workshop, who is representative of NGO, Action for Green Life (AGL) which commits grassroots development in both ways of income generation and public health to approach environmental issues. 

   Our Japanese brothers Yawmenu and Akwasi Achamgpong were going to contribute one football donated by SONY as a part of its CSR project attached with FIFA World Cup 2010. 

   I, Yaa Shoko have commuted CILIA since I started activity in Yawhima S.D.A. J.H.S. in 2009 and got along well with people in Yawhima, including Madam Chalotte, a founder of CILIA, queenmother, chiefs, elders and educators there.

   All these friends in Sunyani were stuck together by the concept of Children’s Festival that some JOCV have thought of during these several months. It was an idea that children celebrated childhood, promote mutual understand, empower personality through the process to learn performing arts on the stage, rather advocate adults about the children’s day. We had planned children and educators to assemble from rural area at once to share how children in Ghana are wonderful and talented, and to enlighten mutually about child rights.

   But unfortunately it was not realized on the Universal Day, 20^th November and postponed. So that I wondered why we did not make it happen here in Sunyani with what we had and what we could, as Volunteer Coordinator advised me? Then I thought of what Mr.Akoto called me and consulted about nursery project in CILIA and what Yawmenu (my Japanese colleague! typical Ghanaian name!) was going to provide the football there. Why could not we unit to the coming event here? 

   I also reminded children in CILIA love to perform traditional dance and drum, becuase I often saw they performed there since X'mas concert in last year.  And our friend Mr.Akurugu... we can use our soap made in community duiring his workshop to practice hygiene.  We can also give environmental workshop to children as we, Afia Naomi (too typical local name too! but my Japanese colleague again!) and I (Yaa Shoko♥) did in schools. I thank God my luck that all the volunteers, Mr.Akoto, and Mama Chalotte were cooperative and never lavish with help. Finally I added this subtitle, ~Life Enriched With Sentiment!~ because these programs (environment, arts, health and hygiene) are important as a part of education to develop one’s personality though they were not evaluated in current school system.

   Lastly I attached the timetable on the day. We made it 21^st November because Mr.Akoto and some chiefs went funeral party to Dormaa, where their higher chieftaincy existed. Whole the programs were successfully done. All the presenter mentioned about the importance of Universal Children’s Day, as I motivated them at first that the day is for children and it is essential for adults to be aware and take action to celebrate childhood.  And this was a consequence of my works in community development. All the programs were what I involved in this 2 years in Ghana, and all the cooperators were who I have worked in this 2 years in Ghana. Rather some brought me their issues, which turned me into significant opportunity. One small saying or one small action might be piled somehow beyond your expectation, and  will transform into wonderful results. That was one of what I experienced in my community works in 2010. (Smile!! God is always ready to give you some miracles! just be aware and ready!)

   I leave Ghana next year in March 2011. I wish all the attendees, I mean children, adults, educators, influential elders and chiefs, remind how children are wonderful and the day is important and celebrate every year.

ATTACHMENT – PROGRAM

  CHILDREN’S DAY

~Life Enriched with Sentiment!!~

Time: 14:00~17:00 (Sunday) 21^st Nov 2010

Place: Compassion In Love Is Action (CILIA) in Yawhima, Sunyani

Purpose

To enrich childhood through sentimental education with stakeholders in community

Program

1. Welcome address / by Mama Chalotte (CILIA)

2. Speech by Guest of Honor / by Mr. Akoto (Yawhima Ohene & Chiraa SDA Headmaster)

3. Introduction of Universal Children’s Day / by Yaa Shoko 

4. Artstic Performance / by children (CILIA)

5. Donation of Football / by Akwasi Achampong & Yaw Menu

6. Speech of physical education / by Gallant (teacher in Yawhima S.D.A J.H.S)

7. Personal Hygiene & sanitation / by Madam Lydia (Action for Green Life, environmental NGO)

8. Environmental Education / by Afia Naomi

9. Nursery Plantation / by Yaw Menu

10. Closing Remarks & Closing Prayer / by M.C. Samuel Akurugu (Action for Green Life, environmental NGO)

AMONKYE SOAP-the gift of Forests-

AMONKYE

traditional soap in the south of Ghana, 

is handmade purely from palm oil & ash of cocoa.

You know what, 

PALM OIL is native to West Africa!! 

Nowadays most of them are manufactured in Southeast Asia.

COCOA is one of the major cash crops in Ghana. 

COCOA PODS which were removed the seeds 
are firstly burned to be ashes. 

Then, the ashes processed with water

are to be simmered with boiled palm oil then... 

OMG!! You’ve made foamy natural soap★

Strong washing and rich moisture of AMONKYE 

have a good effect on almost all the skin disease! 

such as pimples, rash, scar, boil, wounds and so on.

To buy this soap is to help 

improve 

income generation

of women groups 

in forest fringe communities 

(Kofitumgrom, Adantia, and more)

in Sunyani, Ghana.

It is wrapped by recycled drinking water sachets 
in a view of 

environmental issue.

You can buy these 100% natural handmade soap in ;

 Eusbett Hotel 

Sunyani, Brong Ahafo region in Ghana

 JICA Ghana Office

2nd Floor, Elizabeth, No.68A, Senchi Link,

Airport Residential Area, Accra, Ghana

(P.O.Box. 6402, Accra-North, Ghana)

Their activities are aided by Samuel Akurugu,

*Environmental NGO: AGL (Action for Green Life) 

*Contact: +233207772762 / akurugusam@yahoo.com

and JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers)
in rural community development, 

Naomi Ishida & Shoko Mori (20-4) 

from Forest Service Division in Sunyani, B/A.