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.
20th 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, 20th 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 21st 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) 21st 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)
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