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.

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)

FOR SMILES IN THE WORLD...

  October 2010, I started to distribute the balls and equipment to the recipient schools, which were donated by Japanese supporters through JICA’s program, called SEKAI NO EGAO NO TAMENI, means for smiles in the world in Japanese language. In this month, I had reception ceremonies in each place, namely Yaohima, Kobedi, Kwatire schools in Sunyani District and Buoku schools in Wench District in Btong Ahafo region. I am going to provide them in Adantia and Ahyiaem schools as well in next month.

   Purpose to apply this program and provide sports equipments is to help promote Physical Education in schools of Ghana and to link together people in developing countries who need assistance and Japanese who are willing to join international cooperation. Initial prompt was my mother in Japan. She is a chairman of Mothers’ Volleyball Association of the local district. Volleyball is her lifework and she plays twice a week and judges games every Sunday. I have thought of that volleyball would be potential to unit people between Ghana and Japan if volleyball were popular in Ghana. I started to go round school in order to introduce school environment to my family since they would come to Ghana, actually they came in October 2010. 

   One day, teachers in Ahyiaem invited me to sports event in Ntoromeso, at Wench District. I went there and finally found that they played volleyball as well as football, netball, handball and field athletic. Rather I encountered wonderful teacher who demonstrated and taught volleyball very well! He worked in Buoku. Then, it convinced me that he would definitely utilize the donation from Japan. I applied and they came. I would like to express my deep appreciation to my family, mothers who donated twenty volleyballs and a net, and CANON CUP JUNIOR SUCCER OFFICE, who donated us fifteen footballs.

   I provided volleyballs in six communities’ schools, including Buoku JHS though it was not my area but because of the reason I mentioned above, and footballs in five communities’ schools in my assigned area. In every schools, I consulted with headmasters and headmistresses and we held a ceremony involved whole the stakeholders in the community. I agreed that all the head teachers insisted the gifts to school were the benefits for the community, so that it should be appealed to everybody. Headmaster in Kwatire rather called media people from FM radio to share the joy and let people in the community known. He also invited Assembly Man, a politician in the community, to the ceremony.

Assembly Man in Kwatire
Young and passionate

Headmaster in Kwatire School

our buddy, Mr.Boama
a leader in our Green Belt Activity
a chairman of PTA, SMC, and UC (Unit Committee)
key person there and very kind papa

   The unexpected outcome was brought through the process to realize the ceremonies. As I mentioned above in what we had in Zion Week, I wanted to invite parents to the school so as to promote their involvement into school management and their interests in formal education for children. School issue is not my core objective, but again, children are our future generation. 

   Protection of forest resource?...my Green Belt Activity, including plantation of fruit trees on the boundary of the forest reserve and establishment of nursery for the fruit seedlings… 

   Alternative livelihood?... my Income Generation Activity for soap making groups, Moringa soap in Afrasu and Amonkye soap in Adantia… 

   To preserve environment is to inherit our property for next generation. And to develop higher living standard and get larger income for house-economics is to give our children good nutrition, health care, education and hygiene. All my activities is going ahead one-direction, linking together at one point… for community development. I believe all the grass roots projects in community development program are to be mutually functioned. (That is called synergetic effect or somethingm, though most of the development program fail in the field unfortunately) This was happened in front of me. The balls led the chance to put everything together in one place. It was a chemical. All the stakeholders who I have built relationship with in this one and half years worked together for community wealth. The distribution has not finished yet, so I still observe what we have and occur in my next communities.

A.M.E. ZION WEEK in Kobedi Schools

A.M.E. Zion Schools in Kobedi had a special week to celebrate Christianity on 20^th to 23^rd Oct 2010. Mr.Oppong, a teacher in Kobedi Primary School, gave me a call in advance and invited me to the program. Who can believe this chance that all the programs are related to my activity? Teachers and I discussed and readied for the program.

   We gave a class of environmental education to pupils in Upper Primary in the previous day in order that the program of the first day 20^th was for environmental issue. I would like to state the details in the following. It was most successful and wonderful class I have ever had in Ghana!

   The first day was for exercises of environmental program. Unfortunately it was rainy so hard in the morning so that the program had delayed and we could not make the town cleaning efficiently. We just swept the schoolyard of Primary School and Kindergarten. Mr.Oppong chose some students and we moved to the field in J.H.S to make nursery. We made nursery bed, sowed seeds in soil, and covered top with leaves of palm tree. Before sowing, I gathered pupils together and reviewed what we learnt yesterday. Mr.Oppong who invited me and got started, helped me and translated and explained in local language very well.

   The second day, we had health program. All the pupils from KG to JHS carried the sets of desk and chairs from classrooms to a schoolyard of PS (Primary). One lady, a kindergarten teacher, gave a lecture to all the pupils. She mainly talked about personal hygiene. ‘Did you bath in this morning? Put your hand to your pit! And smell it! Raise your hand if it smells something bad!’ she explained and gestured to let even kindergarten kids understand it. ‘Wash your body everyday! Especially your private part after urinate or toilet! Like this!’ Pupils were laughing all the time and seemed to enjoy listening. ‘Wash your clothes and underwear with OMO (a cleaner), ok? And dry them in the sun like this. You can buy OMO in 20psw in a shop. Ask your mother! Tell her that teacher told you to do so in the school!’ I was very impressed. She taught wisdom of life, and sent messages to their parents. Education in school was structured to home, a place of informal education. After her lecture, I btought the soap, which made in community by mothers who also have children like them. I donated some soap and Mr.Oppong helped to translate and explain. We told them to wash hands before and after eating. Then, we practiced at once after the meal, with the bowls filled by water, and brought soap… but suddenly a schoolyard was turned into chaos. Everybody wanted to wash his hands. But materials were not sufficient; they did not know how to make a line to wait… but here again, I was moved because JHS pupils took KG pupils’ hands and let them wash hands, though chaos never stopped.

   The third day, we had sports program. I represented the donation of volleyballs and footballs in reception ceremony. We invited chives, PTA (Parents and Teachers Association), SMC (School Management Committee) and other parents in Kobedi. Most of the Kobedi GB members have some roles in community management. After opening prayer, I gave a presentation. ‘I work together with your parents to protect the forest near Kobedi. That is why I am here. I hope you remember what we learnt yesterday. To protect forest is to keep our life!’ I wanted to introduce pupils what their parents contribute to environmental preservation. I wanted to share their achievements with children. They are our future generation. To involve all the stakeholders is most practical and sustainable way to develop community. ‘So if you are glad to have these balls from Japan, lets say thank you to your parents as well as Japanese supporters!’ Needless to say, family bond is stronger than Japan. But I wanted to invite parents to school and get them interested in education in school and school management. I wanted to express appreciation for parents to come to the school. I hope I could fill a role of it somewhat. Finally they went into main event. Pupils, teachers, everybody played balls! Kobedi schools had won in the last sports competition in the area, so they were awarded jerseys. Some wore them, some enjoyed with school uniforms, some played with sandals, some with bare foots. But those did not matter at all. They had just enjoyed what they had and what they were at that moment.

School Building Project in Ahyiaem

    Since I have started to go the rounds Afrasu, I also visited New Wench Local Authority School in Ahyiem regularly because children in Afrasu go there and environmental education in forest fringe community is a part of my activity. Through regular visits to schools in Sunyani District, I found several distinctions among their environments; collapsed school buildings, massive students who don’t have shades of trees in the field, no school feeding program, inability of parents to let their children go to school, disadvantage of the location such that most inhabitants are settlers from the north and indigenous people are minority though the school is named as Local Authority, which is located on the boundary of the Wench District.

School head mistress and teachers were seriously concerning about suffered students and have already contributed to improve the school environment. And assembly man of this area is the one who was former community facilitator in Afrasu in PAFORM project, namely my precursor and he is knowledgeable about community development.

My mentor, Mr.Prince. We held a stakeholder meeting, with the School Management Committee which is organized for development of school environment and management based on community.

I have been consulted by them about school issues since March 2010 and introduced Japan’s Grand Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP scheme). They have organized the stakeholders meetings, which invited influential persons in Ahyiem such as elders, women group, some of chiefs who live in area, the chairman of School Management Committee and Parents and Teachers Association. I also attended as an observer, and witnessed noteworthy outputs. Parents knew the severe environment and reconstruct the collapsed structure the very next day of the meeting. This convinced me that the process of application will definitely improve to their capacity buildings, promote the relationship between teachers and stakeholders who live in community and generate more interest and commitment of parents in community, as well as that they will collaborate toward the school building project though we will have a lot of difficulties.

The next day of the meeting, parents came together and repaired the roof of structure for J.H.S 

   We submitted proposal summary in following purpose, though gradually, our project is in progress.

Objective:

   To offer students proper environment to study and grow up safely, they apply for GGHSP scheme to construct the school buildings of Primary for New Wench Local Authority School in Ahyiem to supplement with Kindergarten and J.H.S. In addition to that, we also consider about furniture, toilet facility, library, and so on.

News Letter From Chiraa Vol.1 -Students marched on Independence Day in Chraa!!-

Nice to meet you, everyone!! My name is Shokola, who lives in Chiraa. Many thanks for your sweet letter, I am glad to communicate with you and appreciate the teacher who bridge between you and me. This is a monthly news letter from Chiraa to you, to introduce Ghanaian circumstance and help you interact with Ghanaian students.

First of all, let me introduce Chiraa shortly and the biggest event in Chiraa in this month!

Chiraa is an old town in rural area, with a population of 15,000 who are farmers and traders by occupation. It takes 30 minutes by car from the capital city Sunyani, in Brong Ahafo region in the midland of Ghana. Indigenous people are Akan tribe, who is major in Ghana and speaks Twi language. People in Chiraa are very friendly, so Chiraa is cool!

Ghanaian celebrated the 53rd Independence Day on 6th Mar 2010, which Ghana won from Britain in 1957. All the students in Chiraa assembled in the playground of Methodist School, more than 24 Primary Schools and JHS!, and representative students of schools marched in front of Chiraa people, including chiefs and politicians. S.D.A J.H.S and S.D.A Primary Schools A & B also participated in this ceremony. They practiced Ghanaian marching for that day then performed perfectly!! Every marching was unique and so cute! I wish you could see them.

Finally I like to say thank you again. I am very impressed that you had African week and support the school bus project. I am now very happy because I enjoy working in the community and my life in Chiraa, love Ghanaian music, and what is more, I could make friends with you.