Thursday 30 October 2014

GLOW girl GLOW!





Glow G.L.O.W. Girl, Glow! -

Last May Ofosua Mercy, a Form 2 student at Aweregya M/A Junior High School in Eastern Region attended the 2014 Eastern Region G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) Camp with PCV Gary Slate, in Koforidua, the district capital. On October 3, Gary gave Mercy an opportunity to be a peer educator and present HIV lesson for her school based on what she had learned. She discussed the different ways HIV is transmitted and how it can be prevented and treated. She also discussed the stigma surrounding it and gave a demonstration on how to apply a condom. Two other girls that she had previously taught assisted her. A total of 32 boys and 26 girls attended her splendid presentation.

Following the program Mercy approached Gary and was full of gratitude.
Prior to attending the G.L.O.W. Camp, Mercy never thought she would have
an immense passion for HIV awareness and prevention work nor that she
 would become an HIV peer educator. Following the G.L.O.W. Camp,
she never thought that she would have the opportunity to present in front of
her entire school. Her life was forever changed that day and so were
the lives of all of her fellow students.



Wednesday 24 September 2014

Got What It Takes? …She Does!

It all started with running in place for this small girl. Her name is Ruth, she is in primary school - class 6, and she resides with Peace Corps Volunteer Gary Slate in Aweregya Village, Eastern Region.  She would watch Gary in awe as he ran three times each week to villages surrounding theirs. Each day, as Gary was stretching for a jog Ruth could be seen jogging in place out of the corner of his eye: stopping when Gary glanced in her direction. One day, she garnered enough confidence and asked Gary where he was running to. He told her, “Today, I am going to Atwedie,” to which she replied, “I will go with you next time!” But, next time turned into next time turned into next time, and Gary began thinking he was living the sequel to the movie, Groundhog Day,where Bill Murray keeps reliving the same day over and over again.

Then one day Ruth, as she laced up a pair of running shoes, asked Gary confidently, “So, where are we running today?” To which, Gary replied: "Today we go to Kwahu Oda,” another neighboring village. She turned and looked at Richard and Alfred, her two brothers, who were gazing at her from a nearby doorway with doubtful grins. “Ok,” she said to them, “if I go and come with Nana Kwasi Ata (Gary’s local name), you both owe me biscuits.” They agreed, and jog she did! The girl that used to run in place kept pace with Gary the entire time. Upon their return home she was so proud and ran over to her brothers that now looked at her dumbfounded. “Biscuits, going and come,” she said gleefully.

Since that memorable morning jog, Ruth has run six times with her brother Gary, to distances extending all the way to Kwahu Fodoa Junction – junction along the Accra-Kumasi road, about 5 miles/8 km from her village. Recently, she committed to running all the way to Nkawkaw, their market town 13.1 miles (21 km) away, someday, with Gary. Stay tuned for further updates on Ruth's progress.

Wednesday 6 November 2013

TAKE OUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY - Adam and Diana share their story!

This past September and October PCVs, Adam and Diana Take Our Daughters To Work! Read their experiences and be inspired to create your own Take Our Daughter to Work Day!



“Whatever the excuse, this sounded like a nice 1-off project, a good balance to sustainability building projects, something to show my village – and myself – that I am doing work.” Adam said when he found out about TODTWD. “I e-mailed for one of the coveted spots and got the confirmation and realized I had no idea what to do next.” Eventually Adam figures it out.

He explains everything from how he selected the girls and about the process to creating a successful TODTWD. “Together with my Catholic Relief Services counterpart, Gainu, we made a list of six educated, successful women from either Nalerigu, home of the Baptist Medical Center, or Gambaga, the district capital. We went out to see who on our dream team was available and interested. I expected the majority would be absent or have conflicting schedules, leaving us with, at best, two women. Five said yes and were so enthusiastic about the idea that, by the end of the day, we had outlined the TODTWD completely. Eight girls from my local JSS would go on the trip and come back as eight professional women. Well, not women, still JSS girls... but still.”
“The eight spots were highly prized. A field trip, snacks, lunch, and, most importantly, no classes! I may not be a teenage girl, but I could empathize... after all, I felt the same during PST (hey-oh!). For the selection process, I wanted to do something gender related, to prime them for TODTWD. No lights = no internet and I couldn't remember any relevant woman-power material from the Peace Corps papers, unless I wanted to teach them about snakes, but that seems too out dated (hey-oh!x2). This time I called Shilpa who gave me a couple of ideas and told me to look in the Life Skills book.
            At the JSS, I had a discussion with the two classes, boys and girls, about some form of gender roles, with the bonus lesson of Venn diagrams. The discussion part did not go as smoothly as I tried to bring us deeper into the gender dynamics. When it stalled with the Form 3 students, I tried for some good ol' fashion'd sexism, Socrates style. ‘Is it because men are stronger than women? Are they smarter than women?’ Ibrahim said, ‘Yes.’ I asked one of the girls and she also said, ‘Yes.’ I asked another couple of girls and they all confirmed male superiority.
Fuck. This was not how gender empowerment was supposed to go. I think the lack of gender pride was more due to language difficulties and unfamiliarity with the exercise than straightforward feelings of inferiority. So I asked how women are superior to men, about bravery/cowardice. That worked, getting a few spirited students trading back and forth, ending with the more politically correct gender equality conclusion. I talked briefly about individual differences and the dangers of generalizing, and how much weaker I am than the girls (seriously, what can't they carry on their heads? I announced the TODTWD: Ladies, prepare to be developed!
            I tried to make sure any girl who wanted to go would have a shot at going. They were to write a paper about the discussion, or come and talk to me about the discussion. Ten girls wrote their papers and all but one was the copied Venn diagram from the board. And no one came to me in person. I reassigned the papers, with clearer explanations. In the end, I had my eight girls, selected for their work and also for sheer logistical convenience.”
                                                                                                             
Adam gets a gold star for further prepping the girls before the event. They did more icebreakers and gender focused activities, and he even gave them homework. “I started telling them to think of the next day like they are meeting themselves in 30 years during ITYDTWD. What would they want to know? This concept helped the girls better understand how these women could help them, that the meeting was not about what can the women give them and more about how the girls can succeed professionally.”
As many PCV’s experience when they organize events, the attendees were late, Adam’s girls were no exception. Once everyone Arrived they continued on strong. “I can't talk about most of the speeches of that day, not because it's Rules 1&2 of TODTWD Club, but they spoke mostly in Mampruli over English. The snippets I heard were plenty inspirational. Mrs. Barba was our first speaker, said she had a daughter in medical school, and that she was once a village girl and now a pediatrician. She also wins the TODTWD for best 1-liner advice, ‘When a boy tells you that you are beautiful, you say back, 'I know, my mom tells me I'm beautiful.’
            The next speaker was Hospital Chaplain Elizabeth, who spoke better English than Mampruli. She learned the girls' names, which made a positive impression. She talked of her difficult childhood, starting school later, dealing with the death of a parent, continued on about why she’ll continue to improve.
Last up for Nalerigu was a Wunni Grace, a local teacher and social worker. When she began to speak I interrupted and said the girls would better understand English and she asked the girls if they wanted to practice their English, which met with a great cheer!
             In Gambaga, Caroline, a CRS worker, became my role model as she handled the girls perfectly. She questioned them, coaxed good answers from them, and rejected so-so answers, keeping a positive light and laughter behind every expression. Best of all, her interaction was guided to educate the girls about illusory single gender jobs.
Madame Alice rounded off the day. She is the head of an Educational NGO, and a few decades ago, was a village girl. Her life made a big impact on the girls, laughing together about how little she knew then, how far she had come.
 The day was over and the girls got to eat The girls enjoyed their juices, biscuits, & fufu lunches, and headed back on the motorking. They done good. No, we done good. After it was all over, Adam assigned them homework! Another gold star for him! His community loved the event and want to have more in the future!


Thank you Adam for your hard work!

Diana, also in the Northern parts of Ghana, Takes her girls to the local district assembly, radio station, and a veterinarian. Her and the girls experienced a few slip ups with planned speakers, which can happen sometimes - this is Ghana - but it all worked out in the end! (As they always do). Here is her Story. 

"I live in the Northern Region of Ghana in a small village (of about 600 people) called Yapalsi. In Yapalsi there is no female graduate of a Secondary Scool. I know of only one 35+ year old mother who had some small amount of primary school. By and large I (like too many of us volunteers) live in a village of completely illiterate mothers.
This has always troubled me. I want the next generation, this generation, to be different. I want my girls to be informed, I want them to be confident, I want them to be happy, I want for them what I never had to fight to get- higher education.
So upon reading the GYDlines I got motivated to do a TODTWD. I spent one week running around my district capital finding different contacts, making awkward phone calls (“Heyyy friend! Long time… like 1.5 years long…), getting brownie points by going to church to further discuss TODTWD with a speaker, wearing my Ghanian wear, dropping off pre-prepared questions to the speakers, talking to headmasters to pull my kids out of class an hour early on Friday, and in general, preaching all about the importance of educating our youth to any who would listen.
Friday arrives and I pick up my 4 JHS kids at school (a 7km walk one way from my village), take us to the nearest taxi station and pay for a drop to go to our first stop- the District Assembly.
Now, even before reaching the DA I realize from that I’m in trouble. The woman I set everything up with had traveled to a conference 5 hours away. Somehow it escaped her mind to tell me that when we met 2 days ago. However I had two interviews lined up here and go to my next in line.
This turns into a bit of a teeth pulling routine. The woman is not interested in motivating my girls (though she sure seemed it on Wednesday) and gives us very perfunctory answers. This was such a disappointment. I leave feeling really let down, but what makes everybody feel better? Food.
After the DA we go to get some chop and I pay for their food and get them the *big* pieces of meat. As everybody starts eating I begin phase 2 of TODTWD, talk about my own experiences. Maybe it was the fact that my girls were eating meat for the first time all month, maybe it was just because we were out of the DA, but whatever the reason they were very engaged in my discussion of why higher education is extra important for women.
Phase 3 of TODTWD- Bring my girls to the local radio station (90.5 Mah-mah-mah MIGHT FM). This visit goes spectacularly. Patience, the woman broadcaster, is very engaging and very motivational. She explains her hardships and triumphs. She has everybody’s full attention and keeps it for her entire hour long discussion. Leaving on a high note, she even gives my four girls a shout out on live radio. Smiles all around =) 
The last and final phase- Go to the Veterinary College to talk with the animal rearing professor, Madam Fostina. I was excited for my girls to talk to Fostina because she was born and raised in the Upper West Region and I believe there is a big north/south split where Ghanaians from the North sometimes feel inferior or more handicapped just by being born and going to school in the North. Madam Fostina is able to prove to my kids that if you work hard you can become a “big woman” and succeed regardless of region.
In retrospect if I could have changed something it would have been to have had my JHS girls prepare some questions before hand to ask the speakers. They were extremely shy around the speakers and it was difficult to get my girls to ask any questions.
Questions or no questions asked aside, I believe the four JHS kids I brought around took a lot away from our day of travels. I hope that they were inspired and will try harder to finish their schooling. At the very least I know my girls had an overall fun day seeing different successful women and will take away from this experience that women can and do succeed. Now, it’s just left with time to see if they will believe and live the thought that “I am a woman and I can succeed.”

Thank you Diana for facilitating TODTWD. You get a gold star for thinking on your toes and keeping you girls engaged!
I hope everyone can learn from Adam and Diana when PCVs create their own TODTWD events. Key things to keep in mind when creating your event 
* Prep your girls - Prepare them with a list of questions to ask their speakers.
* Include gender role activities maybe before, during, and after the event.
* Have a backup plan when a speaker bails or isn't as exciting. 

- Sheena, Brong Ahafo regional GYD rep. 



Wednesday 4 September 2013

As PCVs we can connect kids to scholarships they would never have! Alana serving in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana shares her success story.

I first found out about Africa's Tomorrow (http://www.africastomorrow.org/) through a post on the Peace Corps Ghana facebook page. Started by a Ghana RPCV, the program selects three to six girls each year from rural areas throughout the entire continent of Africa and offers them an interest free loan to go to university in America. The loan is 100% forgiven provided the girl returns to her home country within six months of graduation; if she chooses not to return immediately, she can instead opt to pay back the loan in monthly installments until she chooses to return, at which time the remaining debt is forgiven. Africa's Tomorrow aims to select candidates who want to further their education so that they can use it to improve lives in their home countries.

When I first heard about this program I immediately thought of my student Nihad. She was one of the smartest girls I had ever met, a leader in many clubs at the school, and a debate national champion. I discussed the program with her and she immediately expressed interest. She wanted to go and study business administration with three goals in mind: 1) Start a business in her home town near Wa to provide employment. 2) Focus on employing women as a way of empowering them and encouraging girl child education in an area it is not considered necessary. 3) Become a lecturer at SHSs and universities to share her knowledge with her community.
After an application which involved four essays by her, four essays by me, a letter of recommendation from another teacher, and her school records, followed by a month and a half of waiting, I recieved an email from Africa's Tomorrow. Nihad was one of six women selected this year, and the only one from Ghana (other represented countries include Lesotho, Swaziland, and Cameroon). Needless to say, there was a large amount of celebrating going on that day!

The process is still ongoing. Now Nihad will have to take the TOEFL, apply to the university (the program partners with Berea College in Kentucky but she can apply to other schools as well), apply for a passport and visa, and prepare herself for a huge new chapter in her life! If all goes according to plan, Nihad will be studying stateside starting fall 2014.

-Alana


Friday 23 August 2013

TAKE OUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY - Girls meet a reporter from TV Africa


“God helps those who help themselves,” read the sticker on the tro to Sunyani. Alex and I took four girls to meet with Esther, a young journalist corresponding for TV Africa in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. Take Our Daughter to Work Day, was just about that, how to help oneself. We wanted to encourage these girls to stay in school and work hard to see their dreams come true, just like Esters.
We were expecting to pile into a news van when we arrived. Instead Easter lead us inside a church. “I have no office. This is my office,” she held up her laptop. She raised another object in the air “I shoot with this camera. I come and edit on my computer. The videos get sent to Accra and aired on TV."
Esther was energetic, outgoing, empathetic, and very talkative. She asked the girls what they wanted to be. One by one the SHS and JHS girls stood up. Nurse, reporter, teacher nurse, were their dream jobs. “Why?” asked Ester. The girls became shy. So Ester began her story, from being a young girl to where she is today, a 27 year old female reporter who also leads several girls groups in her church’s district. Although Ester spoke in Twi, I was able hear her main points as I saw the girls smiling and listening with such intent.
“Look at yourself. What do you want? I chose to be a journalist because I want to see people,” she said. Challenges were never viewed as a problem for Esther, as her journey to her dreams felt like a calling. “Failures are not the end of the road in life, but constructive criticism god is giving you, pushing you to do better,” she explained. I remembered the sticker; help yourself, ask questions, and seek guidance from peers, teachers, elders, and even your faith was her take home message.
We watched news stories Ester had made about cashew farmers, education, and government while sitting in a circle. The girls were still feeling shy during our discussion. However an impact was made, they were impressed. Sophia had identified with Ester, “my favorite part was when she was feeling sad she prayed.” And before we left Comfort exchanged contacts to seek advice about becoming a reporter!
Making connections, encouragement, opportunities, and action all in the effort to help ourselves and each other. Take Our Daughter to Work Day was a success. 

Saturday 3 August 2013

Meet the fresh faces of the GYD crew!

Hello fellow PCV's and friends! Meet your new regional representatives!


Shilpa - Western / GYD Chairperson & Small Funds Project Coordinator
Peter - Volta / GYD Secretary
Liz - Central / GYD Small Grants Coordinator & Fundraiser
Jaclin - Upper West / GYD Scholarships
Nabcy - Eastern / GYD Trainer
Brian - Upper East
Elyse - Northern / Outreach Co-Director
Sheena - Brong Ahafo / Outreach Co-Director

We're exited to take the lead and collaborate! This round of regional reps would like to focus our efforts on improving digital resources and tool kits to help volunteers expand and create GYD related projects. We plan to offer training materials on gender empowerment, instructions for creating glow camps, clubs, career planning, and scholarship opportunities.

We're also thrilled to continue work on the Women's Book and gear up for Take Our Daughter to Work Day within the next few months!

Other things we're excited about, International Women's Day and Global Youth Service Day 2014, and of course lots of bake sales!

Keep your eyes out, we'll keep you updated on upcoming events and GYD related projects on our blog, GYDlines newsletter, Facebook, and the Peace Corps Newsletter!

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Girls Club at State School for the Deaf


Submitted by Lindsey Hanson; Adjei Kojo, Greater Accra

A girls club can be a great addition to any community. It teaches young women leadership, independence, assertiveness, and pride. I think all volunteers should have at least one club that meets either weekly, or monthly, depending on your schedule. It has been one of the best parts of my experience and lets me work outside of my primary project to teach students about issues that I feel are important to them. These topics are often things that are not taught in school and perhaps the parents do not discuss with their children at home, such as personal hygiene or proper condom use.

Based on an outline generated my Stephanie Carey, an education volunteer, I designed a girls club at my school. (See below) The first step was finding strong women teachers who were interested in running the club. I spoke with them about what issues female students at our school are having. From there we outlined what topics would be best to discuss and I arranged them in an order that made sense to me, several to coincide with National and International holidays. My main role in this club is to inform teachers and students when the meetings are and what topic we will discuss that month. I make the teachers run the meetings themselves, but I sit in and assist. I also was able to procure through the GYD SMALL FUND GRANT Ghc150.00 to purchase some items for the club meetings. These include red ribbons to support National Aids day and beads to make menstrual cycle bracelets. My other role is to contact guest speakers and put them in touch with the teachers running the meetings. I hope to forge some strong relationships, so the speakers will continue to come in the years after I am gone. By giving the teachers the lead role in this club they are setting good examples for the female students and also learning that they can run the club with little help from me. I hope this encourages them to continue the club in future years. If you need any more advice on starting a girls club feel free to contact me or your regional GYD representative.

Month
Topic
Activities
November
*December 1st National Aids Day*
HIV/AIDS
Making pins and posters to raise awareness for National Aids Day. Learn about the ABC’s and play the risk game led by peer educators.
December
Personal Hygiene and Menstruation
Making fertility bracelets using recycled glass beads.
January
Entrepreneurship
Tour of Global Mammas distribution site in Ashaiman.
February
Assertiveness and Communication skills
Assertiveness role playing games, Deaf Pride slide show and discussion
March
*March 8th International Women’s Day*
Leadership
Guest speaker from Leading Ladies Network in Accra to discuss leadership and what skills are found in a good leader.
April
*April 16th World Malaria Day*
Malaria
Risk Game and Neem Cream demo and Net hanging demonstration. Guest speaker from Ghana Heath Service.
May
Self Defense
Basic techniques of protecting oneself demonstrated by local Tai-Kwon-Do instructor.
June
Self Esteem
Making God’s eyes craft and taking photos of the girls to be printed.
July
Birth control
Family Planning
STD’s
Guest speaker local nurse to discuss family planning and condom demo. Watch videos from PEPFAR and discuss the situations.