Blogs from Africa - page 6

One of my main projects since coming to Sierra Leone has been to organise an educational roadshow to forest edge communities around Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP). We’re now half way through the programme and so far the events have proven to be a really good way to bring the community together to deliver some important messages in an engaging and interactive way. I’ve been working with the support of a great team in GRNP including the education officer Eddie, a park ranger, our media and publicity officer, a community development relations officer, one of the research technicians and one of the drivers. It’s really good to have people from a range of departments coming together so the community can see the breadth of the work that we do and get questions answered by the appropriate ... read more

April has seen my Dad, Mum and brother visit from NZ, ANZAC Day, Hayley’s 4th birthday and Charlotte’s 6thbirthday. ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in New Zealand, it is a day we remember those who have served in war. It originally started to honour those in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli during World War 1. My Dad was in the NZ Royal Airforce for 8 years, he also plays the bagpipes in the NZ Signals Band and has participated in many ANZAC Days. I didn’t realise but this particular ANZAC Day in Kenya was Dads first dawn service. It was a special occasion for us as a family, as Charlotte raised the NZ flag again, but was able to wear a miniature of Dads service medal, ... read more

Oh dear – it's been a while since I wrote a blog – let's see if I can remember week 6. So – we arrived back in Makeni from the beach without Em – it was very strange! She was heading to Freetown and Mark and I were going to meet her there on Thursday. We knew electricity was only 7pm until 7 am after being told last week so we were looking forward to 7pm when we could turn on the lights and charge our computers and phones. I told Em I would call her as soon as I could charge my phone. Being at the beach for two nights meant there I had low battery in my phone. 7pm came, but the electricity didn't. 8pm and we were sitting in the dark. Then we ... read more

We are already two weeks into my final term of teaching in Ghana, and I already can’t believe where the time is going! It’s lovely to be back with the children and all the friends I have made here, and we’re all making the most of the time I have left… We finish our term here in early July, so there’s really only about 2 months left of my amazing and life-changing experience of teaching and living in Accra. I will be extremely sad to leave, but after a brilliant trip back to Vilanculos during the Easter vacation, I am more motivated than ever to start a life there later this year. I had the best possible two weeks with everyone there and, as always, I was welcomed back in such a way that it feels ... read more