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Published: April 17th 2007
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It's days like today that remind me why I'm in Africa. I feel like we've actually done something worthwhile and made a bit of a difference. I'll explain!
We had some great news yesterday. The adminstrator from
The Vision came over to the guesthouse, and told us that the editorial board loved the idea for a children's section in the newspaper. The section, a quarter page filled with news stories, letters, creative writing and poems will be included every month...and as the print deadline is Friday of this week, we have until tomorrow to get a piece together with a photograph for May's edition! Now considering we are in Africa, and therefore on Africa time (Africa time is sloooooooow - people will be an hour or more late to meet you, it takes days or even weeks longer than you would expect to get things done, these people are relaaaaxed) that was pretty impressive. I guess even journalists on Africa time have deadlines!
Myself, Debbie and Harrison, the tutor of the Press Club are really so excited about this. The children who are already talented, will be able to develop their skills, showcase their work, have something to aspire to and be proud of, and something to show to their family and friends. Harrison found as many of the kids as he could around camp to tell them the news. We went to the meeting today ready to work with the kids and get something great together for our first edition.
And they were all late.
I'm talking 45 minutes late for an hour long meeting! The crazy thing is they make no apology, they kind of look at you, and shrug as if to say 'dude, relax we're in Aaaaafrica.' Harrison gave them a bit of a talking to. I did too actually! As well as an enthusiastic you-can-do-this, lets-get-motivated, I've-come-all the-way-from-England-so-you'd-bloody-better-be-on-time-next-week kinda speech. I think it worked. We got a great news piece about a flesh eating bug thats infested the camp, some introduction to the Press Club ideas, and a great photo with the girls, Harrison and Principal Thomas. Now I call that progress!
Little things, huge difference
I told you about a pregnant woman who asked for help last week? I've been meeting with her. Her name is Favour, she is a 23 year old newlywed who has actually just suffered an ectopic pregnancy. She has been in and out of hospital, has had many operations and is still rather shaky and unwell. She is also however, always dignified, polite and gentle, and she seems very embarassed about asking for money. Before her illness, she was running a successful fish stall at the top of camp. Now she has no money at all, as she has spent an unbelievable amount of money on medical bills and had to give up her business in the process. Her husband William is away at church school, so for now, she is on her own.
Debbie and I saw her house today. It is small and very, very basic. There is one main room, the bedroom with a matress on the floor. Favour showed us her medical bills as she wanted to prove to us that had been ill. She also pulled down her knickers to show us her operation scars. This was an awful moment. I didn't need proof. I instinctively believed her anyway. She was losing her dignity to show us white girls that she needed money. That bothered me, and is an example of the terrible power imblance that
still exists between white and black people.
She explained that people don't want to help married women. Charity is surprisingly picky, and usually makes its way towards single or widowed mothers with large families on the camp.
There was no way we weren't going to help her. We told her we would give her the 450,000 cedis (20 pounds) she needed to get back on her feet. We also said that we would like to go with her to market in Kasoa, a nearby town, to help her buy and carry the goods home and then onto the top end of camp. She is clearly still too weak to do this by herself.
She looked so relieved and grateful, I think me and Debbie felt quite choked up. When she told us how much she appreciated what we were going to do, I felt pleased to be helping her, but also very guilty. It's in moments like that that you realise the terrible imbalance, and the difference between those who have everything and those who have nothing. She was looking at us with tears in her eyes, and she told us what we were doing was wonderful for her. But in reality she's the inspirational one. She has lived in poverty her whole life, has probably worked harder than me and Debbie ever have, and from what she has told us, has lost a lot of people she loves because of disease and terrible living conditions. We're just giving her 20 quid and carrying some stuff for her. Who on earth wouldn't?
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