Adoption - child from Ghana Dear Ricki, I went through your photos and while doing this, I had the need to contact you. Maybe you will help us. My wife and me are trying to adopt a child. We found out that Ghana is a good option for doing this. Do you know by any chance the name of anyone who can help us in Ghana to certainly know what are the possibilities to adopt there? We would like to know the e-mail address of any person connected with orphanages or similar. Our search is oriented to a child in a healthy condition, or... , that he is not suffering from any illness that can't be cured. We are proud parents of a biological daughter of 5 years and we'd like to have another child ( maybe two..), adopted. Although Slovenia is not having any slovenian child to be adopted, we know many people with adopted children ( mainly from Russia, etc.). We don't know anybody who adopted from Africa / Ghana.., but by now we believe the initial health conditions are similar as in other countries ( with the difference that Russian children have in most cases FAS ( fetal alcohol syndrome ), which, according to our feeling, is not a good starting point, ESPECIALLY considering we have a daughter that should carry part of this burden ( is the right word...?) for the rest of her life. Please, any comment is very helpful, AGAINST our idea or FOR it.. many thanks in advance for any information or comment. Daniel ( you can answer to danielskraba@hotmail.com)
Thank you Ricky - I contacted you last year to find out about CCS before I went out in Jan this year. I read your blog then and cried and have just read this one and cried again. I had a great time and understand everything you say about Ghana. But I have a Ghana bug too - I am going back again in Jan for 3 months and cannot wait.
Poor Johnny Poor wee Johnny. Hope they know what they are treating him for and giving him the right medicine. It must be very hard seeing a little boy obviously ill, and not getting any help.( Take him home with you!) I bet you wish you could, but you know from the last time that this goes on all the time over there, and there is not really anything you can do about that.Don't be late back from hospital or you'll miss your flight. See you Saturday.
Hello! Hi Ricki,
Glad to know that you have arrived safely - without being ambushed at the airport! The blogs are great entertainment - cant you stay a few weeks longer to add a few more "chapters"- I could easily get used to reading them on a daily basis again?!! (Honestly that's the only reason I ask!)
You are missing a mini heatwave in Costa Del Banff - it's been 3 whole days of sunshine, however I bought sun cream iday so I expect that's the last we will see o' the big yalla thing!
I hope you really enjoy the rest of your stay - not many people would choose to spend their hard-earned holidays - and cash - doing what you are doing to benefit others. And when you return home you can teach my daughter just how privileged she really is to live in this country, and that it really isn't a catastrophe if the tomata sass is finished and I forgot to buy another bottle!
A' the best Ricki - take care,
C u soon,
Iso :)
so great Ricki,
your blog is great, it made me feel like i was back in ho. love to everyone, and please give elolo a big hug. Have a wonderful time!!
Abby N.
Hi Ricki - I have read your first diary account with such interest. It certainly takes me back and I can picture and (almost) smell Ho / Ghana as I read. Are you doing the coast again and Woe or Kakum? Did Marco not meet up with you at the airport? So many questions! Oh - how you must be enjoying Chances Hotel too :o) Looking forward to the next instalment. Vicky
Maureen kindly gave me your details and I've finally found time to access your site. What an amazing experience. I'm embarking on a 5 week placement to Malawi through LINK Community Development, where along with 14 other teachers we will be placed in schools in the Dedza disrtict. I can't imagine my reaction until I get there. As you said, you can read and try to prepare but the reality will always be different. All the best.
Small world! Enjoyed bumping into your site here as I tried to get an update on how Save Widows and Orphans was doing. I was a Peace Corps volunteer assigned to work with Bernice for 2+ years from 2003-2005, so I know her well. Buying those beds was a very nice thing you did!
You touched a lot of lives Ricki! I enjoyed reading your journal! I always believe that as we go through life if we can say we touched even one person's life with our actions, then we have accomplished a lot. I know you touched many little lives in Ghana. Actually when I last talked to young Kofi from CCS and asked him if he enjoyed the 50th Anniversary celebration he told me no he didn't because Ricki left and he was so sad about that that he could not be happy about the celebration.
I spent most of June in Ghana and loved it--my second trip. I didn't do much traveling, it was more about visiting with friends and catching up on things since I had been there in 2004. I met the families of three of my friends from the states and that was awesome!
I got to witness the graduation from KNUST of the young man that i had been supporting. He is an awesome young guy and the entire family was so proud as he is the first graduate in the entire family.
I took school supplies to a school where a young friend of mine teaches and that was a huge and fun adventure. I got to visit each room and talk to the kids about how important it is to study hard and learn all they can. The headmaster then had the kids all line up on the school yard in formation by grade and we passed out the supplies to them. I think it was a great day for everyone!
I spent time in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi and a lot of time relaxing. Of course as soon as I get back to the US I started trying to figure out when I can go back again.
Thanks Thanks for your comment - was your daughter with CCS? I read a book left at the homebase with details of Charles, and the person who wrote it said that they helped treat his feet. He is such a likeable boy, but no one seems to look after him. I was only in Woe for a few days so felt a bit helpless but I heard once I got home that his hand had healed a bit. Unfortunatley his feet were not so good. I also plan togo back to Ghana and check up on him. I would also like to go back in August but it might be next year.
regarding Charles My daughter was in Ghana last year for 8 weeks. She too met Charles and immediately fell for him. He was being treated then for his feet infections and she dressed his wounds for him until time for her to leave and another volunteer was to take over. She will never forget Charles.
She is volunteering again in Ghana in August and wants to look him up. Thank you for caring for him. So sad--and we take so much for granted here.
I was moved Hi Ricki,
I was moved by your account. I'm glad you had the courage to buy the bunk bed, and to help Stephen. Yes, perhaps, in the "grand scheme of things," you made a small impact--but at least you had the courage to make that impact, no matter how small. That's better than what can be said for most people who criticize those who "make a difference."
I love the pictures Thanks for putting the pictures on line. One thing I really love about Ghanaians is their smile--it just lights up their faces. Those little kids are so cute. I'm really getting excited about my trip, can hardly wait!
hi,
just stumbled onto your blof. Im leaving for Ho in June, i will be working in an orphanage. perhaps the orphanage you were at???. I would love to get some info from you on what to excpect, what i should bring... this is my first volunteer experience abroad, your travel blog really did help me, prepare for what is to come. Would love to hear more from your experience. You can contact me at uheiss@hotmail.com
You shall be missed... Will you miss Ghana as much as the Ghanians will miss you..? ;-)'. I hate leaving Ghana and CAN NOT WAIT to return...hopefully in the fall...God willing.... Thanks for the blog....felt like I was back "home" again!
Welcome Back, Ricki! I have just finished reading your last entry and have looked at your photos of your time in Ghana and feel really humbled by what you have done and achieved! You really seemed to have found your niche (it's not Benefits anymore!) and I could tell that you were enjoying it and that the children were enjoying having you there. I particulary noticed the pictures of you with the children - can't see you because they are all trying to get their arms round you! I hope that you continue with your fundraising now that you are home because I am sure that everyone who has been keeping up with your adventures will be willing to contribute, I certainly will. Also look forward to seeing you soon and hearing more of your adventures and hopefully seeing more of your photos! (take them to our next meeting)
Your last day! Wow I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes before I even started reading your blog because I know how hard saying good bye was for you! I remember it so well!
Irronically one of the kids from Ghana just was watching national news and hear about the storms here and called to make sure we were ok!
I think I told you before that I cried so hard when I left Ghana, I felt like I was leaving part of my heart there, and indeed I did!
I'm so proud of you Rikki, you have touched so many little lives there and you have also helped them to get to know someone from another country so they realize that there is a world bigger than Ghana!
Have a safe flight home and I hope you will make a final entry in your blog for everyone to read with reflections of your visit to Ghana! You are an awesome person and those little kids will never forget you!
You Have done brilliantly in Ghana! Hello Ricki I really enjoy reading your blogs. The kids are so nice and funny! You have done the best you could in Ghana and we are all very proud. Well Done! Its good to know that they are intrested in Macduff and Scotland.
I cant believe its your final week in Ghana it does not seem that long ago since you left. I am looking forward to seeing you when you get back to Macduff
Al The Best!!!
Lewis.
Here is my Ghana travel blog. I first travelled to Ghana in January 2007 with a charity called Cross-Cultural Solutions and lived there for 2 months. I also returned in May 2008 for 2 weeks. I met some of the most amazing people and I definitely plan to return.....look out for my next instalment!
... full info
Autumn Marshall
non-member comment
Makes me want to leave my employment here, and move there.