As we have run out of cash, we need to go to change some Sterling into Cedis. This involves a walk of about a quarter of a mile along the main road to what looks like a shed which is where the Forex exchange office is. There is a footpath, but it is not very even, and has the odd missing drain cover. The corner of the road has a really foul smelling drain passing around it which is most unpleasant and you have to feel for the young children playing around the fod stalls that are just next to it. We come out with a wad of money - each note is worth between £1.65 and £3.30, which leads to quite a lot of notes.
We get back to the flat ok and then set off to drive back to the village. When we arrive, two students who we sponser seesre there to meet us, one of them, Richmond, was there in his new uniform which was very smart. We met with Castro, the head of the centre, and talked about the various meetings we had had in Kumasi and Accra. As we we talking the Chief, Nana George went past with his niece, and they stopped to talk with us. The letter I had written to the head of ICCES was much discussed and seen to be really strong and a great letter. Their advice is that we now lobby the District Commissioner and encourage him to speak to the Minister, so we will see how that works.
We tried to visit another College, about 10 miles away which we have visited before, and which is also having problems with ICCES. However, the head teacher was not there, so we came back to the village, and met another of the students we sponsor. She was in some distress because her mother in law had died 3 days before. Alexandra has had a hard time over the past year or so. She is about 21 and her mother died 18 months ago. SHe became pregnant and whilst the father has not really supported here, the mother in law has. However, here others inlaw relatives have been quite difficult.
She is now really concerned about living there still, and wants to find somewhere else to live. Her brother had been supporting her a bit, but he also died 6 months ago. Ghana as a society is very much based on the extended family; if you do not have one, then you can be very much left to your own resources. She came to see us later in the evening with Chris who is now a year old and seems to be doing well. She has found somewhere to live, but will need help paying for it. Is that the right thing to do? These decisions are not easy - her accommodation for a year costs £50. The baby's father has agreed to pay for the baby to go to a crèche from next January which sounds like good news as she should be able to finish her college course that way. She is a bright and engaging girl, so you can only wish her well and hope that helping her now will enable her to at least get a qualification which will help her in the future.
We get back to the flat ok and then set off to drive back to the village. When we arrive, two students who we sponser seesre there to meet us, one of them, Richmond, was there in his new uniform which was very smart. We met with Castro, the head of the centre, and talked about the various meetings we had had in Kumasi and Accra. As we we talking the Chief, Nana George went past with his niece, and they stopped to talk with us. The letter I had written to the head of ICCES was much discussed and seen to be really strong and a great letter. Their advice is that we now lobby the District Commissioner and encourage him to speak to the Minister, so we will see how that works.
We tried to visit another College, about 10 miles away which we have visited before, and which is also having problems with ICCES. However, the head teacher was not there, so we came back to the village, and met another of the students we sponsor. She was in some distress because her mother in law had died 3 days before. Alexandra has had a hard time over the past year or so. She is about 21 and her mother died 18 months ago. SHe became pregnant and whilst the father has not really supported here, the mother in law has. However, here others inlaw relatives have been quite difficult.
She is now really concerned about living there still, and wants to find somewhere else to live. Her brother had been supporting her a bit, but he also died 6 months ago. Ghana as a society is very much based on the extended family; if you do not have one, then you can be very much left to your own resources. She came to see us later in the evening with Chris who is now a year old and seems to be doing well. She has found somewhere to live, but will need help paying for it. Is that the right thing to do? These decisions are not easy - her accommodation for a year costs £50. The baby's father has agreed to pay for the baby to go to a crèche from next January which sounds like good news as she should be able to finish her college course that way. She is a bright and engaging girl, so you can only wish her well and hope that helping her now will enable her to at least get a qualification which will help her in the future.
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