Meet the Team! (Laahbaltirba!)

By Daisy Lea Perry, Charlotte Price, and Issaka Amadu Atusi

Many people around the world want to see a change, and a fairer world. It's a wonderful thing when a group of these people come together. NFED echoes these values and we all feel so privileged to be partnered with them through our International Citizen Service programme in Tolon, Northern Ghana. The Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) based here in Tolon focuses on providing functional literacy and skills development programmes for the rural communities for a period between 18 and 21months. Our cohort seeks to support our seven Income Generating Groups (IGG’s) across six communities; Kangbagu, Dimabi Yepala, Yoggu, Wayamba, Dundo and Tolon to form cooperatives. The aim is to provide sustainable income generating source to these communities and ensure they have a more regular and stable supply of income.

Congratulations on finding yourself visiting our ICS blog, we'll continue to keep you updated bi-weekly on our team and project and how it's all going so be sure to pop in regularly! We are cohort 4 within our team, we have had a variety of people travel from across the UK and Ghana willing to work together to help these income generating groups have a sustainable income source with our diverse expertise in various fields.


“Siliminga (foreigner), what is your name?”

Siliminga is the most common phrase one will hear in the communities especially among children.

 We'd like to introduce you to our first team leader Katie Connan; Katie has come from Cambridge where she was completing her Masters in Human rights law, and working in an outdoors shop. She hopes ICS can help her to develop dual management and leadership skills and is looking forward to working cross culturally.



Our other valued team leader is Francis Bacon Vuuri. Francis is from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana who had his degree in Integrated Business Studies (Accounting) and was working with a Ghanaian NGO (Center of Posterity Interest Organisation - COPIO) with special interest in research and community development, and worked in diverse fields such as health, education, water and sanitation and governance before coming to join International Service. Francis hopes that ICS can help him to gain leadership and project management skills and is very excited to work with a diverse group of young people coming from diverse backgrounds/cultures.


Our team leaders are here for 6 months and we are already singing their praises, you’ll have a smashing time Cohort 4! Now onto the rest of the team;

Harry Stephenson has come from Kingswinford in the midlands of England. Back home Harry worked for his local council carrying out administrative work. Harry hopes that taking part in such a project like ICS will help him to develop his confidence and looks forward to his future career options broadening.  Harry has a strong interest in helping others, and believes that such a sustainable project like NFED really suits his values. Very admirable Harry!


Daisylea Perry is from a little further south in the UK, from the quiet town of Taunton in Somerset. Before ICS she worked as a Health care assistant in her local hospital and regularly volunteered in her local community. Daisy loves travelling and hopes that living in Ghana will enable her to see and learn more about Africa and the way of life. After ICS she is interested in attending university to do a Paramedic science or journalism course, hopefully ICS can help her to make up her mind!


Abdul Rahman Abu, one of our team members, he has come across from the Upper West Region of Ghana where he was looking to further his education and looking for a job, Rahman is hoping ICS will help him to develop his presentation skills and is excited for his CV to be enriched with the achievement to help him in his search for a new job.

Yakubu Hadija, has come a little more locally, from the nearby city of Tamale. Before ICS Hadija was progressing with her schooling in automobile engineering and was interested in finding a job. She is looking to add to her experience in team work and is looking to make connections that will be helpful for her job search whilst building her character along the way. I'm sure you'll succeed in your goal of a career in automobile engineering, and that hopefully this experience can help you to develop the necessary transferable skills.

Agartha Sambile comes from Tatale in the Northern part of Ghana, but has been working in Tamale for the past 3 years teaching class 5 in primary school. Agartha is keen to gain cultural experience from ICS and various skills to help her to enrich her teaching. After ICS Agartha will be attending teacher training college, she is already set with her place in October, good luck Agartha!


Charlotte Price (Charley) comes from the historic city of  Chester in the North West of England. Before embarking on the ICS journey she had just completed the second year of an economics and geography degree at the University of Birmingham. Charley is interested in developing her transferable professional skills in order to increase her job prospects, along with taking the opportunity of working cross culturally to develop personally. After ICS she intends on completing her degree and hopes to pursue a finance related career with a focus on emerging markets. She hopes to inspire others to take part in such a life changing experience and the benefits of pushing personal boundaries. 


Amadu Issaka Atusi comes from Bawku in the Upper East of Ghana. He is a graduate from the University of Development studies (UDS), and wishes to follow a career in International Development. He is an extremely motivated and organised individual who we are all really excited to work with. Amadu is hoping to gain experience in project management from ICS, increase his confidence and challenge himself to develop the skills to enable him to change the world after the ICS programme. Amazing stuff Amadu, we’ll support you all the way!




Eloghene Otobo (Elo) is a wonderfully committed woman from London, back in London Elo was completing an internship in global health development. Elo is hoping ICS will open her up to career opportunities whilst developing her skills in project management and working within a cross cultural collaboration. She's ready to embrace any challenges along the way.



Jianvario Sabbatella-Chudley (Eo) is an extremely charismatic individual coming all the way from Bedfordshire. Eo was motivated to apply for ICS after completing the NCS program in the UK. Back in Bedfordshire Eo took part in various agency work and was searching for a more permanent job. He hopes that ICS will help him to develop professionally and bring him career opportunities. Eo also has a goal a little closer to his heart and is expecting the journey will help him to develop personally and find himself. We wish you all the best in succeeding with your goals Eo, you really do brighten any room you walk into!


Jaabir Issah is from Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Jaabir completed tertiary education in 2014 with a degree in social science, he then went on to do national service as a geography teacher in 2014/15 academic year. More recently Jaabir has been teaching and learning Arabic. Throughout ICS Jaabir intends on developing his communication and professional relationships. He is very optimistic with securing a job and hopes to return to teaching after ICS.



Our volunteer Rafia Iddrisu, has travelled a short distance from Tamale to be with us. Back in Tamale Rafia was completing her national service and has proved to be quite business savvy. The experience she has from helping with her brother’s business really relates to the project here at NFED. Rafia believes that ICS can benefit her professionally through the absorption of knowledge and experience from working with the IGGs in the communities.  She is very excited to receive the certificate of completion, which will be a massive achievement personally to her and a bonus for her CV.

Madina Fusheini  is an enthusiastic and extremely capable team member who has a passion for gaining experience and knowledge through the course of this placement. She hails from the Upper East Region of Ghana and before ICS she completed  her national service. After ICS Madina intends on using the skills she hopes to gain from this placement to help her to find a job and secure her career path. We have great expectations for Madina and believe she will go far in life, keep up the good work!



Unfortunately our wonderful team is 2 down, Katie Barnett and Chloe Hulme are a pair of very dedicated and cherished team members who have sadly had to leave us this week due to medical reasons. Their time with us has been short but sweet and the work that they have contributed to the project is highly valued. Good luck in the future guys, you will be missed!




Successes of the last 3 weeks

During our first few weeks in the office our team has developed a strong commitment to one another and the project, we pay particular attention to regular team building activities to ensure our team cross culture dynamic is flourishing. Our recent guided learning sessions have included; a environmental awareness presentation, which included an active team mind-mapping discussion on how the community can recycle and develop its environmental sustainability and the lives of the indigenes as a whole, we have also taken part in several group reflection exercises which helped the group become more aware of one another's personality and strengths/skills.  We also had our community entry where the team was introduced to our various IGGs in our operational communities, meeting the community chiefs as well as some elders and opinion leaders of the communities. It was a really memorable experience meeting various people on that day. We have also been preparing for next week's needs assessment, in which we will be going into our various communities to check up on their progress towards becoming cooperatives, so definitely pop in soon to hear about our results!

It’s Always Darkest Before Dawn

Sadia's Story

 

By Anisha Patel

Sadia in her pharmacy                                                                       

Alimutu Sadia Ibrahim is the type of woman that immediately makes you feel welcome. She has a kind and inviting smile, but mischievous eyes that sparkle as she tells me her story.

Sadia tells me that her life has been hard. She has two daughters and her motivation in life now is to make sure that her daughters do not suffer as she did. Her daughter comes sidling in; a chubby toddler with a massive, toothy grin. As she lays her head on her mother’s lap you can see how much Sadia loves and dotes on her.

Sadia was married at 22 and I ask for her “How They Met story”. She tells me that her husband came to her house and pretended that he had seen her around town for a while and was besotted with her (in reality the first time he saw her was when he went to her house). At the time, Sadia already had a boyfriend so she ignored him, but his gentle persistence eventually won her over. The love between the two blossomed and two years later they had their first daughter.

Sadia’s husband, Adam worked as a teacher and later gained an admission to the University of Development Studies (UDS) when his daughter was 3 months old but the campus was far away so he had to leave his wife and daughter to begin his 4 year course. Unfortunately, his work was not supportive of his decision to go to University and not only did they stop his money, they erased his name so he could no longer work as a teacher. Adam did not receive support from his parents, so Sadia had to provide income for the family. She had dreams of becoming a nurse and going to nursing school but instead she had to work.

“That was when we experienced real life, with my first daughter” explains Sadia. “I had to work, carrying cosmetics with my baby on my back [in Ghana, women traditionally carry babies on their backs, tightly secured with material]. The more you go around the more you sell so I was backing my daughter and going around.”

Sadia took on more jobs,working at the youth employment centre until 1pm, then she would go and work on washing mosquito nets with repellent and ending the day by going around and selling cosmetics. All this was just to survive.

Sadia told me how she heard of an organisation called Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) which aims at helping young girls and women to get into  education and work. She applied for their Innovative Basic Programme. Around 14 girls from Tolon applied and there was 111 applicants in the district. Sadia was one of three to be selected from the district. At a national level, out of 91 women only eleven women were selected. Sadia was the tenth person picked.

“We were pioneers of that scheme. They gave us some business ideas and you could select one. They had a mobile health service, where you go around to the local villages on a bicycle. I was used to roaming and a lot of couples and girls I had met previously needed family planning and health care, so I decided to pick that business. I thought it would only be 3-4 months, not knowing it would be a long journey.

“There were three ladies who chose mobile health and CAMFED were impressed with us. I'm not a smooth talker but I work hard. They gave us money for accommodation, food, etc. in Tamale. I had to leave my daughter with my sister, in Tolon. We received about GHC600 (£105) per month. When I got the money I bought the computer for GHC250 for my husband to help with his studies. We supported each other. To survive, I collected money from my mother and brothers but I sent some of it to my sister, to help raise my daughter, and some of it to my husband. When they found out I was sending some of the money to my husband they were angry. My brother told me that my husband didn't love me and I shouldn't send him money. But I knew he loved me.

“I finished my course around the same time as my husband finished at UDS. My daughter was 4 years old. After completing, my husband had to complete his National Service [where citizens are expected to serve their country, e.g. by working for the government, a government approved company or in service of Ghana] in Bolga district [approximately 160 miles away from Tolon]. After he left, I realised I was pregnant with our second daughter.

At the time, I was applying for work in Tamale, hoping that someone would give me a chance. When I was one month pregnant I got a job in a pharmacy. I worked with him until I was about to deliver. The pay was low, about GHC220 per month, but I didn't have any choice but to work for him. I even didn't get paid for the last month because I had to leave 10 days early to give birth. To this day I am still waiting for my money and I will wait and see what God will do to him on Judgment Day. I would start work at 7am, do the sweeping and mopping. The boss’ sister also worked there, so she worked as the cashier. At 5pm I would sweep and mop again then I would go home, cook my dinner and sleep.”

After returning home and giving birth to her second child, Sadia received her Medicine Counter Assistance Training from CAMFED. But she was told that she would need further training to sell licensed medicine. She became interested in becoming a licensed medicine centre and separated from mobile health.

Sadia and her colleagues in India in the community where they stayed

“CAMFED gave three girls the opportunity to go to India for 10 days. They gave us money for everything but I saved it because I knew when I come back it will not be easy. When I returned I paid GHC150 for my license to be a licensed chemical seller  and I used GHC300 to buy stock for the store. The rest of the money I gave to my husband. The license was very hard to apply for. After I applied, I didn't hear from them for a year, despite chasing them constantly. In the second year I received a call to say that they could come and inspect the land I had for the store.

“After I had applied for my license, I immediately went to the Chief and told him my story. I asked him for help. I explained to him that I wanted to help and bring development to the community (because at the time, we only had one drug store)and he gave me the land for free. He also told me to call him when I was going to build my store. But he ran out of patience and called me and asked me why I hadn't built. I told him that I was still planning. The Chief said he would send me one boy to help build the store. When the boy turned up, he came with 10 bags of cement to build the store! Apart from the support from the Chief we didn't have anything, but this gave us the courage to build the store.

“Less than six months later, a heavy storm came and destroyed everything: the store was gone.

“By then, I had a call from the Pharmacy Council and I was told that I should come for my interview and exams. The fee was GHC150, so I thought ‘How do I get this money?’. My husband had also been saving during his National Service and so when they asked for the fee he quickly went and withdrew the money for me.

“When I went for the exams, my daughter was 4 months old, and my husband was looking after my daughter. So I went to take my exams, had my interview and came home.

“In January 2015, I told my husband that I would go to Tamale to work because my daughter was getting to one year old. I went back to Tamale and worked for a pharmacy because I didn't want to sit idle especially when we needed the money most to build the store. After working for four months the Pharmacy Council called me and told me that I had the approval to operate as a licensed chemical seller. But my store was not complete, so how could I start my business?

“So I went back to the Chief and told him that I had the approval letter to operate as a licensed chemical seller. The Chief told me he would support me by giving wood and zinc for the roof. By then my store had collapsed.

“I was sitting by the house one day when my friend was cycling past and he saw me. He stopped and asked me ‘I saw you were working at one pharmacy in Tamale, but you are not working there. Why have you stopped?’ So I told him that I came home to deliver and I didn't get the chance to get back. He told me that he had also heard information in town that I had come back to operate a drug store but he had not heard anything. I told him that I had the approval letter to operate, but when I built it a heavy storm collapsed it, so I don't know what to do. He asked me the things I needed and I told him that I needed sand, cement, etc. He said he would support me and give me the sand and 5 bags of cement. I called my brother, the one who said my husband didn't love me, and asked him for help. Some how he managed to pity me and he gave me 15 bags of cement. With this, I was able to re-build the store. Even to this day, the inside is not plastered but I am able to sell my drugs so I am happy with that!

“We were able to finish the store but now, how could I start my business? So in our training, CAMFED told us that if we were lucky, you could apply for a loan to start your business, and you can pay it off small small. So I called them and told them I had my approval letter but I didn't have money for my business. So they told me to apply for a loan for GHC2000 (£350) and I did so without delay.

“They told me to come for the money. They said they would give me GHC1500 for the store and then they would come and inspect the store. If they were satisfied, they would give me the rest.

“I bought some small things for my store, like a fan, lighting etc and also fitted the shelves, which were very expensive. They came to inspect the store and they were very happy.  They gave me the GHC500 but quickly realised that this would not be enough to stock my store. When I was working in my second Pharmacy I had he opportunity to buy the drugs when they ran low, so I knew that the money would not be enough.

“So I applied to another organisation called Health Keepers, who provide education on family planning, and at the end they will give you the products to educate people on family planning. I was a member and organiser in Tolon for this organisation so I called them and explained my situation: that I had my license; I had built my store and finished everything but I could not stock my store because my capital was not enough. So I wanted to see if they could help me stock my store and I could use the little money I had to buy other products for the store. They were happy with that and they gave me many products. They asked me the quantities that I needed and they quickly sent it to me. I then used the rest of the money to buy the rest of the stock.

“I started the store on Monday. My reason was because I was born on Monday so I was happy to open the store on Monday. I invited my brothers, family and a few friends to come to the opening. And that is how we started.

“Less than three months later, it was malaria season so the store had expanded. Almost every day I was going to Tamale to buy more products.

“I don't spend my money, I just use it to expand the business. I would take GHC1000 or GHC1200 and go and buy drugs from Tamale. In the seventh month of my business I took GHC1750 and went to the first store to buy some drugs. They didn't have enough drugs there, so I only bought GHC400 worth and I left the rest of the money on my lap. I went to a different store to buy drugs but the money was gone; I don't know what happened. That day I cried for a week. I cried as if God had forgotten about me. That was the time that I was trying to expand my business but I didn't know why God had done this to me.

“I had a lot of support from my family and friends. They told me that maybe this was how God was going to help me. My friends and family members gave me courage and consoled me. Within two months I was able to raise GHC1700, which I used to buy a fridge for my store and used that to expand my store.

“In my tenth month I was able to buy a new motorbike for the business for GHC3400.

“So now my husband has no job, but we are living life normally. My husband will get up and go to work or if I'm going to the store then by 6am I will be there. Then my husband will come and I will go home and cook for my children. If you watched us you would not know that he is not working. He didn't have cash to help but he supports me with his strength. Sometimes he will be there until 11 or 12pm. Sometimes if it rains and he cannot come home he will sleep in the store. But he is also praying to get a job.

“I'm still saving money because I do not want my daughters to suffer. I never want my daughters to experience what I did because life was hard.

“Now my prayers are that God should give us the strength to work, take care of the children and take care of ourselves. And that's all.”

Before I came to Ghana I was prepared to face certain challenges: difficulties with food (being a vegetarian); cultural differences and the struggles of living in a rural community that do not have access to the things that I take for granted as everyday essentials such as: running water, access to fresh food and, of course, internet. What I was not prepare for was to be inspired by the people I have met. Sadia taught me a lesson I'll never forget: Never Give Up. Even when it seems like the world is against you, you have to keep fighting because there is always hope. It's always darkest before dawn. 

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'Antire' From Tolon...

 

By Natty Waldron

Drumming the Calabash at a Local Wedding                                                                  

It now feels like just yesterday that I arrived in Tolon alongside the team of UK and Ghanaian volunteers, yet at first time went very slowly indeed. This was not due to boredom, but derived from the fact that each day was filled with so many new, unexpected and interesting experiences – all of which one learns from. These varied, from getting used to the new rural accommodation and customs, to getting to grips with the local language, Dagbani. I can boast to have 'conversational' Dagbani, measured by the maximum of two minutes I can spend pleasantly exchanging greetings with the locals and my host-family!

Prior to arriving in Tolon, I felt confident that I knew what to expect as I had spent a lot of time thinking about what would await me there and researching what I could about Tolon online (very little is available!). Yet, it was very different from what I expected, the main divergence from my expectations was the vibrancy and diversity within Tolon, it is a bustling place full of enterprises and activity.

Outside Simli Radio Station after Cohort 2's first radio show

The team and I are working for the partnership between International Service and the Non Formal Education Division (NFED). Our contribution aims to help local communities on their way to becoming cooperatives, with the hope that these communities will acquire expedient skills to help them boost their income and their sustainability in a world characterized by ever-increasing competition. NFED have worked in Tolon District for many years now. Their work has been to facilitate and provide literacy classes for women who sadly did not pick up these skills in their youth. Most often these women were deprived a completed formal education due to poverty. The communities in which many of women are from face numerous problems, all of which manifest as significant obstacles for locals to be capable of grasping what opportunities are available to them. Poor infrastructure, a lack of health facilities, family- and labour-demands are just some of the prescient issues that stop many from completing school.

The cohort before us who conducted baseline research in these areas found that the groups we are working with, Income Generating Groups (IGGs) made up of former members of the NFED's literacy classes, are extremely willing to learn. Thus the burden is on us to help provide them with the skills they need to empower themselves through growth of independent and sustainable incomes. Preparing training sessions that can both get through to the groups and be replicated by the NFED staff at later dates has proven itself to be quite a challenge. The challenges within this general experience however, are what makes it rewarding and I am learning that the you get out of it what you are willing to put in. There are a plenitude of things to do both within the project and outside of it. An invaluable part of the placement is living in a host-home with a family who treat you as their own, this provides a really immersive three months in such a tight-knit and secure community. We have received an extremely warm and gracious welcome from the community, including a fascinating formal welcome from the Chief, I sense we would not get far without the Chieftancy's blessing!

My roommate and I presenting a talk to the local Senior High School on the importance of sanitation

The longer the stay here goes on the clearer an image of Northern Ghana becomes. It is a vibrant area with very industrious and sincere people, whose pride in their culture seems alien to many from the UK or elsewhere. The hospitality of all whom I have encountered is second to none and the sense of identity here is truly staggering. Despite this one comes to notice that are large obstacles to the otherwise bright future of Ghana, the lack of infrastructure and the instability of the economy most definitely do not do Ghana justice. Yet, whilst writing this I must qualify this perception with the resilience, generosity and solidarity of all whom I have met. Thus throughout our work here, I believe the most important aspect is to win the trust of the people and to stick tightly to the project's aim of enabling self-empowerment and sustainability.