Moo Ba Moo Zamaa Yara Ba (We're No Longer Children)

March is in full swing and there’s no better way to gear up than with a ROADTRIPPP. That’s right, part 2 -  this time YA Director Agnes, fellow volunteer Alex and I ventured to Wa, the capital of the Upper West Region where the organization operates locally to combat youth poverty. 

The route between Tamale (right) and Wa (left). The roads can be so bad that people often travel further south to link up with a better route.

We met some of the standard organizational beneficiaries including school children, trades apprentices and women’s co-operative groups. 



School visit





Hairdressing apprentice



Women's co-operative group



Over the three days spent in Wa, we also had the privilege to meet some truly unique and inspiring individuals within the community who act as reminders of the great potential we all carry. There were three particular encounters that helped me  put things in perspective; a gathering at the transport yard with young street porters and two home visits to children supported by the organization.

In the last post I discussed the upcoming YA campaign to peacefully involve street youth in the 2012 election. Through co-ordination with our Wa-based staff a meeting was arranged at the main transport yard with at least 20 young porters between the ages of 18-25. The purpose was to discuss the importance of their peaceful engagement in the election and to highlight important skill building sessions that would equip them to become informed community advocates amongst their peers.



Nashiru & I

 To be completely honest I (regretfully) had preconceived notions of an uneducated group who would instinctively accept whatever plans we proposed because they were uninformed and didn’t know any better - after all, isn’t that how they had ended up earning a living in a transport yard? Instead, I was (deservingly) slapped with the refreshing reality of a dynamic dialogue with the group, headed by their leader Nashiru.

We proposed training sessions to explain rights, democracy and the new biometric registration process. The need for sessions on conflict prevention and the co-existence of political ideologies was also a necessary inclusion given the group’s extensive experience with party-imposed bribery and its subsequent violence.

During the meeting

The young men raised practical questions and points from issues regarding substituting their time earning money to attend training, while others worried about facing the threat of violence themselves in the attempt to spread the message of peace. They also thoughtfully addressed the need for visual indicators (clothing & accessories) to affiliate them with the credibility of YA while actively campaigning during public rallies and marches. These were important organizational matters to consider as we were putting these youth on the front lines to literally be agents of change.

I walked away truly impressed by their maturity and willingness to harness control over their future welfare. It was living proof to me that given opportunity, outlook and desire are important pieces of the puzzle in changing one’s circumstances. Needless to say, this group will be one to watch for motivating change amongst their peers as the election season gets underway.



Group shot! :)


Lastly we had two home visits with YA beneficiaries. Normally, when the organization supports school children it is routine to conduct school, home and community visits to gain a holistic view of the their development as a problem in one area can often negatively affect the others. So far we’ve done quite a few school visits and spoken to several teachers, but this was the first time we were going on-site to view living conditions.



Agnes (YA Director) & Richard

We first met Richard, a polite and charming  12 year old boy who lives with his grandmother and uncle. Richard has a rare spinal condition and intestinal disorder that trouble him with decreased mobility and physical control over his bowels. He requires the use of a wheelchair and a constant supply of diapers due to the nature of his condition and is therefore heavily physically and emotionally dependent on his family. YA has been financially supporting Richard’s educational pursuits despite his medical problems. Although his developmental challenges see him currently enrolled at the Nursery 2 level, Richard speaks English at a High School level, enjoys learning  and has high aspirations of studying Computer Science.



Rosemary & Agnes (YA Director)

Rosemary is  a teenage girl who has overcome many obstacles to make it to where she is now. As a child, she was labeled as a “witch” by members of her community. Unfortunately, this is can be common in rural communities where witchcraft (aka “Juju” or African Electronics) is still practiced and a well-held traditional belief. One day she climbed a tree to escape the taunting, fell, broke her arm and was unable to seek medical attention due to the community’s belief that she would use sorcery to heal herself. Eventually, her arm had to be amputated to stop infection spreading from the broken bone. By this point the entire community, including her mother had rejected Rosemary and she had nowhere to turn until YA intervened. In co-operation with the Department of Social Welfare, the organization conducted counseling sessions for Rosemary, her mother and the community and rented a structure for the family to live in away from the influence of witchcraft believers. Rosemary is now a 15 year old girl who is reunited with her family and progressing in her education at the primary 3 (grade 3) level.

Our time in Wa made me reflect on the innocence of childhood and youth - it’s supposed to be a time for young people to learn, develop and grow within a nurturing and safe environment, free from suffering, doubt and pain. Given this definition,  the said individuals are by no means children. The bus station porters have had their naivety manipulated against them and are now being educated and empowered as young adults who understand that they have a right to and a say in their own destinies. Conversely, innocent children like Richard and Rosemary both face challenges that will forever alter their journey through adolescence, despite this they are embracing the opportunities they DO have with open arms. This makes them all so much more than children with the ability to simply hope for a better tomorrow;  they are living proof of the determination it takes to transform those dreams into realities they can live today.

I am honoured to have met them and to be able to share what is surely just the beginning of their stories so far …


PS: Click this link to check out the Youth Alive blog where I'll be writing in-depth stories about the people and communities the organization reaches! 

Ka-dunn, Ka-dunn (Little by Little)



Active participation during extra classes

On more of a day-to-day operational level our work has involved trying to increase communication efforts at YA; chiefly social media engagement and website updates and articles on beneficiaries which is a process we are slowly trying to formalize for consistency. Alex, Mavis (my co-workers) and I have also taken it upon ourselves to hold extra English classes for any and all primary school children who are interested. It’s been so much fun, and a surprising number of students actually show up (out of their own free will!) We do a lot of reading, simple vocab and spelling to try and reinforce what they’ve been learning in school. One of our teaching “strategies” is getting them to act out parts of the stories we read to aid their understanding and to make the learning more hands-on. It ALMOST makes me wish I had gone into teaching ;)



Extra class sessions

2012 is a big year in Ghana with nationwide elections slated for the end of the year. YA plans to engage the local street youth of voting age (18-25) on the importance of their peaceful participation in Ghana’s political process. Too often, the marginalized  street youth are targeted by political factions to contribute in violent and disruptive behavior that causes fear, panic and disorder within communities that support their opponents.

It is every individual’s civic responsibility to ensure that the government represents the cumulative needs and desires of all Ghanaians, regardless of social background. YA seeks to improve the youth’s understanding of governance in Ghana and how they can use their voice to shape a nation that is receptive to issues that affect them daily. This can be accomplished by encouraging them to consider current policies in government services like education, health care, sanitation and transportation; researching  alternative political parties and their perspectives; formulating an opinion and officially registering to vote. Secondly, YA hopes to instill the ethics behind a fair and just electoral process that supports the right for every citizen (including the youth themselves) to vote without fear of intimidation or harassment.

Meeting with YA & Transport Union

This is a long term project that YA plans to support through various stages. Currently we’ve begun by meeting with youth leaders in organized areas of the community where the youth tend to seek employment. Many young men find work as porters and loaders at the transport yards and bus stations and are managed by owners of the transport union. We met with members of the union to explain our objectives and how their support as 3^rd party advocates who co-operate with, mentor and encourage the youth would go a long way in achieving our goal. Luckily they were extremely receptive to our ideas and have committed to attending workshops and education seminars that will teach/introduce core concepts about governance and Ghana’s political landscape in a way that can be communicated to the youth workers they oversee.



Street youth porters



Wave of the future?

Youth will also be educated as to upholding the integrity of the electoral process through the “one person, one vote” concept. Ghana is at a revolutionary point in its political history as this election year will introduce a new biometric voter registration system that will include the collection of fingerprint and photo data to properly track and analyze votes and ensure a transparent election. I’m extremely excited to watch this all unfold throughout the country and in our local area. This is something that is not yet even done in North America during elections (the only place I’ve ever seen it done is at JFK Airport!) and has the potential to make Ghana a pioneer in Africa's democratic development.

It’s thought-provoking to notice the similarities and differences between Ghana and Canada’s issues with youth participation in elections. Back home it’s easy to forget that not everyone is able to go to a polling station without facing social backlash due to their beliefs. Conversely I do know that we encounter a similar struggle with voter turnout in the same demographic of seemingly ignorant or apathetic young adults who either don’t believe their voice can make a difference or know enough to make an informed decision.