A Few Details!

For those of you who are not familiar with Tanzania, I will use this time to provide you with some details, as well as details about what exactly I will be doing there for 7 months! My job description is a little more clear cut than it was in Ghana so I can actually tell you ahead of time, mind you, I am getting new details every day so things could change between now and the 20th!

Background on Tanzania:

Tanzania is located in Eastern Africa, just south of the equator, however, Zanzibar (where I will be working)  is a tiny island off the coast. According to this map, I will be working in Zanzibar Town which is the capital and largest city in Zanzibar, comprising of two main parts, one of which is called Stone Town which is where I will be living and working.


Stone Town, or Mji Mkongwe in Swahili (meaning "old town"), is a very remarkable place. It was once the center of the spice trade, as well as the slave trade in the 19th century. In 2000, Stone Town was recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO.  

Should you feel so inclined, you can find more information and country statistics from the following websites:

CIA - The World Factbook
BBC - Country Profile
Government of Tanzania
Daily News



My Role in Stone Town:

My in country orientation will begin on Monday March 21st, during which time we have to: apply for a temporary business visa, while we wait for YCI to arrange our resident permit visas, buy a cell phone and credit (hoping to use my iphone!), exchange currency, meet the YCI staff and partner organizations, recover from jetlag and learn some Swahili! Luckily enough, I already know some very basic greetings to get me started!

My official tile is Governance Officer (sounds pretty cool, doesn't it!) and I will be working with our in country partner ZANGOC (Zanzibar NGO Cluster on HIV/AIDS). ZANGOC was established in 1996 in Zanzibar, Tanzania as a collective body of HIV/AIDS and youth organizations. ZANGOC’s members work with youth and HIV/AIDS programming, youth employment and advocacy. ZANGOC also works to strengthen the capacity of smaller member groups. ZANGOC and YCI have been working in partnership since 2005.

So what does this all mean?! 

Let me start by discussing the word "Governance," basically this the process of decision making and promoting "good" governance means helping organizations and governments make good decisions through accountability and transparency to avoid "bad" governance. When people speak about governance the attention is usually drawn to the biggest issue, corruption. Making sure to avoid corruption in bilateral and multilateral funding is especially important through the eyes of donor agencies such as CIDA - The Canadian International Development Agency (who is funding my project!), in order to ensure aid effectiveness.

As of right now, this is my project description:

• Review and identify key governance priorities within ZANGOC’s strategic plan
• Design and deliver a comprehensive good governance curriculum appropriate to the local context
• Deliver the curriculum to ZANGOC and its 40 members in Zanzibar and Pemba
• Train local volunteers/peer educators to implement the good governance curriculum
• Research and identify areas for policy development
• Support staff in proposal design and development 

As I stated earlier, things could change slightly over the course of the next 18 days or 7 months for that matter. Apparently ZANGOC is completely volunteer based meaning that the entire board of directors also have full time day jobs, so you can imagine how busy they are and how hard it will be to meet with them. But insert me into the equation and hopefully good things will happen!


Well, I've left you with enough reading material so I hope you found this entry to be useful!

Whirlwind

First of all, I need to apologize to my millions of followers (!!), and myself for not keeping my blog updated! While in Takoradi my memory stick, USB and computer were all infected with a virus so I was unable to upload my pictures, and really...how fun is a blog without pictures!!

So in attempt to keep this blog functioning I will update you on my life in the past 24 hours, it's been pretty crazy! ... actually, first I need to back up a few weeks 

I returned home from Ghana on January 21st and was overwhelmed by the freezing cold weather. It was literally a 50 degree difference! After this shock I literally hibernated in my parents basement for most of the month of February! So here the fun story goes...in mid February I had an interview for a Gender Advisor position with YCI, the position was back in Ghana and I wanted it sooo badly! My chances were pretty good as I was 1 of 3 people shortlisted from 55 applicants, the only thing against my chances would be if one of the other 2 people had more gender programming experience. Unfortunately, this was the case and I kinda fell into a funk after the rejection as I was really hoping for a chance to go back to Ghana and continue my working relationship with the YMCA.

Then yesterday at 7:30pm, my life changed drastically! I received a call from Lauren who works for YCI and who I've been working with since October and who also interviewed me for the Ghana position. She informed me that someone had backed out of a position and immediately my thoughts went to Ghana. But this person backed out of the Governance Officer position in Zanzibar, Tanzania...another position that I had applied for. I felt that she literally was offering me the job over the phone so I freaked out a little and called my brother for advice who talked some much needed sense into me!

Lauren told me over the phone that she would like to speak with me about the position in more detail tomorrow (today). So I went to the YCI office this morning and she told me about the position, answered my page full of questions and then she offered me the position. I didn't accept it right at first because a) I didn't want to seem TOO eager and b) I really did have to think about it, however by the time I walked home I knew that I had to take the offer. The only stipulation that I had to think about was the departure date. Since the person backed out, arrangements for orientation and the placement start date had already been made...so it looks like I will be flying off again on the 20th of March....Yes, you did read that right, for 7 months!!

So that has been the whirlwind that is my life over the past 24 hours! Now, I have to start making travel arrangement, doctors appointments, packing (after having just unpacked in Toronto!), saying goodbye to people, yet again, and  a 5 day training in Toronto which starts on the 14th!

As I said earlier, no blog is complete without pictures so here are some pics of my last trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar and what I have to look forward to for the next 7 months of my life!

Sunrise in Dar

Top of Kili

Simba and Nala in Ngorongoro Crater

Umbrella Rock & Boti Falls

This past Saturday we went on a team building excursion with the Mentors to Boti Falls. The day started with the Keep Fit Club at the YMCA at 6am then we mobilized are troops and set off to the falls around 10am. The day consisted of a roughly 45 minute hike up to the umbrella rock which literally is a rock in the shape of an umbrella. The hike to the rock was a little challenging in certain spots as there was some hand over hand climbing involved but all in all it was a nice trek. The top of the umbrella rock is flat and they've build ladders so that you can climb to the top for optimal viewing/picture taking! With a little hesitation on climbing this wooden ladder, eventually we all concurred our fears and wrote our names on top of the rock.

Me on top of the Umbrella Rock

After this break we continued on to see a three pronged coconut tree, nothing to exciting here except for the fact that when I suggested we take a group photo here I ended up standing on a rock that apparently if you stand on it it means you will have twins. When Solomon told me this I immediately gasped and jumped right off that rock, needless to say I didn't stand on it again!

We trekked back to the beginning of the trail and descended the 250 stairs that take you to Boti Falls.

	Boti Falls is a 30m high waterfall within the Boti Forest Reserve about 30 minutes east of Koforidua. A small hike down some stone steps takes you to the waterfall with a pool at the base, which is safe for swimming. Guided walks of the forest and some caves can be arranged. Boti falls is actually made up of two waterfalls. According to the local people the big one is the male and the smaller one, a female. When the two merge, it is said that they are mating. The merging forms a rainbow. Within the vicinity of the falls are summer huts and other visitor facilities. Our timing couldn't have been any more perfect. As we reached the entrance coming back from Umbrella Rock a big huge crowd of people were just on there way up and running into them on the steap climb would have made the trek a lot harder. Also on the way back up from the 250 stairs/Boti Falls it started pouring rain! Thankfully at this time we were under shelter and just waiting for out tro tro to pick us up.

Watch your step!

So my worst nightmare came true...I fell into a gutter!! Ok, that's a bit of a overstatement but falling in the gutter was one of the things that I was paranoid of happening and I'm so clumsy that I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later...I was just hoping it was later, or never for that matter!

I guess there were two things that caused this event, 1) it was dark out and 2) I was too busy talking and not paying attention to where I was walking! I went out for night stroll with one of the mentors and on our way back to they YMCA we went on a "short cut" which resulted in my right foot in the gutter! Daniel was soooo apologetic and felt so bad....I just felt totally embarrassed!!! On the bright side I'm glad it was dark out and no one saw me make a fool of myself. I'm also glad that this particular gutter was relatively "clean" compared to some of them! There was only a few inches of gutter sludge instead of it being knee deep, so that I'm grateful for! I have a few cuts here and there and my jeans got dirty to say the least!.. Hopefully no fungus starts to grow from the nasty sewer water but other than that, I’m ok!! oh and a slightly bruised ego of course! But I came home and washed up in Steph and Kelly’s room and we had a good laugh which made me feel slightly better!!

On a brighter note, Sunday turned out to be a great day! It started off not so good but the evening was a blast! Of course there was worship in the morning but we snuck into the YMCA office and did some work/used the internet! The we went out for an early lunch and by the time we got back worship was finished but then there was a bus load of people that pulled in about half an hour later, not sure what it was about exactly but they didn’t stay long, thank god! Freddy (our amazing dance/drum instructor) came around 3:30ish with a few of the Mentors, Teddy and Eunice, who were equipped with stereo and drums for lessons! It was so amazing! Drumming is the best and I can actually hold the rhythm (probably thanks to countless hours playing rock band drums!) After drum lessons Jenna and I learned the rest of the dance moves to the dance we had started a few weeks ago. A great weekend is one in which you dance Friday, Saturday AND Sunday, which has been the case for the past 2 weekends!! I have pleanty of pics to upload but I’m so afraid to put my new memory card into my computer so it’ll have to wait unfortunately. 

Hope everyone is getting to the Christmas spirit! I'm not so much, at all actually. It's hard to remember that it's Christmas season when it's so hot hot out...which, I think I'm totally fine with!

YCI and YMCA Mentors after our last workshop

Bead Market in Koforidua

 

Tech Problems

I did have an awesome blog saved on my computer but unfortunately a virus has taken over all things technology in my live right now. My usb stick must have got infected with the virus at the internet cafe and since then everything external that I've plugged into my computer has also got the virus. I had to leave my computer with our tech guy in Accra...between the 5 of us we've certainly given him a lot of business over the course of 6 weeks! We had 2 cameras that needed to be fixed and my computer.

The blog I did have planned was about the wedding we attended not last weekend but the weekend before. While working with the Rotaract Club we met an amazing girl, her name is Mensima and she invited us to her friends wedding the weekend before the event! In Canada this would be a BIG no no of course but here it's just expected that guests will invite their friends and family. Mensima was the Maid of Honour so we didn't get to spend much time with her but we did however get to spend the afternoon with our wonderful tailor, Sammy (whom Mensima had introduced us to!). Here our our wonderful outfits

It's not often you get to pose with your tailor!

I took so many other great pictures that day but unfortunately I can't access them right. Hopefully I will have my computer and picture back next week and I will be able to upload some more photos.

On another note, we have successfully made it to Koforidua and we are looking forward to starting our work here. We will be working with youth mentors from the YMCA, it should be a nice change to work with people our own age. On an even better note, we have a cooking lady here and the food she has been making us over the past few days has just been absolutely amazing! We're definitely over eating but it's sooooo good! Yesterday she made us Red Red which is friend plantains with beans and fish (or chicken) then today she made us some amazing groundnut soup with rice balls. We've tried both of these dishes on various occasions at restaurants in Takoradi but there's something about a home made dish that makes it just that much more delicious!

Well, stay tuned for more pictures and updates from Koforidua!

xox

Wrapping up in Tadi

I'm sad to say that this is our last week in Takoradi, we will be leaving next Thursday to head to Koforidua. I really love it here and it's unfortunate that time has absolutely flown by. We just got ourselves into a good routine with workshops and eating! Even though we are still struggling to find time to eat 3 meals a day...usually it turns out to be 2 means a day with snacks for lunch. Workshops are going well, we will be wrapping up the MDGs with the YMCA students and heading back to OIC on Thursday and Friday to finish with the students and teachers.

This weekend was very relaxed, we just stayed in Takoradi, went dancing again on Friday, lounged pool side on Saturday and caught up on some work Sunday afternoon. Yesterday morning we finally made it to Church! We were invited to attend with Augustine and his family (Augustine is affiliated with the YMCA here in Takoradi) and it was really interesting, lots of singing and dancing! And all visitors have to introduce themselves so we had to stand up in front of everyone and state our names, where we are visiting from and what we are doing in Ghana. After 4 weeks of saying the same thing, it gets easier to stand up in front of everyone and definitely feel that my presentation skills are improving because of this!

Here are few pictures to add to my update, the first one is Devon, Kelly and I with some of the second year students at the YMCA and the second picture is of me and Emmanuel aka Box Baby! This baby is one of the lady's at the OIC school and she brings him everyday so we see him in his box every Thursday and Friday! The picture doesn't so him justice because he is the cutest thing I've ever seen! Many of you know that I don't get all giddy with babies but this little guy just brings it out in me! (not that I want one of my own...MOM!!)

Hopefully I'll get one more blog in before we head to Koforidua but if not, I will update you all soon!

Miss everyone, but love it here!
xox

Obruni, no punch backs!

So the title of this blog is a game that I have created which is similar to "punch buggy, no punch backs" instead we replace punch buggy with obruni! So far Fred is winning but we are always on the look out!

Our workshops are going well, I really love the 2nd year students at the YMCA school. Yesterday we had them write an essay on if they could spend a day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why. A few of them chose to spend the imaginary day with me and reading their stories brought a smile to my face! Some of the girls wanted to take me to the beach and others wanted to go out for dinner so we they can practice their English.

On Saturday we went to Busua Beach which is absolutely gorgeous! We arrived early in the morning so we were able to spend the entire day laying on the beach, drinking star and wondering around the town. During one of our walks on the beach we ended up with a small group of boys behind us and I made a new friend! His name is Ishmael and his father is the Pan cake man!

Me and Ishmael

Needless to say, I didn't want to leave Busua...even though we have a beach here in Takoradi, it's just not the same atmosphere! We had to leave Sunday morning because we had to be back in Tadi for yet another workshop Sunday evening with the Rotaract Club. The Rotaract Club is the Rotary club but it's for young adults instead of older adults. We didn't want to give up a full day at the beach but once we got to the meeting it turned out to be a good time. It was nice to meet people our own age and one of the girls offered to take us to her seamstress so that we can have proper dresses made! So yesterday we met up where and went to the market to buy our material and this evening we're going to pick out the style of dress that we want made. It's an exciting process, especially since I've never had anything tailored specifically for me, nor have I picked out the fabric that I want!

My soon to be dress!

Stay tuned tuned for pictures of the final products!

White, Good evening

Besides being called Obruni all the time (meaning white person) we also have been greeted in the following way which I just find absolutely hilarious... "White, good evening." We're still unsure of the proper way to respond to this besides by waving and saying hello!

Sunday we took a walk through the market and tested our bargaining skills, which we need to work on! Sunday was also the day we searched for food all afternoon! We knew that Sunday's a lot of stores are closed because people attend church but we didn't realize we'd have such a hard time finding at least something small to eat! It was definitely a lesson learned: make sure we have our own food on Sunday's!

Market Shopping

This week has been our first week of work and it's been busy and very tiring. It seems that work keeps being added to our schedule so last night we finallly sat down as a group and made a workshop schedule. So, as of now we will be doing MDG workshops Monday-Wednesday morning at the YMCA school, Monday and Tuesday afternoons we will be helping the students with reading and writing, Thursday and Fridays we will be at  the Opportunity Industrialization Center (OIC) working with the students and the teachers. We will be teaching the MDGs to the teachers and we will be helping the teachers with proposal writing, project management, fundraising and leaderships skills.

Our 2nd year students at the YMCA school

Us playing the Shrinking Island game!

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

 So, now I’ll explain what exactly we’re doing here in Tadi! Our partner is the YMCA vocational school and the 2 trades being studied are sewing and catering. Starting on Monday we will be working with the first, second and third years and conducting workshops to teach them about the millennium development goals. Our work weeks will be Monday to Friday and we will be conducting the workshops from 8am to 9:30am with a break from 9:30 to 12:30! We will come back to the school at 12:30 and work with the kids from 1 to 2:30. This time is more open and we will work to support the curriculum in any way we can, ie: essay writing, math, etc.

On Friday evening we went out for a few drinks and a lot of dancing! It was a super great time and I think it will become our regular Friday night hand out spot! 

Saturday was jam packed with tourist stuff but it was really interesting. In the morning we headed to Kakum and did the canopy walk which is a set of 7 very narrow canopy bridges suspended between 40 meters above the ground! 

Next we went to Cape Castle in Cape Cost which is a UNESCO world heritage site and was built in the 1600’s and it was initially used as a trading post until the start of the slave trade. The tour we had was really interesting, we got to go into the slave dungeons underground and our guide explained the whole process of moving the slaves from one dungeon to the boats as well as the punishment cells for those who tried to escape.This was really interesting for me to see first hand as I did an entire presentation in 3rd year economics class about the slave trade.

After this tour, I was super tired and I thought we were heading back to Tadi, but we ended up visiting the home of a chief. The chief’s wife is Emilia and she is the principle at the YMCA we are working with. This was a really interesting experience. We went into the village and visited with the head chief in his palace and went through the actual steps of greeting the chief. The chief then offers each guest a drink and you have to take it as a sign of acceptance into his palace. Our choices were Star beer or Malt Guinness, the star was a huge bottle so I opted for the smaller Malt bottle because you are supposed to finish your drink before you leave. However, next time I visit a chief I will opt for the Star because Malta has a horrible after taste! It’s definitely an acquired taste! After our village visit we went back to the chief’s house and feasted on roasted chicken, rice with curry sauce and fries. I think this home cooked meal was the best thing I’ve ate so far and being surrounded by so many people it reminded us all of thanksgiving dinner!

So, work starts tomorrow, hoping that our workshops run smoothly and the kids actually learn something from us!

Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Goodnight!

In Ghana, you don't just say "hello" or "bye" instead you should specify your greetings using the time of day! So, I will say good morning to you all!

This is the first posting since I've been in Ghana and we've done so much already! We arrived in Accra (the capital city) Monday evening and met with Fred who is our in country manager and Jane who is the acting country manager for YCI in Ghana. I was actually able to sleep Monday evening because the flight and the lay over in Amsterdam were just exhausting.

We only spent one full day in Accra which was jam packed with orientation and meetings, but we were lucky enough to meet the Canadian High Commissioner who just started her role here in Ghana, she was previously working immigration in Nairobi.

Wednesday morning we had a long tro-tro ride (bus ride) to the city where we are currently living, Takoradi...it's on the coast and we've been told that the beach is right behind the place where we're staying, unfortunately we've been so busy the past 2 days that we haven't had time to go there yet. And believe me, we want to because, YES it is HOT here! Mind you, the cold bucket showers that I've been having are a nice and refreshing way to cool of in the evening!

I woke up in the middle of the night last night and wondered why Devon (my roommate) had turned the ceiling fan off. Some how, in my sleepy state I managed to piece the puzzle together and I came to the realization that our power had went off. Needless to say, the rest of the night was hot and restless and this morning's bucket shower was by the light of my flashlight!

My internet time is running out but next week I will have some pictures to post along with our weekend trip and more of an explanation of what the heck we're doing here....which we only just really pieced together yesterday and today. Hey, it is what it is!