For every exciting community development project that exists, an antithesis exists: the infinitely less exciting task of data entry. It’s easy to get gung-ho about trekking out and being subsumed by the sights and sounds of a vibrant community like Humjibre, not so easy to get uber-pumped about staring at a computer screen, crunching numbers, especially when the computer you’re using is wheezing in the tropical heat and has an “A” key that sticks aaaaaaaaaaaaaaalot.
To their credit, the volunteers dove into this arduous slog with remarkable enthusiasm (not in short supply with this group). With Health Program Coordinator Carly Edward's guidance (no stranger to data entry herself, she describes her data entry technique as meticulous and thorough, “like a Weaverbird, it’s all about weaving it all together to build a nest…”), the team has attacked these surveys in their last three days in Humjibre with zeal. (Kari finished entering data for Kojina and described her data entry style as fast and ferocious, “Like a Cheetah!” She was indeed finished quickly).
Of course, data entry is not going to be the ultimate memory the group will be taking home with them when they leave Humjibre.
There is that time when they all went to baby weighing…
The group went to The Humjibre Clinic for Baby Weighing, a regular experience for the Serve and Learn Volunteers in all sessions and it’s a good time to for volunteers check out what the local health facilities are like. It’s a weekly event that takes place at the Humjibre clinic, and a good time for new mothers to get their babies checked out by the midwife on staff there. Jim, the only dude in the group, was front and center among them, and thought nothing of being surrounded by a dozen or so mothers. Unbeknownst to them all, this particularly time turned out to be a breast feeding demonstration as well. Jim sought solidarity from another male presence; there were none, the fathers were all gathered outside the clinic! Briefly, Jim pictured a rough and clamorous escape, but it was already too late, he was surrounded by actively breast-feeding mothers. Which is good and healthy (“Breast is Best!”), and the sight of a woman breastfeeding is nothing out of the ordinary in Ghana, but Jim couldn’t help but blush and keep his eyes glued to the ceiling. And of course, the rest of the group noticed and teased him for it!
There was the time that they were chased by the man who wanted to be surveyed…
Serve and Learn coordinator Tamara Mason was out with Aggie and Lawrence, when a man approached them clearly very agitated. “Why did you not come to my home!” he demanded to know. Apparently, he had stayed home from work waiting for the volunteers to show! Well, it was called random sampling, and thus the volunteers and Tamara watched as Aggie and Lawrence attempted to explain random sampling. Lawrence must have done a good job explaining because the man calmed down a bit, but only once Lawrence made it clear, it was nothing personal.
There was the time they visited the Chief…
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| l-r. Health Program Assistant Mensah Gyapong, Kari, Jim, Erin, Tamara, Lauren, Alexsa, and Annisa, with the elders and the chief in the middle |
All the volunteers were excited to be meeting the chief of Humjibre, Nana Kwadwo Twum II. It was a formal ceremony but one that happens for every Serve and Learn Session. GHEI Health Program Assistant Mensah Gyapong led the volunteers in greeting the chief and the elders, always counterclockwise. They sat, and Mensah announced the volunteer’s mission in the community, and their mission in coming to visit the Chief. The Chief’s spokesman got up and announced the chief would speak. The chief said he was glad that they were here and thanked them for their service to Humjibre, and pledged to support them with their mission. Libations were poured: thanks to God and the spirits of the dead were given for bringing the volunteers safely to the community. Prayers were offered that their mission would be successful, and that the group would return safely home after they were done. For each prayer and praise, a small drop of gin was dribbled to the ground. Then the alcohol was passed around to each of the volunteers. Everyone nervously looked at each other. It was 9 A.M.
But these are just a few of the many memories, like the rowdiness of drumming and dancing (three sessions in, and all of GHEI’s neighbors are still dancing), the eye opening trip to the Bibiani Hospital, and so much more...
The data is entered and saved, and the memories are too.
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| Finished the surveys! Yeah! |
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