Fifty is Not Easy

Not everyone in Humjibre lives to reach fifty years. So as one of GHEI’s all-star Health Program Assistants, Mensah Gyapong’s 50th birthday approached, everyone looked forward to a big celebration. ”Fifty is not easy.” When I asked Mensah what this meant, he explained: “I did not always think that I would live fifty years, but I have and I pray that my children do also. It is not easy to live this long.” Here, age brings respect, and to live to an age like fifty is something to be very proud of. 

Thursday was the day. The party started early since some of the staff had classes to teach in the afternoon. By 8:30, some people were already at the kitchen beginning preparations. The menu for the day included fufu and egusi soup with tuna and chicken.

Ghanaians enjoy a wide variety of delicious traditional foods, but there is something about fufu that sets it apart. If you ask people, many will explain that eating fufu satisfies you like no other food can. To prepare it: first you have to section, peel and steam cassava and plantains. Then the real work begins. The pounding process requires two people and a full-size mortar and pestle. The person at the top uses their whole body to work the pestle: literally pounding the fufu, sweat dripping down their back. The second person, the driver, sits by the mortar, sweeping their hand under the pestle as it is raised, turning the fufu, working in water and picking out fibers until it reaches the perfect soft, sticky consistency. Everybody took a turn at pounding for Mensah’s birthday. Abby even drove; doing a terrific job preforming in front of the group.

As Aggie was getting everybody’s dishes ready to serve, Happy brought over a large bin filled with water. We started singing “Happy Birthday,” and everybody began splashing from the bin and filling cups to pour on Mensah. In Ghana, when there is a big celebration, like a birthday or a wedding, it is customary to surprise the people at the center by throwing water on them. As Lawrence explained, “Fifty is not easy, so you need to throw water to celebrate.” 

Mensah was smiling, but completely soaked. When we all sat down to eat, his clothes were dripping. After a long morning of preparing fufu and throwing water, everyone was very hungry. We ate quickly until we were full, and then ate a little more. After everyone was satiated and the extra food was put away, an all-out water war broke out with what was left in the bin.

Mensah’s fiftieth birthday was a great day. In another fifty years, when we plan to celebrate his 100th, it will be even better!

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Reflections from a Past Coordinator - Christina Briegleb

The following was written by Christina after coming back to visit Humjibre over the summer. 


 Although it had only been 3 years since I was last in Humjibre, during my recent visit in June, I was expecting things to be different. I found, however, the routine of village life to be relatively unchanged. The woman I used to buy boufruit from was still selling at the same spot and at the same time of the day; the shops to buy basic amenities were stocked with the same items and managed by the same people; while walking through the village in the morning to start my daily runs, the same village elders greeted me at their usual spots. Unlike the fast pace and ever changing ways of the city, the slower pace and routines of rural, village life reminded me of the constancy of Humjibre – how it has moved along as it did yesterday and will continue so tomorrow and so on.

While much of village life remained the same, I found GHEI as an organization had grown. The programs had clearer focus, direction and evaluation, and many had expanded outside of Humjibre. GHEI staff had also grown. While not necessarily in numbers or positions, solidarity among the team was stronger. I believe that much of the success and endurance of GHEI comes from its talented and dedicated staff. GHEI has always been a close knit group, a family really, that works together for a common vision for its community. During my short visit, I saw a team who had grown, each individually and also collectively, into a stronger unit who supported each other, laughed together and worked as one. The work of GHEI has never been easy, at times tiring and exhausting, but together the staff help carry the burdens as well as celebrate the successes of the work. Because of this, I believe that the work of GHEI, much like the constancy of Humjibre life, will continue to make a positive impact on the community for many years to come.

To get to re-visit such a special place as Humjibre, and to re-connect with such incredible people from GHEI, reminded me how honored I am to have been part of this community and team, and to get to witness again in-person the continuing success, commitment and growth of GHEI. 

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One Week Left for Scholarship Fundraising!

To everybody who has already donated, sent their warm wishes or helped in spreading the word, thank you for all of your support! To everybody who is still thinking about donating, don’t forget - the deadline is this Sunday, September 15th.

SHS Scholarships comprise one of our most popular programs in the Humjibre community. If you are still on the fence, read this letter from one of our current students. She may be able to help convince you.

Our scholarships are 100% funded by donations during this fundraising period. The amount we raise dictates how many we offer. By donating, you can help give more students- like the one who wrote this letter- the opportunity to attend senior high school and continue their education. By giving the full $900, you will enable a student to attend all three years of high school and will receive regular updates on that student’s progress toward a brighter future. If you choose to give less, your contribution will still be added to pooled funds for the scheme.

One last time, here’s how you can donate:

• Visit our #STARTARYOT page and be sure to type SCHOLARSHIP in the comments section of the donation form
• Donate through Network for Good on our website
• Make a check out to GHEI and send it to Louise Rickard, 108 Little Brook Dr, Newington CT 06111, indicating that it is for the scholarship fund

For printable fliers and other promotional materials, or if you have any questions; feel free to send me an email at communications@ghei.org :)

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Fundraising Update: Less than Two Weeks Left to Contribute to the Scholarship Fund!

So far we’ve raised $1,290 on Crowdrise and are about a quarter of the way to reaching our goal. Don’t forget to keep fundraising and spreading the word about the #STARTARYOT Challenge!

I promised last week to share more about one part of the challenge: funding for our SHS Scholarship Program. In Ghana, senior high school is neither universal nor easy to afford. It is true that access is getting better and there are more students attending from Humjibre than ever before. However, there are still far too many students who are excluded because their families are unable to pay tuition. Like those in many rural communities in Ghana, the vast majority of people in Humjibre are farmers. Their flow of income is irregular as it follows the harvest of crops. School fees, on the other hand, are due at several points throughout the year. Farmers don’t have the luxury of being able to save, so while paying tuition at some times may be manageable, at others it is not. This is where we fit in.

GHEI’s Scholarship Program helps families by giving deserving students the opportunity to attend senior high school. A senior high school diploma provides a gateway to the life-changing prospects of further education and advanced career options. Check out our website or read our blog Thank You from an SHS Mom to get a better idea of what this can mean.

So far we’ve helped a total of 72 students. Our scholarship program has a 98% retention rate and several former scholarship recipients have continued their studies at the tertiary level. Many have also returned to be volunteer teachers with GHEI to give back and inspire younger students to excel.

The program relies entirely on donations. By donating the full $900, you will enable a child to attend all three years of high school and receive regular updates on that student’s progress toward a brighter future. If you donate less, your efforts will be added to pooled funds and will still benefit the scholarship scheme.

This year, the deadline for scholarship fundraising is September 15th. While there are always more capable and deserving students in Humjibre, the number of scholarships we can grant is directly related to how much money we raise. After the deadline, we will notify the scholarship committee of how many students can be chosen.

There are three ways you can donate:

1. Visit our #STARTARYOT page and be sure to type SCHOLARSHIP in the comments section of the donation form
2. Donate through Network for Good on our website at www.ghei.org/donate 
3. Make a check out to GHEI and send it to Louise Rickard, 108 Little Brook Dr, Newington CT 06111. Make sure to indicate that it is for the scholarship fund.

For fundraising ideas, printable fliers and other promotional materials, or if you have any questions; feel free to send me an email at communications@ghei.org.

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