The Annual General Meeting in Humjibre

Clement

On Sunday night, GHEI had their Annual General Meeting for the Humjibre Community.  It’s become an anticipated event here, and a good moment for GHEI to get the community up to speed on what we’ve been doing in the past year.  This evening was also an important time for our mechanized borehole committee to update the assembled on their progress.  A site has been selected near the centre of town and work begins soon.

As it has happened for the last five years, the chief and many important members of the Humjibre community were in attendance.  And also, as usual, a DJ with absurdly large speakers got the evening off to a thumping start.  And also, as usual, the lighting played havoc with our photos so, I’ll keep this short.

An Afternoon with Brown in ECL

Brown and his students in ECL2

“Tell me the words you see on this page.”  Small hands go up instantly. “Fish!” yells out one child when called on. “Night…” whispers another. “Shoop” says another, a little too quickly. Samuel Godfried Brown, the teacher for this ECL class, smiles, and says, “No, it’s pronounced SHOP. Say it with me.” All the children do.

Brown, as he is commonly known, grew up in Humjibre, and was one of the first students that GHEI sponsored for Senior High School though the scholarship program.  He went on and completed Senior High School at Kumasi, and then returned to Humjibre, hoping to continue on to University shortly, but decided to work for a bit first.  Slowly, Brown became more involved in GHEI, first volunteering with the tutoring centre, and then YEP classes, and finally Early Childhood Literacy, or ECL.  He was the first teacher to volunteer to teach to the ECL class.  

A New Year, A New Project, A New Approach from GHEI

GHEI has started 2012 strongly.

The Chief of Humjibre called a general meeting for Wednesday morning in the community centre.  There was no need to ask what the meeting is for, people simply dutifully showed up, in small numbers earlier, but the crowd grew to nearly hundred.

Nana Kwado Twum II, The Chief of Humjibre

Nana Kwado Twum II was briefed by Clement last week.  Over the holiday break, GHEI received news that one of our projects listed on the Choose a Need website had received the full amount of funding, and was ready to go.
When Clement and senior staff sat with the chief, he explained that GHEI were attempting something new.  GHEI has since it's humble beginnings been entirely community focused.  The talent and energy infused into the work by volunteers and staff from Humjibre for Humjibre, has been a big factor in its success.

Review of Summer Serve and Learn Volunteer applications begins on January 15, 2012

We are welcoming applications for Summer Serve and Learn now! 

GHEI will start reviewing applications from January 15'th on. Review will continue until all spots on volunteer teams are filled. Successful applicants will be contacted to schedule interviews. 

Learn more about the Summer Serve and Learn program

2012 Summer Serve and Learn project descriptions / FAQ / 2012 Summer Serve and Learn application

Email applications to apply@ghei.org 

A Christmas and a New Year comes around again in Humjibre

Humjibre: December 23, 2011 - 5:44 P.M.

 We are inching into Christmas here in Humjibre. It’s drier here than I’ve ever seen it; the harmatthan dust from the desert has settled in town, casting a spooky diffused light everywhere. It’s like Christmas in sepia, with children playing in whirling dust devils instead of freshly fallen snow. I’m not sure how, but it cuts an equally magical image. After all, this time of year is about anticipation and the excitement of everyone gathering and celebrating, not about snow and shopping malls. And if you take a walk in town, the excitement is everywhere.

GHEI F.C. vs Real Kojina

After the intermural match between GHEI’s Early Childhood Literacy class and the regular young patrons of the library last month, library administrator Lawrence and education program manager Happy were impressed.  On the uneven, rutted ground in front of the library, these kids were showing some serious talent.

The Team Bus

I was in the office after the match as ECL teacher Saga, and Happy and Lawrence all conversed feverishly about the game.  It was getting intense, each were gesturing more wildly.  What they were arguing about was not the game, but the future of the team.  The three men had big ideas.  

Visit Cape Coast Castle with us this Summer

The Cape Coast Castle

This summer, as part of GHEI Summer Serve and Learn volunteer program (that is now accepting applications!  Apply here!), volunteers will have a trip to Cape Coast Castle included as part of their volunteering time with GHEI. 

The Cape Coast Castle is a must visit for any traveller in Ghana.  This haunting and important landmark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is very popular with tourists. Until the 1830's, when Britain outlawed slave trading in its empire, captured men, woman and children from throughout Ghana and other parts of Africa were marched hundreds of kilometres to this point. Once they arrived at the castle, they were kept in a cramped dungeon for months until they were led aboard ships destined for the Americas, where they would work as slaves.

GHEI Hosts World AIDS Day Event in Humjibre

Community Health Worker Isaac answering questions and demonstrating how to put a condom on properly

When GHEI hosted World AIDS Day for Humjibre in the community centre, it began like most community events do: with giant speakers, a DJ spinning some bass heavy hip-life, a GHEI staff member yelling invitations to the community, and the pounding of dozens of tiny feet dancing before the adults come.

GHEI Health Team Visits a Millennium Village

The Health Team and MVP staff in Manso-Nkwanta

The Health Team recently visited the Millenium Village Project, specifically the communities of Groso, and Manukrom in the Bonsasso Millennium village cluster. Click here to read about UN Millennium Village project there and here for their blog.

Since 2007, GHEI and MVP have been sharing ideas.  This makes sense since GHEI and MVP share a similar philosophical ground, that is, a direct investment in empowering community members will bring communities out of poverty. In 2007, GHEI staff visited the millennium village, and in 2009, more formal sharing took place, specifically about health programs. Then in 2010, MVP staff visited GHEI in Humjibre. MVP staff visited to learn more about GHEI’s malaria program, particularly how GHEI encourages bednet usage. Thanks to this meeting, MVP implemented bednet distributions based on some of GHEI’s methods in three pilot villages.