Project day one

Today was the first day of our project, based in the Street Academy school in Jamestown, an area in west Accra. It was an early start and into the TroTro (along with the taxi, Ghana's main form of transportation - basically an old minibus with no seatbelts driven in a style both daring and hair-raising) at 8am.

We drove via Elliot's Mum's place to pick up supplies, as she is doing all of the cooking for the breakfasts and lunches that the children will get every day as part of the project.  

When we arrived at the Street Academy, all of the children were there waiting for us, and doling out of breakfast started straight away: tea and an 'egg sandwich' (really yummy - a sort of omelette with onions and tomatoes in really soft white bread).  The children were all really excited and so were we - so much noise and energy!

After breakfast we did some activities outside, lots of jumping around and pretending to be elephants and motorbikes and skittles and dancing.  The children in the project range from 10 to 17 years old, with the majority being between 10 and 12.

After the outdoor activities we moved into the classroom to write up a list of shared rules for the project that everyone (volunteers and children) have to abide by.  The rules were made up by the children and included 'speak English' and 'no fooling'.

The children and volunteers also made their own name badges and got a special Akosia 2013 t-shirt (designed by Elliot) to wear during the project.  Part of my duties during this involved head back to the market area to pick up string and scissors to make the badges, and being given the 'water key' to unlock the water tap for precious water to do the washing at up after breakfast.

The rest of the morning was spent dividing the children into 4 groups and each of them setting up their own production company, complete with name, logo and in some cases theme song!  Any excuse for playing drums which miraculously appeared from nowhere, singing and dancing.  Some of the children are amazing drummers and a little girl called Elizabeth and I had a great time sharing some dance moves :D.

Then lunch arrived - amazing rice and chicken - spicy and delicious like all Ghanaian food I've tried so far. Yum.  After lunch time for a couple more games before the children left, and then a quick meeting with all the volunteers to plan ahead for tomorrow.  We were all totally exhausted but really happy - a totally amazing morning.

Once we got back to the hostel Kayla (Field co-ordinator and my right-hand woman) went for a 'meeting' to a local smoothie cafe.  So good - ice cold and fruity and just about the thing I had been dreaming of most (apart from a hot shower!).

Looking forward to tomorrow!