A week (mostly) in Walewale, and a Joint Introduction Meeting
on Michael Cashman (Ghana), 21/May/2010 19:00, 34 days ago
We have an interesting time over the weekend communicating with a new VSO volunteer who may be coming to Walewale. Communication methods include email and then a phone call on the Sunday evening. I stick my neck out a little and make some suggested changes to the Placement Description that the new volunteer has been sent, and send this amended version to the potential new volunteer and to Dora the VSO Ghana Education Programme Manager and to Skev in the UK who arranges these education placements. Charlotte is too malarial to get into emailing, but does join in the phone call.Once again I attend the Monday meeting  at the District Education Office on Charlotte's behalf. This week the value we're looking at is Teamwork, and Robert Kwame runs a little drama encountering various obstacles and needing help. In the picture he is being obstructed by an ant.However, one disappointment is that the District Teacher Support Team meeting, which last week sounded so much on track, does not appear to have happened without Charlotte to remind the participants on the day. It's very hard to get people to treat a meeting as a commitment rather than just an invitation which they may or may not take up if they remember.In the VSO Bolga office, here is Damien having an in-depth oragnisational development discussion with Jemimah. Probably. After last week's meeting in Accra I have agreed with Cath in Jirapa that she can be an Upper West supporter for Education, and Damien has areed to support Education volunters in Upper East and Northern Region. Jemimah is the supporter for the Participation and Governnace programme area. And I should really be saying G-SAP (Guided Self-Assessment Process) rather than "organisational development" as that is the new VSO Ghana terminology. G-SAP will mean both the assessment and the subsequent development (i.e. "G-SAP" = "OD" in VSO Ghana).Here are a few shots from the tro-tro going back to Walewale. It's all looking rather greener now that the rains have started.In case you were wondering, "stool lands" probably refers to areas with traditional chiefs - e.g. "stool" is the equivalent of  "throne", and I have seen references to chiefs being "de-stooled" if not fit for office.Next is a very exciting picture. The mains water had been off for some time, and our 200 litre "dustbin" of back-up water was down to its last day's worth (i.e. a couple of buckets). The water comes back just in time, and in the pcture you can see that I'm able to fill it up again.Friday is the Joint Introduction Meeting for Leticia, the Management Support Officer, and for half of Damien's role. Damien is regional gender suport for two districts, Talendi Nabdam and here, i.e. West Mamprusi. The Joint Introduction Meeting (JIM) is a gathering of people with an interest in the volunteer's objectives, in order to agree the objectives and work plan. The scene is set by the District Director of Education (see him clutching his new SMC/PTA manual). This is Charlotte's first day out of the house after being laid low with malaria. VSO overall aims of the Education progamme are explained, and the volunteers present their proposed objectives.The meeting is held at the District Assembly (= local council). I thought you'd like to see the facilities for hand-washing. Charlotte has a basin to wash her hands in, though half of the ceramic bowl is missing. However, this is a better facility than in the gentlemen's toilets, where basin and taps are missing.Anyway the meeting concludes with objectives and actions agreed.But some school classrooms are still missing roofs after the April 22nd storm...