Beyond the "self" - blogging to affect lives.

We hear about dreams. We know about vision. I am told if your dream does not scare you, then it is not big enough. The experience of dreaming big is beautifully difficult. You can see the vision, but the mission sounds like mission impossible. Driven by passion and fueled by concrete resolve to realize your dream takes a great about of mental stamina and stubbornness. Fortunately, I took the test firmly and squarely.

I am a young man, a journalist, a child rights and youth development advocate hungry to see change in my life, in my family, in my community, in my generation and in my country. The thirst of seeing the "old negative" gracefully replaced by the "new positive" is getting more acute each passing day. 

I started a campaign on Twitter  with the hash tag #edu4change. It is basically generating content on a dream of mine - a dream that resides in many like-minded individuals and organizations in Ghana. A dream to see that each participant and stakeholder in Ghana's education play their role to the significant benefit of young people and the country at large. I am still nurturing that dream and hopefully in due course, we can all sing the same tune to effectively see change in our educational system.

One thing I have promised myself is not to repeat the mistakes that both my generation and the older generation have done and are still doing. The many development challenges that Ghana faces I believe are as a result of the lack positive values in leadership across board - at the family, school, workplace and national levels.

There are critical aspects of culture and socialization that ought to be worked on to improve efficiency in selfless and transformational leadership. One efficient way is to deal with our core human values- a topic I am critically considering to work on and explore further in my advocacy, leadership and development activities.

Now back to the mission. I skipped church and it took a three and a half hours' journey to Tafi Atome in the Volta Region of Ghana. The three hours was filled with deep introspection and a continuous reassurance of a self sustaining passion and drive.

And there I found myself, sandwiched between a commercial motor biker and a big hearted volunteer through whose eyes I will see the pains and joys of a community that hosts one of the most visited monkey sanctuaries in Ghana.

From left to right: Godwin Akpadzi (volunteer), Joseph Quaye Amoo and a commercial motor rider

One of the strategies I have adopted to build confidence and respect between myself and the deprived communities I work with is to live with them, be transparent in my approach and ask permission before I record anything whether by taking notes, pictures or videos. I spent four days in this modest house I called a home for that period. Thanks to my volunteer.

The house I called a home.

Crossing the high current stream to some settlements about 6km ahead

One of the communities I visited was separated from the main village by a stream that overflows its bank anytime there is a heavy downpour. Children find it challenging to cross the river to go to school because of the high currents of the stream. The inhabitants are predominantly farmers who face a bigger problem of transporting their farm produce from their village to the market for daily subsistence. I had no option than to pull up my trousers and cross over to collect my stories.

Crossing a scary bridge and tweeting at the same time.

Along the way, I made Twitter and Facebook tell my friends and the whole world what I am up to. The mobile reception was exceptionally unfriendly.

This set of logs you see is a bridge that humans and motor bikes cross.

I have always admired nature and all that is within it and fortunately I met this long buddy on the way- an earthworm. I had no option than to say hello to it. 

After over an hour's walk, it was gifting to refresh ourselves with water from a borehole thanks to this boy.

Godwin Akpadzi could not also help but follow suit.

... and my volunteer joined in the refreshment.

Two hours into the journey, it paid to have some rest and do a little planning to shape our approach into the communities.

We finally arrived at Depkor- Tafi Atome to speak to the inhabitants about the situation they find themselves in.

                                                                           


I met this family and I was amazed how receptive and helpful they were. For them, the lack of electricity has limited other rights and opportunities they have and hope for.

                            So was this family.

                                                                                                             

This lady requested that I took a photograph of herself and her son. She felt excited I showed her this same picture on my camera. I promise to get this very photograph to her someday.

With my small amateur mini DV camera, I document the untold stories of people that matter but are more often than not neglected in the mainstream merely because of their geographical location.

Documenting a radio programme which was broadcasting a live political talk show. Radio happens to be the only source of "mainstream" information in this community- no television, no newspaper, no internet.




For years, politicians kept visiting these communities usually once every four years to canvass for votes from the community people. This time round, they feel empowered to demand their share of social justice and equality and the chorus they are singing now is: "No bridge, no vote". 

... and we kept walking to other settlements.












Godwin patiently supported me every step of the way. He helped with translation and interviews.

We had to take a break in a school that houses only primary one to three classes. I was told after a child completes primary 3, he/she has to prepare for a return walk of around 10km every school day.









Whilst we were resting, these children saw us from afar in the bush and ran to us to satisfy their curiosity. Children shall always be curious.

This boy was from a farm with three others and started running away after he greeted us.

Our main mission was to inquire. We took time to speak with these women on the important issues to them in this election year.

Call it the network reception hotspot and you would not be wrong. Mobile phone and internet reception in Tafi Atome is "remarkably" scarce thanks to all networks operating in Ghana.

I turned to these children and each of them has a distinct expression on their faces. The one standing seem to be excited about the camera. The one holding the spoon seem to say: "What did we do wrong?". The other girl in white and yellow has this written on her face: "What the h*ll is happening?".

But these girls remind me so much of our childhood - proud Ghanaian moments. Many of us use to cook sand, leftover food, palm fruits and spoilt vegetables. Childhood memories!

One of my hobbies I hope to nurture more and more is photography. At least, I can safely call myself an amateur photographer. Here are a couple of wildlife photography I did at Tafi-Atome.

Millepede

Scorpion

Before I continue with the main wild life side attraction in Tafi Atome, I will want to introduce to you a group of high school students from the International School of Paris who embarked on a humanitarian project in the community by providing computers and building a computer learning centre for the young people in the community to build and improve IT knowledge among them.

Students averagely aged 16 from the International School of Paris on their compassionate journeys partnership project built this Computer Learning Centre for the community. 

I spoke to Laetitia Hugues and Gabriel Gagnon both 16 years of age on their project and the memories they will take back to Paris.

I interacted with their teachers/chaperons on emerging global issues affecting young people and I can safely conclude that young people across the world have similar challenges whether they live in a developed or developing economy. Unemployment and education are but a few similarities. 

Now let me introduce to you the "troublesome" True Mona monkeys of the 

Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

This particular mona monkey must be a princess in her colony.

Give them a mirror, and they will stick my you forever.

Their curiosity seem to be endless!

A video picture of the sunset at Dekpor Tafi Atome

Capturing the sunset.

The journey has just started. Devoting my professional life to documenting untold stories from rural Ghana cannot happen if we do not partner to raise the living standards of children, young people and women in these hard to reach communities through social media. I am a blogger, and I believe in the power of the social media and I trust you do same. I hope you will follow me every step of the way as I provide relevant content on development issues in rural Ghana and solicit support through our social networks. Knowing someone one Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Google+ etc. will be that miracle to get support to children in need, young people who need empowerment and women who give life to generations. I trust our journey will be a journey to significance.

Partnership matters!

Omanye! 
Towards a better society!