November was quite an eventful month for me as compared to my other months here in Ghana, I must say!
Not only do I have too many friends/family celebrating their birthdays (Abbie, Julie S., Wondyfraw, Francisca, Michelle, Heidi, Jacqui, Julie V., Stephen, Aunt Marg) this month which kept me busy at the Internet cafe!, but I also had a lot happening in my own daily life here! Keep in mind too that November is the month leading up to World AIDS Day and the most challenging month in my own personal life as well.
November 9, 2007 marks my most productive and fulfilling day here in Ghana thus far!
I was asked by a friend of mine from St. John Ambulance, Cleopatra to deliver a short, 10-minute speech on the importance of people going for voluntary HIV testing, otherwise known as 'VCT' (voluntary counseling and testing for HIV). No problem I thought- and how exciting!
HIV work! Yay! And ohhhhhhhhhhh, how I miss doing HIV prevention work... every day in fact. So I jumped at the opportunity, to say the least!
I was up til midnight on my roommate Beth's laptop- so when she came back from the bar upstreet and found me typing away at midnight with a funny look on her face, I knew it was time to head to bed because I had to deliver the speech in just a few hours!
I delivered my speech on the morning of the 9th then, to an audience of 350 or so St. John Ambulance volunteers amongst keynote speakers from the Ghana AIDS Commission, and Department of Health, etc. The media were there as well- clicking away!
At the end of my speech, I was approached by the 2 major newspapers here in Ghana and asked for copies of my speech because I moved the reporters!
On November 15, I learned that the event was published in the newspaper and they mentioned me and my main message! What an accomplishment! Through all my struggles in trying to navigate my true purpose here, I finally felt a glimmer of hope in finding my potential way...
To read the article online, go to: http://www.myjoyonline.com/health/200711/10469.asp
Another thing I partook in (and to add to my productivity while here!) with HelpAge Ghana was a program that my Director designed to give me and my co-worker, Francisca something to do- while also teaching income-generating projects. So from November 12-December 13 I taught the same tie 'n dye class I taught in South Africa (with Michelle), and my sister/co-worker, Francisca taught a craft with yarn, wood and nails. Our intention was to work with the elderly not just in getting to know them better- but to also show them there are different ways to generate income once you allow your creative juices to flow.
Needless to say, because of the harshness and the toxicity in the dye we were using my activity finished within 2 weeks(!), and was later replaced with an elderly woman teaching how to make doormats, which is much more affordable and applicable to the way the elderly live here in Ghana. Everything always unfolds exactly as it is meant to they say!
It was lovely though to be able to just spend 'time' witnessing how we as human beings function once we age... some of them like small, annoying children needing unending attention; others with the dignity of royalty and competence of a hero. What a gift to be part of such an experience!
Through all the long days, heat exhaustion, empty stomachs and headaches, I actually missed the whole program after it finished in December! Isn't that the way life goes...
Then on November 24, as a lead-up event to World AIDS Day, I went with my roommates to the home of the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana to an evening promoting self-esteem and awareness amongst HIV+ women. The event was put on by SWAA: Society for Women Against AIDS in Africa, Ghana and they organized a fundraising gala night with a Miss Positive Leadership Contest and Fashion Show. 10 HIV+ infected Ghanaian women from a variety of ages and backgrounds strutted their beautiful selves down an African-made red carpet to tell intimate details of their infection and stories that were only intended to be heard by such an intimate & small audience. I can't imagine the difficulties the judges would have had to encounter, in narrowing it down to a 'winner' in such a competition.
I myself just felt honored to be present amongst such strong and courageous women. I was inspired and moved that evening to say the least. It was also that evening that I made the decision to do what I know how to do best and stick to it-- and that is to work within the HIV/AIDS field. I deeply miss doing such work and even began volunteering at an HIV Clinic here in Adabraka, Odorna Clinic (November 17) to fill my empty longing.
By night's end, we were handed red and white balloons to commemorate the upcoming World AIDS Day and were asked to remember all those we know who have succumbed to AIDS, are infected, or those who have been affected by the epidemic in some way as we let them go deep into the night sky. I was moved to tears as I watched the starry night sky illuminate with the colours of red and white. I remember watching the balloons trail off for awhile, as my thoughts did the same...
7 years is almost a lifetime working within the HIV/AIDS field I realized...
So many changes in that amount of time with research/treatments; so many differences in all the countries I have visited while working in the field (Canada, USA, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana); yet still so many similarities among all the people affected by this incurable and deadly virus; and the amount of friends I have had to say goodbye to at too early an age- as I pray for those continuing to suffer through the wrath of HIV.
All of this flashed before my mind and touched my heart at the same time as I peered into the new night sky with its splashes of red and white... and I felt tears welling in my tired, blue eyes.
As I always say and live by in my daily life, once you know-- you can no longer act as though you don't know.
Thank you November 2007 in Ghana- for all these beautiful and touching life experiences
Not only do I have too many friends/family celebrating their birthdays (Abbie, Julie S., Wondyfraw, Francisca, Michelle, Heidi, Jacqui, Julie V., Stephen, Aunt Marg) this month which kept me busy at the Internet cafe!, but I also had a lot happening in my own daily life here! Keep in mind too that November is the month leading up to World AIDS Day and the most challenging month in my own personal life as well.
November 9, 2007 marks my most productive and fulfilling day here in Ghana thus far!
I was asked by a friend of mine from St. John Ambulance, Cleopatra to deliver a short, 10-minute speech on the importance of people going for voluntary HIV testing, otherwise known as 'VCT' (voluntary counseling and testing for HIV). No problem I thought- and how exciting!
HIV work! Yay! And ohhhhhhhhhhh, how I miss doing HIV prevention work... every day in fact. So I jumped at the opportunity, to say the least!
I was up til midnight on my roommate Beth's laptop- so when she came back from the bar upstreet and found me typing away at midnight with a funny look on her face, I knew it was time to head to bed because I had to deliver the speech in just a few hours!
I delivered my speech on the morning of the 9th then, to an audience of 350 or so St. John Ambulance volunteers amongst keynote speakers from the Ghana AIDS Commission, and Department of Health, etc. The media were there as well- clicking away!
At the end of my speech, I was approached by the 2 major newspapers here in Ghana and asked for copies of my speech because I moved the reporters!
On November 15, I learned that the event was published in the newspaper and they mentioned me and my main message! What an accomplishment! Through all my struggles in trying to navigate my true purpose here, I finally felt a glimmer of hope in finding my potential way...
To read the article online, go to: http://www.myjoyonline.com/health/200711/10469.asp
Another thing I partook in (and to add to my productivity while here!) with HelpAge Ghana was a program that my Director designed to give me and my co-worker, Francisca something to do- while also teaching income-generating projects. So from November 12-December 13 I taught the same tie 'n dye class I taught in South Africa (with Michelle), and my sister/co-worker, Francisca taught a craft with yarn, wood and nails. Our intention was to work with the elderly not just in getting to know them better- but to also show them there are different ways to generate income once you allow your creative juices to flow.
Needless to say, because of the harshness and the toxicity in the dye we were using my activity finished within 2 weeks(!), and was later replaced with an elderly woman teaching how to make doormats, which is much more affordable and applicable to the way the elderly live here in Ghana. Everything always unfolds exactly as it is meant to they say!
It was lovely though to be able to just spend 'time' witnessing how we as human beings function once we age... some of them like small, annoying children needing unending attention; others with the dignity of royalty and competence of a hero. What a gift to be part of such an experience!
Through all the long days, heat exhaustion, empty stomachs and headaches, I actually missed the whole program after it finished in December! Isn't that the way life goes...
Then on November 24, as a lead-up event to World AIDS Day, I went with my roommates to the home of the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana to an evening promoting self-esteem and awareness amongst HIV+ women. The event was put on by SWAA: Society for Women Against AIDS in Africa, Ghana and they organized a fundraising gala night with a Miss Positive Leadership Contest and Fashion Show. 10 HIV+ infected Ghanaian women from a variety of ages and backgrounds strutted their beautiful selves down an African-made red carpet to tell intimate details of their infection and stories that were only intended to be heard by such an intimate & small audience. I can't imagine the difficulties the judges would have had to encounter, in narrowing it down to a 'winner' in such a competition.
I myself just felt honored to be present amongst such strong and courageous women. I was inspired and moved that evening to say the least. It was also that evening that I made the decision to do what I know how to do best and stick to it-- and that is to work within the HIV/AIDS field. I deeply miss doing such work and even began volunteering at an HIV Clinic here in Adabraka, Odorna Clinic (November 17) to fill my empty longing.
By night's end, we were handed red and white balloons to commemorate the upcoming World AIDS Day and were asked to remember all those we know who have succumbed to AIDS, are infected, or those who have been affected by the epidemic in some way as we let them go deep into the night sky. I was moved to tears as I watched the starry night sky illuminate with the colours of red and white. I remember watching the balloons trail off for awhile, as my thoughts did the same...
7 years is almost a lifetime working within the HIV/AIDS field I realized...
So many changes in that amount of time with research/treatments; so many differences in all the countries I have visited while working in the field (Canada, USA, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana); yet still so many similarities among all the people affected by this incurable and deadly virus; and the amount of friends I have had to say goodbye to at too early an age- as I pray for those continuing to suffer through the wrath of HIV.
All of this flashed before my mind and touched my heart at the same time as I peered into the new night sky with its splashes of red and white... and I felt tears welling in my tired, blue eyes.
As I always say and live by in my daily life, once you know-- you can no longer act as though you don't know.
Thank you November 2007 in Ghana- for all these beautiful and touching life experiences
1 comment:
Hi Jody
Just caught up on your Blog, it is wonderful to say the least. You have such a way with words, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I hope you have a safe and healthy 2008.
love Elaine and Family
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