Rotary Club Wednesdays

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

I borrowed this quote from a friend's (Beth Barber) email, as it is so fitting.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

I went to a Kumasi East Rotary Club meeting today at THE posh hotel in Kumasi (outdoor upper level pool with a bar, fountains, the works. It felt like I had stepped into a different world. It reminded me of when I was a teenager in India, just before their monsoon season, so high heat and humidity, sneaking into hotels (and pools) to get into the air conditioning and to enjoy the quiet and cleanliness of the place that the outdoor environment did not afford.  The best was the Taj Mahal hotel in Dehli, what a treat! Anyway, this felt kind of like that, getting out of the heat, the dust, the pollution and the hustle and bustle of so many people and their stares (the hotel obviously has their share of international clientele). 

I was so impressed by the visitors at the meeting today: a couple from Washington; the woman (a rotary president herself) had been in Ghana 5 years ago and came back with her husband, who is a doctor. They had started their visit in the north and used their rotary contacts to visit the ongoing projects to see how they might become involved. It sounded like they were planning on volunteering at a remote village clinic in the north; amazing.  

Another individual was a young Kumasi teen who has been maimed by Buruli Ulcer, a condition, afflicting poor children, I had never heard of before. He has begun his own foundation to raise awareness and support for the illness and has just returned from a University speaking tour in the States. Another was a Ghanaian who is now living in Edmonton! 

Another was a doctor, Dr. Anne, as she is known, who is from Guatemala I think, who seems to be heading up the maternal and infant health clinic at the Kumasi hospital; she has been soliciting for funds to develop the clinic and treatment capabilities, especially dealing with issues such as malnutrition, and HIV/Aids. She has come with a friend who is Dutch, living in the area for 5 years now, working with small communities to develop their educational programs. 

Another visitor was the architect of one of the community projects, checking in on their progress on a clinic being built (I was just told that Rotary does not finance buildings but does furnish equipment and renovate, so not sure how this project was set up). 

And lastly, a group of 3 young men (maybe in their early twenties) had come from their community, further North, to ask for the rotary’s support to complete the building of their community clinic, having been started by an NGO which had to, unfortunately, pull out. The community experiences many deaths from childbirth and snake bites, among other easily preventable deaths, due to its remote location. 

Anyway, it was amazing meeting all these people doing humanitarian work! Now, if only we could get something started to change the litter-as-you-go mentality here, get a recycling program going and clean up their waterways! 

A quick aside, something that made me shake my head, the District Governor of the Rotary Club (the man overseeing the large district to which Kumasi East and many other Rotary Clubs belong) is flying in next week by way of his own private plane! This makes me think of the shanty town we passed in downtown Kumasi today and the children at school who share pencils between siblings because they can’t each afford one. I can’t help but think that improved infrastructure (i. e improved roads, educational funding…) would alleviate many of the issues and needs organizations like the rotary club are dealing with and addressing today. If a Rotary Governor can fly in on his private plane, there is obviously wealth in this country, just where is it and how it is being distributed, is the question.

I learned from Julianna (when given maîs I boiled for 2 hrs to no avail) that that most people here still cook on outdoor fires, especially in the rural areas.  The ones in the city are more likely to having a gas stove in the home (unless, of course, they live in a “shanty town”).  I past one today, however, right in the heart of Kumasi, just off the sidewalk between stores, basically someone’s tiny packed earth front yard (the house, no more than an aluminum/wood shack), a traditionally wrapped (basically one piece of fabric around the body) woman bending over her pot on the fire, a young child playing in the red dirt beside her. Juxtaposition from the Golden Tulip hotel, I tell you.

Tomorrow is sports’ day for the primary and junior schools and I have stuck my foot in it alright. I wanted to be involved so asked how I might help; they want me to be a referee for football (soccer)! I have to go now review the rules online. I still can’t figure out off-side for crying out loud, after all these years. THIS should be hilarious! I do hope the Abruni doesn’t get tarred and feathered (where does this saying come from anyway?) for a bad call tomorrow. Julianna told me that they have referees where we are going and not to worry; I hope she’s right.

I am going to get my hair done Friday, rasta-style as they call it here. I have always wanted to and now is my chance! Besides, it will make life easier in this humidity and one less thing to do in the morning.

Oh, one of the teachers has invited me to her wedding! I am so excited! Weddings and funerals (I’ll be going to one of those on Sunday) give such a powerful insight into a culture. I was honoured to be asked and will have to buy fabric to have a dress made now for certain (as the tradition goes..). 

 The link to the few photos this time around is :http://picasaweb.google.com/kpedicelli/20101124?feat=directlink