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DreamingofAfrica

GrowingupasablackCanadian,therehasalwaysbeenaveryspecialplaceinmyheartforAfrica,aninstant

indescribableconnection.MyparentsarefromtheCaribbean,straightfrombeautifulBarbados,andour

familyhistoryhasitsrootsinAfrica.AlthoughInevertalkedaboutitmuch,makingmywaytoAfricawas

somethingthatIalwayswantedtodo,somethingthatIknewIhadtomakehappenatleastonceinmylife.I

neverthoughtmytripwouldcomeaboutinthewayitdid.

PickinganAfricancountrytovisit,strappingonabackpackandtravellingaroundthecountrywouldbe

amazinginandofitself,butIalwaysfeltthattherewouldbesomethingmoreIcoulddowhenIeventually

madeittoAfrica,somethingtomakeitevenmorespecial.

Inthespringof2012,Iwasbeginninganewchapterinmylifeandfeltthatameaningful,soul-sparkingtrip

wasneeded.Inretrospect,Ithinkthatsometimeswhenyouputthingsonahighpedestalinyourmind,after

timeitgetssofaroutofreachthatitseemstobecometotallyunattainable.Lastspring,thatwasstillhowI

thoughtofatriptoAfrica–somethingthatwouldbegreattodo,butinrealityjustwasn’tpossible,nomatter

howmuchIthoughtIwantedit.

MeetingInspiration:Robin

Sometimesinspirationcomesfromaplaceyoudon’texpect.Intruth,youneverreallyknowwhen,whereor

whythelightningofinspirationhits.I’mastrongbelieverthatthingshappenforareason,andfeelstrongly

thattheuniverseislookingoutformeandalignscertainthings,Ialwaysacknowledgeitandfullyappreciateit

whenithappens.Ihadheardofpeoplevolunteeringatorphanagesbefore,butneverbeeninspiredormoved

toaction.Thenonenight,onecompletelyuneventful,normalnight,Imetsomeonewhoinspiredmeto

changemythoughtsonthepossibilityofatriptoAfrica.Thistime,whenIheardthestoryoftravelling,

volunteeringandorphanages,thingschangedforever.

Whileoutwithfriends,ImetawomannamedRobin.SheandIwerechatting,theusualgetting-to-know-you

politeconversation,andshestartedtalkingaboutherrecentexperiencesandadventures.Shementionedthat

shehadbeeninSouthAfricaforafewweeksin2011,volunteeringatanorphanage.Iwasstunned–this

friendlyandopenyoungpersonhaddonesomethingthatIthoughtwasunattainable.Shehaddoneitandwas

sittinginthisgroupoffriendstellingmeaboutitlikeitwassomethingeasytodo.Myhigh-pedestal,

unattainable,trip-of-a-lifetimedreamwasher“WhatIDidLastSummer”story.

WhenIwokeupthenextmorning,allIcouldthinkaboutwastheamazingjourneythatRobinwentonand

hadtoldmeabout.AnditwasatthatexactmomentwhenIaskedmyselfthesimplequestionthatchangedit

all:

‘Whycan’tIdothat,what’sstoppingmefromvolunteeringatanorphanageinAfrica?’ 

Theanswercametomeimmediately:‘Nothing,Icantotallydothatandthere’snothingatallstoppingme

 frommakingthathappen.’Andthatwasallittookformymindtobemadeup.Itwasadonedeal.

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GettingReadyfortheTrip

It’sonethingtodecidetoact,andanotherthingtodecidewhatactiontotake.ThefirstthingIhadtofigure

outwaswheretogo,whichAfricancountry.IhadheardalotaboutGhana,inWestAfrica,fromaco-worker

andfriend,CindyBeaton.Cindyfrequentlymentionedhowkindandgenuineshehadfoundthepeopleof

Ghana;herexperienceplayedabigpartinmydecision.SowithindaysofdecidingtogotoAfrica,Ihadaplan:

IwasgoingtoGhanaandwasgoingtovolunteeratanorphanage.Thewheelswereinmotionandthe

momentumformakingthishappenwasbuilding.

Whenaplanbeginstocometogethersuccessfully,oftenthingsunfoldinsuchawaythatthepathappearsin

frontofyou.Withmyplansset,IwasanxioustoseeRobinagaintotellherhowshehadinspiredmyupcoming

trip.Afewweekslater,IwasabletosharethenewsthatIwasgoingtoGhanatovolunteeratanorphanage

fromAugust18toSeptember9.WhenItoldRobin,shewasshockedandthoughtIwasjoking.Herreaction

wasnotwhatIhadexpected–itseemedverystrangetome.Thenshetoldmeherownnews,whichmadehe

reactionmakealotmoresense.RobinhadalsoarrangedtogotoGhanatovolunteeratanorphanageover

thesummer,fromAugust6to27.Withoutanyplanning,weweregoingtobeinthecountryatthesametime.

SharingpartofmyfirstAfricanexperiencewiththepersonwhohad,withoutknowingit,playedsuchamajor

roleininspiringmetogowasafeelingthatwordscan’tdescribe.

Therewereotherdecisionstobemadeafterdecidingonthecountry.Ihadtochoosewhichorganizationtogo

throughtofindorphanageplacementsandcompleteallthepaperwork(www.newhopevolunteers.org),

researchairlineticketsandpurchasethetravel,getmanyvaccinationstokeepmehealthywhileoverseas,buy

andreceivegiftsforthechildren,packmysuitcasesandthemultitudeofotherpreparationsthatwere

needed.Finallymydeparturedatearrived,Saturday,August18,2012,andIwasonmywaytoGhanaforthree

weekstovolunteerattwodifferentorphanages.

GhanaisaLongWayfromBritishColumbia

MytripgotofftoarockystartwhenIwasstoppedatCustomsinVancouver(forthefirsttimeever!),andthen

myflightwasdelayednumeroustimes.Eventuallytheairlinecancelledtheflightduetoproblemswiththe

plane(again,thefirsttimethathadeverhappenedtome).

Atfirst,Iwasprettystressedabouttheflightcancellation.WhenIgotonthephonewithanairline

representativetorebookmyflight,theycouldn’tgetmeintoGhanauntilTuesday.Somethinglikethat

wouldn’tnormallystressmeout(GhanaonaTuesdaysoundsgreat!)butbecausemyoriginalplanwasto

arriveinGhanaonSunday,aPlanBofTuesdayjustdidn’tseemacceptable.Iwasgoingtolosetwoprecious

daysofmytripofalifetime.

Aftergoingthroughthingsandspeakingtoanumberofpeople,Isatdowninthepassengerloungeand

startedthinkingaboutthebigpicture.TherealitywasthatIwaswaitingtogotoathirdworldcountrythathassomeseriouseverydayproblems.Thinkingaboutitfromthatperspectivemademytravelproblemsseem

ratherminor,especiallysinceIknewthateventuallytheairlinewasgoingtogetmethere.Sittinginthe

airport,IgothitwithBigTripLessonNumberOne:calmdownandkeepmovingthingsalonginapositive

manner.Andwiththatlesson,myjourneyhadbegun.

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 AfricafromtheAir

Eventually,IwasabletobookaflightonadifferentairlinethatwasscheduledtolandinGhanaonSunday,

onlyninehourslaterthanmyoriginalflight.WeflewfirstintoAmsterdamandthenontoAccra,thecapitalof

Ghana.

ThelongflightfromNorthAmericatoAfricahasdaylighttheentirewaybecauseofthedirectioninwhichyou

fly.OntheflightfromAmsterdamtoAccra,allthepassengershadtheirblindsclosedbecauseourbodyclocks

saiditwasthemiddleofthenight,butoutsideitwasverysunny.Ipulledtheblindsupafewtimestosee

whatwewereflyingoverandthethirdtime,Isawthemostamazingview.Wewereapproachingthenorthern

coastofAfricaandallIcouldthinkwas,‘Wow,thereitis,that’sAfrica,andI’mseeingitinpersonwithmy

owneyes…Africa!’Itookphotos,tryingtocapturetheincrediblefeeling.Thepicturedoesn’tdoitjusticebut

I’llneverforgetthemomentthatIfirstsawAfrica.

 ArrivinginAccra,Ghana

WhentheplanefinallytoucheddowninGhanaonSundayevening,Ihadanenormousfeelingof

accomplishment,andthoughttomyself,‘Incredible,man,youdidit.YoumadeittoAfrica.’Whateverelsewas

instoreonthetrip,Ihadaccomplishedmydream–IwasinAfrica.Wedebarkedtheplaneandwalkedintotheairporttostandinthecustomsline.Ihadthebiggestsmileonmyfacethewholetime,Mr.SmileySmiles,

andimaginetheCustomsofficialswerewonderingwhatmystorywas.

OnceImadeitthroughtheline,Igrabbedmybagsandmademywaytothelargecrowdoflocalsholdingup

signswithnamesonthem.Iknewtwodifferentpeoplewouldbewaitingforme,soIstartedlookingforthe

signswithmyname.OnesignwouldbeheldbythelocalfamilywhoIwasstayingwith,andtheothersign

wouldbeheldbythepersonwhowouldreceivethecellphonesthatIhadbroughtwithmethroughAfrica

Calling.

 AfricaCalling

AfricaCallingisanon-profitorganizationco-foundedbyafriendofmine,KevinDavis,afterworkingona

projectaspartofaCamosunCollegesociologyclassin2011.Theorganizationtakesusedcellphonesand

sendsthemtovillagesinAfricatohelpthelocalsconnectwitheachothermoreeffectively.Therearefewland

linesinGhanaandotherareasinAfrica,socellphonesareaveryusefultoolforhelpingpeoplecommunicate,

bothinemergenciesorurgentsituations,andforday-to-daycommunicationbetweenfriendsandfamilies.

Pay-as-you-gocellphoneserviceinAfricaisinexpensiveandaccessibletomostpeople;however,handsetsare

expensiveandmoredifficultforpeopletoaccess.NorthAmericanphonescanbere-usedinAfricatohelp

mitigatethatexpense.

Kevinandhiscolleagues’successinspiredanewCamosunCollegecourse,SocialScience203:ServiceLearningandGlobalIssues,thatwillbefirstofferedinJanuary2013.Transfercredit(generalsocialsciencecredits)will

beavailableforstudentstoUVic,SFU,UBCVancouverandUBCOkanagan.MoreinformationabouthowAfrica

CallinginspiredtheclasscanbeaccessedontheCamosunwebsiteat:NewSocialSciencesClass.Formore

informationonAfricaCalling,ortodonateausedcellphone,pleasevisitthewebsiteat:www.africacalling.ca.

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InspirationRevisited

SoIwasmakingmywaythroughthecrowdoflocals,totallyfocusedonfindingthesetwodifferentGhanaian

meneachholdingasignwithmynameonit.Inmyfocus,Icompletelymissedmyfriendandinspiration,

Robin,whohadcometotheairportwiththelocalhostfamilytopickmeup.Shegreetedmewithabighug

andalotoflaughter.“Howcouldyoumissme?”Robinlaughed,“I’mliterallytheonlyCaucasianinthiswhole

place!”Ilookedaroundandshewasright–shewastheonlynon-blackpersonintheentireairport.Atthat

moment,IrealizedthatthenextfewweeksweregoingtobeverydifferentthanlifeinCanada,andavery

specialadventure.

WithRobinwasGeorgeAsante,mymaincontactinthehostfamilythatIwasstayingwith,andsomeother

membersofGeorge’sfamilywhohadcomealong.Ilaterlearnedthatitwasabigtreatforhisyounger

relativestotakeacarridetotheairport.IalsofoundmyAfricaCallingcontactandgavehimthebagfullof

usedcellphonesandchargersthatIhadbroughttoAfrica.

FirstImpressions

AsImentionedearlier,beforemytripIhadheardthatGhanaianpeopleareverykind,warm-heartedand

alwayswillingtoshareasmile.WhenImetGeorge,IfeltthatkindnessimmediatelyandarrivingattheAsante’shouseinatowncalledAmasaman,eachmemberofhisfamilywelcomedmeliterallywithopenarms.

ThosewhoknowmeknowIlovethehugs,sothisgreetingwasperfect.

TheAsantesinvitedRobinandItomakeourselvesathome,andIcouldtelltheymeantitgenuinely.Thatfirst

Sundaynightmyself,Robin,Georgeandsomeofhisfamilymembersstayeduptalkingforawhile,gettingto

knoweachotherandreallyconnecting.WhenIarrivedinGhana,Robinwasalreadytwoweeksintohertrip,

soonthatfirstnightshewasabletoupdatemeonwhatherfirsttwoweekshadbeenlike.Wewereboth

excitedtooverlapinGhanaandsharethatweek.Itwasremarkabletobeabletotakeinthefirstpartofmy

Ghanaexperiencewiththepersonwhoinspiredmetotakethetripandvolunteer.

Atabout11:00pmGhanatime(4:00pmSundayinVictoria)itwasfinallytimetosleepafterwhathadfeltlike

thelongestdayofmylife!Ihadbeenawake,apartfromsomebriefnapsontheplane,sinceFridaynightwhen

IleftVictoriaonthelateferrytoVancouver,gettingdroppedoffattheVancouverairportaround2:00am

Saturdayformyoriginal6:45amearlyflight.Ihadbeenawakeforover55hours,butitwaswellworthit.

MyFirstFullDay

WakinguponmyfirstfulldayinGhana,IwasfilledwithexcitementbecauseIknewthiswasthedaythatI

wasgoingtogettheopportunitytomeetthechildrenfromthefirstorphanageforthefirsttime.AfterRobin

andIfinishedourbreakfast,wewalkedthroughthetownofAmasamantotheTro-Trostop.ATro-Troislikea

minivanandisusedforpublictransportation.It’sthecheapestwaytogetaroundinGhanaandisanexperiencelikenoneIhadhadbefore.OnaTro-Tro,there’sadriverandanotherpersonwhositsbesidethe

slidingdoor,collectingfaresandyellingoutthefinalstop,whileconstantlytryingtoconvincepeopleatand

aroundeachstoptopickhisTro-Troovertheothers.

AswewalkedthroughAmasamantotheTro-Tro,Iagainnoticedthat,likeintheairport,Robinwasliterallythe

onlyCaucasianpersonintown.Shementionedthatforthepasttwoweekslocalmenintownhadconstantly

stoppedtotalktoher,manygrabbedhergentlyoraskedhertomarrythem,notinathreateningorupsetting

way,buttotrytogetherattentionandtalktoher.Shenoticedimmediatelythatwalkingthroughtownwith

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me,thatextraattentionstopped.ShebelieveditwasbecauseIwasassumedtobelocalandshewasassumed

tobewithme.IgrewupinWinnipegandnowliveinVictoria,soI’vealwaysbeenoneoftheveryfewblack

peopleintown.FormyfriendRobin,itwasauniqueexperiencetobeinthetiniestofminorities.Shesaidit

wasalsoverydifferenttowhatsheexperiencedinSouthAfricawhichhasamuchlargerCaucasianpopulation

thanGhana,butthatshereallyenjoyedtheexperience.

ChristTriumphOrphanage

Aftera20minuteTro-Troride,wearrivedinthetownofMasadonia,wherethefirstorphanage,Christ

TriumphOrphanage,is.Robinhadbeenworkingthereforalmosttwoweeks,sosheintroducedmetothe

couplethatownedtheorphanage,AbrahamandMargaret.WesatdownwithAbrahamandhetoldmehisful

storyincludinghowhisorphanagestartedandwhathisfutureplansareforexpandingandproviding

educationforthechildrenthatlivethere.Manyyearsago,heheardabouttheissuesofchildrenbeing

abandonedbytheirparentsforonereasonoranother.AbrahamandMargaretdon’thavemuch;Abraham

worksonafarmformanyhourseachdayandtheyholdachurchserviceontheirpropertyeachSunday.They

alsobakeandsellbreadfromthehouseandthechildrenhelpoutwiththataswell.ButAbrahamfeltthathe

couldhelpoutinsomewayandmakesomesortofadifferenceinafewchildren’slives.

HetraveledtosomeofthesmallerremotetownsinthenorthernregionofGhana,andbroughtfiveorphansbacktohisplacetolive.Thefivechildrenweretwins,MaryandMartha,andthreesiblings:Mercy,Elijahand

Joshua.Allthreegirlsarenow12yearsold;Mercy’sbrothersarebotholderat15and16.ElijahandJoshua

areinschool,butunfortunatelythethreegirlsarenot,whichmadethemthefocusforus.

AftertalkingwithAbraham,itwastimetomeetthechildren.Theywereintheclassroom,acoveredpatioat

thefrontofthehouse,beingtaughtbyanothervolunteer,Nora.NoraisfromGermanyandwasstayingatthe

orphanagehouse.ThegirlsweresohappytomeetanothervolunteerwhohadtravelledallthewaytoGhana

tospendsometimewiththem.IfoundoutlaterthatbothhereandattheorphanageIvolunteeredatlaterin

mytrip,Iwasthefirstblackmalevolunteer.Andatfirst,thegirlshadahardtimeunderstandingthatablack

personcouldcomefromCanada.UntilIarrived,intheirexperiencesomeonewholooksasmuchlikethemasI

docouldonlyhavecomefromGhanaoranotherWestAfricancountry.Wewerejokingaroundrightaway,

anditwasevidentthattheywerequickandveryeagertolearn.

DuringtheweekIspentwiththem,wehadauniquesituation.Itwasthefirsttimethatthreevolunteershad

visitedtheorphanageatthesametime.ThisgaveRobin,NoraandItheopportunitytoteachthegirlsoneon

one,anexperiencetheyhadn’thadbefore.WetaughtthemEnglish,GeographyandMath,andsometimes

AbrahamandMargaret’sgrandchildren,Ruth,11andKevin,9wouldjoinusduringthelessons.RuthandKevin

werestayingwiththeirgrandparentsforthesummer.

ItwaseasytotellthatMercy,MarthaandMarywereusedtotakingcareofoneanother.Eachpossesseda

strongsenseofconfidence,alongwitha“take-no-guff”attitude.Iwashappytoseethatbecauseithasnotbeenaneasylifeforthem,andit’snotlikelytogetanyeasier.Itwashearteningthattheylookedoutforeach

other.Ofthethree,MercywasdefinitelythetoughestandIthinkthathasalottodowithhavingtwoolder

brothers.MarthawasthemostsensitiveandMaryseemedtopickupwhatwetaughtduringthelessonsmost

quickly.

Alongwiththelessons,wealsohadsomegreattimesplayingwiththekids.Oneafternoon,thekidsdugup

clayfromthesideofthehouse,addedsomewaterandmadethecoolestlittlesculptures.Anotherdaywe

grabbedafootball(aNorthAmericansoccerball)and,withabunchofthekidsintheneighborhood,hadthe

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besttimeplayingfirsttagandthenagameoffootball(NorthAmericansoccer).Thekidshadablastandsodid

thevolunteers.Iwastherefereeformostofthegame,andthenattheend,joinedinandplayed.Betweenthe

teachingandtheplaying,itwassuchagreatweek.

TheMondayofmysecondweekinGhanawasRobin’slastdayincountrysowewentbacktotheorphanage

soshecouldsaygoodbyetothekids.ItoldthekidsthatI’dcomebackandseetheminacoupleofweeks

beforeIleftGhana.Soonmysecondlastday,Iheadedbacktotheorphanage.NorahadalsoleftGhanaby

thattime,soitwasjustthekidsandI.Itookthemoutforabiglunchandwelaughed,playedgamesand

enjoyedourlastmealtogether.Afterlunch,wewentbacktotheorphanage,playedsomemoregamesand

tookabunchofphotostogether.Eachchild,includingthegrandkidsandsomeofthelocalkids,tookturns

usingmycamera.Thenitwastimetosaygoodbye.Iknewitwasn’tgoingtobeeasy,duetothespecial

connectionswemade.TheykeptaskingifIcouldchangemyflightandstaylonger,ItoldthemIreallywishI

couldbutunfortunatelyIcan’t.Igavethemeachabighugandalittlemessage,andthenIhadtosaygoodbye

IhadtocrossthehighwaytocatchtheTro-TrobacktoAmasaman,andasweallwalkedawayfromeach

other,wecontinuedwavingateachother.

CapeCoastSlaveCastle

Formyfirstweekend(andRobin’slast),wedecidedtocheckoutaresortrightontheoceanafewhoursawaytogetsomedowntimebeforesheheadedbacktoCanada.TheresortwasinabigcitycalledCapeCoast.We

checkedouttheamazingbeach,sawthelocalspullingintheirmassivefishnetsandwatchedkidsplayfootball

onthesand.InNorthAmerica,wehearabouthowfootballisthenumberonesportintheworld,butit’snot

alwaysevidentdependingonwhereyoulive.InGhana,youcantellit’sthenumberonesport–everywhere

youlooktherearekidsplayingfootball.

OneofthemainthingsthatCapeCoastisknownforistheCapeCoastSlaveCastlethatdatesfrom1653andit

wasoneofthethingsonmy“must-see”listbeforeIleftCanada.ThecastlewasBritain’sWestAfrica

headquartersforthetrans-Atlanticslavetradeuntil1833,whentheslavetradeendedhere.Itwasonlyabout

athreeminutewalkfromtheresort,sowewentoverearlyonSaturdaymorning.Wejoinedaguidedtourto

hearthehistoryofthecastleandlearnabouttheslavesthathadbeenheldthere.IknewthatvisitingaSlave

Castlewasgoingtobepowerful,butIhadnoideathatitwasgoingtohitmethewayitdid.Iendedupfeeling

soconnectedwiththehistoryofthatspecificSlaveCastle.Everytimethetourguidementionedthelocations

thatslaveswereshippedtofromthereBarbadoswasnearthetopofthelist.AsImentionedearlier,bothof

myparentsarefromBarbadossoithitveryclosetohome.Ihadn’texpectedtohearthatslavesfromthat

specificcastlewereshippedtoBarbados.Theveryreallikelihoodthatmyancestorshadcomethroughthe

SlaveCastlethatIwasstandingonwasincrediblymoving.Itwasauniqueexperience,somethingthatI’ve

neverfeltbeforeandwillneverforget.

Thetourguideshowedusmanycellsandthemaleandfemaleslavedungeons.Heexplainedthatthe

dungeonsweretheplacewherehundredsofslaveswouldlive,spendingentiredaysjammedtogether.Traysoffoodwouldbesentintothedungeons,andthepeoplewouldbeforcedtoeat,sleep,getsickandgotothe

washroomallwithintheirdungeon.Thedungeonshadarudimentarydrainagesystem,butthesystemwasn’t

effectivesotothisdaytherearemarkingsonthewallsinthedungeons,afootortwooffthefloor,showing

howhighthelevelofhumanwasteregularlyreached.Anoverwhelmingfeelingofsadness,present

throughoutthetour,pervadedthedungeons,soheavythatitwasalmosttangible.

Outsidethemaleslavedungeon,thereisaplaqueforU.S.PresidentBarackObamaandFirstLadyMichelle

Obama,laidwhentheyvisitedthecastleinJuly2009.TheypickedthisparticularSlaveCastlebecausetheFirst

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Ladyhadfoundoutdefinitivelythatshehadancestorswhohadpassedthroughthiscastle.Thewreaththat

theObamasbroughtin2009remainsinthedungeon,ontopofahugepileofwreathsthathavebeen

droppedoffovertheyears.Atthetime,PresidentObamasaidthattheSlaveCastleremindedhimofthe

Germanconcentrationcamp,Buchenwald,whichhehadvisitedthemonthprevious.

Anotherpowerfulmomentcamewhenthetourguidewalkedusovertoadoorthatledtothebeach.Aboveit

wasasignthatreads,“DoorofNoReturn”.Thisisthefinaldoorthatslaveshadtowalkthroughbeforethey

wereshackledtogetherandpackedontotheslaveships,thenshippedoffandsoldtovariouscountries

aroundtheworld.TheywouldneverreturntoAfrica.Now,abovetheothersideofthedoorthereisasign

thatreads,“DoorofReturn.”Thissignwasputtheremanyyearsagotorepresentthepeoplewhoare

returninghometoAfrica,findingtheirroots.Iwantedtorememberthedoor,soIhadmypicturetaken

standingbyitandbelowthe“DoorofReturn”sign.It’soneofthefewphotosofmyselfIhadtakeninGhana,

butisoneofthemostmeaningfulpicturesI’veeverbeenin.

Attheendofthetouraftertherestofthegroupleft,Ispoketothetourguideandthankedhim,tellinghim

thatmyparentsarefromBarbadosandhowmuchthetourmeanttomeandtheconnectionIfelttothis

place.Hereachedoutandshookmyhandashelookedmeintheeyesandsaid,“Welcomehome,brother.”

Thatdayatthecastleisonethatwillalwaysbeoneofthemostmeaningfulofmylife.EvenifIneverhave

anotheropportunitytovisitAfrica,becauseofthatdayIknowIwillcontinuetohaveastrongconnectiontoandsenseofmyroots.ItprovidedasenseoffulfillmentandcompletionthatIdidn’tknowIwantedbutnow

can’timaginebeingwithout.

CountrysideChildren’sWelfareHome

AfterRobinandIreturnedtoAmasamanfromCapeCoast,wevisitedwiththeAsantefamilyuntilitwastime

forRobintosayhergoodbyesandreturntoCanada,andforthenextchapterofmyGhanatriptobegin:the

second,largerorphanage.

ThemorningafterRobinleftAmasaman,IwaspickedupbyFranklin,thecontactforthecompanythatIhad

signedupwithtoarrangemyvolunteeringandlocalhostfamily.Wehadbeenemailingeachotherfor

months,anditwasgreattofinallygetachancetomeethiminperson.Hewassupposedtobetheonetopick

meupfromtheairportwhenIfirstarrivedinAccra,buthehadbeenhitwithabadcaseofmalariaandwas

hospitalizedforaweek.

ThesecondorphanagewasafewhoursawayfromAmasaman,soFranklinandIvisitedandtalkedaboutmy

experiencesofar.AfterdrivingthroughacoupleoftownswithFranklinsharingdetailsonthehistoryofthe

differentareas,wegottoAwutuBawjiase,andtotheleftjustoffthehighwaywasasignthatread,“Children’s

Home:CountrysideChildren’sWelfareHome.”Franklindrovedownthelongroadthroughthefrontgatesand

parkedinfrontofoneofthebuildings.ItturnedouttobethevolunteersbuildingwhereIwouldsleepandeat

forthenextweekandahalf.ItalsohousedtheofficeoftheAdministratorfortheorphanage,Mr.ErnestOsei-Owusu.ThoughIdidn’tknowatthetime,ErnestandIwouldremainintouchafterIreturnedtoCanada.

Thisorphanagewasdifferentfromthefirst–itfeltlikeitsownlittlevillage,withmanydifferentsmall

buildingsandchildrenofallageseverywhere.FranklinandIweregreetedbyErnestandabunchoflittlekids.

Fromthefirstmoments,thesepreciouskidsapproachedmetobepickedup,huggedandheld.Myfirst

impressionwasthatthekidshadsomuchloveinsideandtheyseemedtoenjoysharingit,again,thiswasjust

perfectandIstartedsoakingitinandlovingitimmediately.Theyweresowelcomingtome.

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ErnestwantedustomeettheamazingwomanwhofoundedtheCountrysideOrphanagerightaway.He

broughtustothehouseofMrs.EmmaBoafoYeboahandherhusband,CaptainJoeYeboah,andforthefirst

timeinmylife,Imetatrueangelonearth.HernameasImentionedisMrs.EmmaBoafoYeboahbut

everyone,includingmeafterjustafewhours,calledherMom.Sheisthemotherofallofthesebeautiful

orphansinthislargeorphanage.WhenIwasthere,90childrenlivedtherefromtheageofthreemonthsto24

years.

OnethingInoticedfromthestart,thatwasreinforcedthroughoutmyweekandahalfstay,isthatMomand

her90childrenwereonebigfamily.AllofthekidscallEmmaMom,andtheyalsocalleachotherbrothersand

sisters.WhenImetMomforthefirsttime,shegreetedmewithamassivehugandthankedmefromthe

bottomofherheartforcomingallthewayfromCanadatobewithherandthechildren.It’sfunny,even

beforeIknewthefullstoryabouthowtheorphanagestartedandwhatroleMomplayedinallofthat,assoon

asshewalkedintotheroom,IfeltthisincredibleenergyandIknewthatIwasinthepresenceofsomeone

veryspecial.I’vemetalotofamazingpeopleinmylifebuttherewassomethingdifferentaboutMom.From

ourfirstmeeting,IcouldtellthatIwasinforsomethingextraordinaryandthattheupcomingweekandhalf

wasgoingtobeanextraspecialone.Iwasnotprovedwrong.

TheHistoryofCountrysideChildren’sWelfareHome

AquickhistoryofhowtheCountrysideOrphanagegotstarted:In1981inaGhanaiantowncalledWinneba,

Ms.EmmaBoafolivedwithanAmericancoupleasthecaretakerofsixneedychildrenwhoweresupportedby

theAmericancouple.Priortotheirretirement,theAmericansgaveEmmathefundstofurtherhereducation

andletherknowthattheythoughtsheshouldgotoschoolandsendthechildrentoahome.Emma’slovefor

thechildrenwastoostrongandshecouldn’tbeartostoplookingafterthemwhileshepursuedhereducation.

In1983duringadrought,sheusedtheAmericancouple’smoneytobuyanumberofacresoflandinasmaller

town,calledAwutuBawjiase,wherefoodandlandwasmuchcheaperthaninWinneba.Emmawasableto

buildsomebuildingsontheproperty,includingthehousethatshestilllivesin.Shebuiltfourdormitory

houses,oneeachfortheyoungboys,theolderboys,theyounggirlsandtheoldergirls;housingfor

volunteers;officesforstaff;andaschoolwithapproximately12classrooms.Since1983,whatstartedasa

placethathousedjustsixchildrenhasturnedintoahomefor90orphans.Duringtheschoolyear,an

additional50childrenfromthesurroundingtownsalsoattendtheschool,asaprivateboardingschool.It’s

simplyastoundinghowsignificantanimpactonepersoncanhaveonthelivesofsomanywithoneinitial

decision.

Countryside’sLittleKids

AftermymeetingwithErnestandMom,FranklinleftandIwasgivenatouroftheorphanagegroundsbyone

oftheolderkidsnamedBright.Brightwasoneoftheoldestkidsattheorphanage;he’s24andhasbeenliving

attheorphanageforhiswholelife.HehadacoolandcalmstyleandoneofthebiggestsmilesthatI’veeverseen.Heshowedmethatinadditiontothebuildingstheorphanagehadvariouscrops,fruittrees,pigs,

turkeys,chickensandamassivepondwithfish.Oneofthegoalsoftheorphanageistobeabletofeed

themselvesfromwhattheyhaveontheirownproperty,justincasethedonationseverstopcomingin.Inthat

event,theywanttomakesurethattheycanbefullyself-sufficient.WhenBrightfinishedthetour,heleftme

andIwanderedaroundonmyown,takinginmysurroundings,andtryingtofullyappreciatewhereIwasand

whatwasgoingonaroundme.

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AsItookitallin,differentgroupsofyoungkidswouldrunuptomewithamazingsmilesontheirfaces,some

withtheirhandshelduphighwaitingtobepickedup,likethekidswhohadgreetedmewhenIarrived.Now

thatIwasn’tonmywayintoameeting,Iwasabletoturnpickingthemupintoalittlegame,grabbingthem

andholdingthemfullystretchedoutovermyhead,countingtothree.Thelaughterandexcitementthatthey

gotfromthissimplelittlegamealmostbroughttearstomyeyes.AsIdidit,otherkidsnearbystartingrunning

towardsmecalling,“Menext,menext…”Iendeduppickingupthekidsthatwerearoundmeaboutsixtimes

eachandthiswentontheentiretimeIwasthere.I’llbehonest,afteraweekandhalf,myarmswerekilling

me,butitwaseasilyoneofthebestpainsintheworld!

Afterplayingthatgameandsomeothergamesinvolvingbeachballs,footballsandrunningaround,Iwalked

intoErnest’sofficewithahugesmileonmyfacetoaskiftherewasanythingspecificthathewantedmetodo

whileIwasthere,orspecificworkthattheyneededhelpwithonsite.Hisresponsewassimpleandbeautifulto

myears:”Thekidsareonsummerbreakfromschool,sojustcontinuesharingyourloveandplayingwiththe

kids,that’salltheyneedandwant.”Formyentireweekandahalf,Isleptinthevolunteerquarters,atemy

mealswiththeothervolunteers(threefriendlyyoungwomenfromGermany)andplayedoutsideprettymuch

alldaywithsomeofthemostbeautifulchildrenIhaveeverseen.

Oneofthethingsthatstruckmewashowhappythekidswereallofthetime,evenwiththesmallamountof

belongingsthattheyhave.Theydidn’treallyhavethatmanytoysoranythingtoplaywith,buttheyenjoyedplayingwitheachotherwithwhattheyhad.Andtherewasalwaysalotofsinginganddancinggoingon.Itwas

arealeyeopenerformeandmademethinkabouthowmuch“stuff”weaccumulatehere,andwonderabout

howmuchofitwereallyneed.Mythoughtsaboutthiswouldcreateawholeotherstory;itwasinterestingto

observethisdifferenceandthinkaboutit.

Countryside’sOlderKids

AswellasthepreciouslittlekidsthatIplayedwith,Iwasalsofortunateenoughtoreallybondwithsomeof

theolderkidsaswell.AfterdinneronthefirstdayIwasthere,oneoftheolderkidsnamedPagesgrabbedme

andsaid,“Mr.Roland,comeandplaysomefootballwithus!”Andfromthatoneinvitationcamesomevery

specialrelationshipswiththeolderorphans.Beginningwiththatonegame,Igottoknowalotoftheirnames

andwestartedjokingaround.TheolderkidscouldtellthatIwantedtogettoknowthemandtheirorphanage

better,andwashappytohangoutwiththemandtalk.Themajorityoftheolderkids,the16to24yearolds,

havelivedattheorphanagetheirwholelife,sotheorphanageistheonlyhometheyknow,andit’sentirely

normaltothemtohave90orsosiblings.Mostimportantly,MomandCaptainaretheonlyparentstheycan

remember.TheolderkidsandIsharedmanygreat,deepconversationsthatledmetofeelingreallyconnected

withanumberofthem.Andthereweretwoveryspecial16yearoldkidsinparticularthatIfeltanextrabond

with,aboynamedSalamiandagirlnamedCharity.Ithinkthatbeingthefirstblackmalevolunteermadeit

easierformetoconnectwiththeolderkids.MostpeoplethoughtthatIwasfromGhana,sotherewasa

differenttypeofconnectionwithmethatthekidshadn’thadwithanyothervolunteers.Sincecominghome,

I’mstillconnectedwithsomeofthemthroughFacebook,andI’mreallyexcitedthatI’llbeabletoremainincontactwithsomeofthekidsImet.

ItfelttomethatIpickedthebestweekandahalftobeatthelargerorphanagebecausetherewassomuch

goingonduringmyvisit.TherewasagroupofpeoplefromNewYorkattheorphanagewhileIwastherewho

createdacampconceptcalledArtsinMotion:Africa.Itwasthefirsttimethattheyhadtriedthiskindofcamp

atanorphanage,andtheyhopedtopitchittoinvestorsbackinNewYork.Ifsuccessful,theinvestmentwould

allowthemtotaketheArtsinMotionconcepttootherorphanagesinthirdworldcountries.Theytaughtthe

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kidsspecialdanceroutines,heldclassesindramaandvisualartsandledtheminsingingandplaying

instruments.Myfirstdayattheorphanagewastheirlastdayofpracticing,andthenextdaywasthebig

performance.Alotofdistinguishedguestsfromthenearbytownshowedup,includingtheChief.Theshow

wasoutstanding;thekidsreallydidatremendousjob.

Afewdayslater,therewasabigfiftiethbirthdaypartyforawomannamedAngelathattookplaceatthe

orphanage.Angelawasaspecialfriendtotheorphanage.Fromtimetotime,“visitors”totheorphanage

woulddropoffdonationsandthenreceiveatouroftheorphanage.Angelawasoneofthesevisitors,buton

herbirthday,notonlydidshebringatonofgiftsforthechildren,shealsobroughtafullcateredlunch,soall

thekidslinedupandwereabletoshareinthisveryspecialmeal.Angelasaidthatshehadwantedtodo

somethingveryspecialforhermilestonebirthday,andshedecidedthattherewasn’tanyplacemorespecial

thantheorphanagewithallofthewonderfulchildren.

Theotherthingthatmadethetimingofmyvisitperfect,wasthefactthatnotonlydidIgettoplaywiththe

kidsforthemajorityofmyvisitduringtheirsummerbreak,butsincetheirnewschoolyearstartedjustbefore

Ileft,Ialsogottoseeacoupledaysofschool.Icouldn’thaveplanneditbetterhadIknown.

TheGifts

BeforeIleftforGhana,myfamily,friends,andafewveryspecialco-workersdonatedsomeamazinggiftsthat

wereboughtspecificallyforthekidsattheorphanage.OfthetwosuitcasesItravelledwith,oneandahalf

werefullofgreatstuffforthechildren.OnmysecondlastdayattheorphanagewiththehelpfromSalami

whotookthephotos,andCharitywhoorganizedthechildrenandthegifts,Iwasabletohandoutallofthe

giftstothechildrenandcaptureitoncamera.Theyweresoexcited!Becauseofthenumberofpeoplewho

hadcontributedtothegifts,Iwantedtomakesurethatmyfamily,friendsandcolleagueswereabletosee

andfeelabitofhowamazingthatmomentwas,andthat’swhyIwantedtomakesuretotakeafewphotosof

thespecialoccasion.

ComingtoanEnd

AttheendofmytimeattheCountrysideOrphanage,Icouldn’tbelievethatithadonlybeenaweekanda

half.GiventheincrediblerelationshipsthatweremadeandtheamazingexperiencesIsharedwiththekids,it

feltmuchlonger.IsaidmygoodbyestoMom,andthankedherforbeingtheincrediblepersonthatsheis.She

gavemeamassivehugandtoldmethatIwillalwayshaveaspecialfamilyandaplaceinGhana.Isaid

goodbyetoErnestandthankedhimforeverything.Thetoughestpartwassayinggoodbyetoallofthe

beautifulchildrenthatImet,theyoungandolderones.IwasleavingkidswhoassoonasImetthemand

pickedthemup,Iwantedtoadoptthem.(Andspeakingofthat,Iwouldjustliketoapologizetoanyofyou

whoplacedabetthatIwasgoingtocomehomewithoneormanyofthekidsfromeitherorphanage.Sorryto

havelostthatbetforyou!).Sayinggoodbyewasextremelydifficult,becausemyheartandsoulhadbeentruly

touchedbythechildreninawaythattheyhadneverbeenbefore.

FranklinpickedmeupinthemorningonmylastdayatCountrysideOrphanage,andduringthelongrideback

toAmasaman,Iwasreplayinginmyheadallthespecialandremarkablemomentsthathadtakenplaceover

thelastweekandahalf.WhenIwokeupthenextdayattheAsante’shouse,mytimeattheorphanagefelt

likeasortofadream.MythoughtsthatmorningwereheavywiththefactthatIwasalreadyreallymissingthe

kids,MomandErnest.AndwiththoseheavythoughtscametherealizationthatImightnotbeabletoafford

tocomebacktoAfricaanytimesoon.Topreventmyselffromslippingintosadness,IneededtofocusonhowI

couldhelpCountrysidefrombackhomeinVictoria.

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SalamiandCharityGotoHighSchool

IhadknownbeforeIleftCountrysidethatonceIgothomeIwouldneedtocomeupwithaprojecttohelp

Countryside,developingthedetailsandappropriatefundraisingstrategytomakeithappen.IrealizedIalso

neededawaytohelpoutinamoreimmediateway,andthenagreatideahitme.IcalledErnestandtoldhim

thatIwantedtosponsorSalamiandCharityfortheirwholethreeyearsofhighschoolataboardingschool.

Ironically,thethoughtanddesiretohelpinthiswaycametomethedayafterleavingtheorphanage.Infact,it

wouldhavebeenmucheasiertoinitiatethisifIhadbeenabletoarrangethingswithErnestinpersonbeforeI

lefttheorphanage.ButaphonecallstartedtheprocessfromAmasaman,andwhenIreturnedtoVictoria,

ErnestandIemailedeachotherforafewweekstohammeroutthedetails.InlateSeptember,everything

finallyworkedoutandIwasabletosendthefirstpayment.

Eachschoolyearhasthreetermswithseparatefees,soforthenextthreeyearsI’llbesendingapayment

everythreemonths.Ifeelsoblessedtobeabletohelpthesetwokidsoutbecausetheywerealwaystherefor

meandhelpingmeoutindifferentwaysattheorphanage.YoucanseeaYouTubevideothatCharitymade

withoneofthevolunteerstwoyearsagowhenshewas14at:CountrysideOrphanage-Charityvideo.

It’sfunnyhowthingsworkoutinlife,becauseforbothSalamiandCharitytobeattheageofgoingintohighschoolwasjustperfect.Ayearearlierorlater,andIwouldn’thavebeenabletohelpthemoutlikethis.Ittruly

isanamazingthingwhentheuniversehelpslinethingsupproperlyinlife.

TheLastFewDays

MylastfewdaysinGhanawerefilledreunitingwithGeorgeandhisfamily.Ihadn’texpectedtomissthe

AsanteswhileIwasatCountryside–inreality,webarelykneweachother–butIhadreallymissedthemand

itwassonicetospendtimewiththem.IwasalsoabletomeetsomeGhanaianfriendsofmycolleague,Cindy

Beaton,whohavekeptintouchsincetheybecameclosefriendswhenCindylivedinGhanafortwoyearsin

themid-1990s.Thefamilyinvitedmetotheirhousefordinnerandshowedmeabunchofphotos,including

photosofCindyfromwhenshelivedthere.ItfeltlikeaprettyfittingendofmyGhanatrip,closingthecircleby

meetingCindy’sfriends,whenshehadbeensuchalargepartofthereasonthatIdecidedonGhanaformy

trip.

Onmylastday,GeorgetookmetoAccra,thecapitalcityofGhana.Itwassodifferentfromanyoftheother

placesthatIvisitedwiththebiggerbuildings,headofficesandmuseums,massivemarketsandmanymany

people.Wewalkedaroundthecitybuyinggiftsformyfamily.Itwastheperfectwaytoendmytrip,with

George,mynewGhanaianbrother.

Whenwereturnedtothehouse,IhadtosayallofmygoodbyesandgivelasthugsandgiftstotheAsante

family,thisamazingfamilywhohadmademefeelsoathome,andwhosetthetoneformyincredibletripfromthemomentIlanded.GeorgeandImadeplanstoremainintouch,andhetoldmethatIwouldalways

havefamilyandaplacetocallmyowninGhana.Igrabbedmybagsandthetaxipickedmeup.Forthewhole

ridetotheairport,IlookedoutofthewindowtryingtosoakGhanaintomyporesandbeingallforthelast

time.

WhenIarrivedattheairport,Ifoundmyselfstandinginanotherairportlineup,againwithahugesmileonmy

face.ItwasforadifferentreasonthanwhenIarrived.ThenIhadsmiledjustformakingittothecontinentof

Africa,anticipatingtheexperiencesthatwereaheadofme.NowIwassmilingbecauseIwasfinishingthemost

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amazingtripofmylife,havingexperiencedthingsIdidn’teverexpecttoseeorfeel.Somehow,mytriphad

wildlysurpassedtheincrediblyhighexpectationsIhadforitbeforeIleftCanada.IhadfinallymadeittoAfrica

andspentthreeweeksonatripthathad,andcontinuesto,changemylifeforever.Icouldn’thaveaskedfor

anythingmore.