My friend Lizzy sells Koko porridge at the roadside in Bolgatanga, Ghana
every morning. She is a single mother supporting her young daughter
Agnes (3 years). She wakes up at 3 am every morning to prepare one drum
full of Koko, and when it is empty, goes to the market to buy millet,
groundnuts, ingredients and firewood for the next day of sales. Lizzy
saves her profit for each day in her bank account. The deposits per day
vary between 0.40 and 0.60 CAN. School children are the biggest
customers, and they spend an average of 0.17 CAN on their morning meal.
One day she is determined that her daughter will be among them.
The economic and social rights that entitle Lizzy and her daughter to wider horizons should be fulfilled. Engineers have a role to play. We can create positive social change by choosing to get involved in international issues.
5 Comments
July 11, 2007 at 7:31 am
I like the way you write. You should post the articles often though.
July 20, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Hey Sarah,
Congrats for the great contribution you are making to improve life in Ghana. Your effort is receiving good attention around the world and I am sure you are having fun too. I actually graduated from the MA (economics) program at U. of Waterloo too in 2000.
All the best
January 9, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hey, Sarah
we were thinking of you today and wondered how your getting on. I absolutely love your photo’s, my artistinside was licking my brush’s seeing those beautiful landscape shots. I love the Bike, makes me want to be on the back with you running threw the country side. We’re fine despite Uwe having some pain in his left hip, and loss of vision. I am glad to be back painting steady again after the Christmas whoha. working on a “nest” series right now.
Thoughts of how easy and sheltered our lives our looking at the village. but they do look happy.
When we look at our Buddha paintings we think of you. Sooo Compassionate.
take good care of yourself. We miss you BIG.
LOVE
Elaine, Uwe Garrit and Rocky
January 24, 2008 at 4:34 pm
La Awala Serah?!
It was so interesting and nice to run into your web page today. Thankyou! I was on the web looking for more information about the flood and food situation when I ran into your web site. I really enjoyed reading your words and connecting with the people through your photoes. Such a gift the beatiful spirits of Tongo are.
I left my home in Tennesse to go to Ghana on Christmas day of 2007 which is the day of your first post. I stayed at a place called the Tongo Oasis about 6 kilometers outside Tongo Market from Jan through March 2007.
I was planing on staying one week to visit a friend of my sisters, and ended up staying for 2 months because I fell in Love with the people and the stones. To contribute while I was there I designed and helped build a composting toilet at the Tongo Oasis, which is a culturally afirming resturant and eco hostel still in the process of being built. I also worked with Thompson, fire chief of Tongo building stone foundations in Tunzug to protect angainst flood damage to walls.
Anyhew, my friend just let me know what had happend in Tongo in the months since I left. I have put together a Music slide show of my experiences in Ghana and also in Burkina Faso where I spent 3 months playing music following my time in Tongo.
I am planning on using the slide show to raise awarness of Tongo and funds for families in the area.
I was also struck by your comment of the 55 people gathered in the house watching TV. The slide show has very beautiful shots of the Tongo hills, Of happy people working hard, and of the Golgo Dancing in Tunzug. It is healing just to see.
I think it could allieve certian aspects of the hardship there to see self affirming pictures of their culture and land. The music on the slide show can also be healing.
I would like to see if it is possible to get a copy to your family, so that the many gifts given me while I was there can be shared with those that give them.
Blessings,
Couage and Infinate Peace
Please Stay in touch Sister
Biko
March 2, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I have heard great things about the woman who built the Oasis resort, congratulations on your contribution to their facility. Thank you for your message!
Best wishes