Name: Jemma Collins
Location: Ghana
Report Title: Final Report
Report Date: 27/02/2010
Dear HFT, Here is my much delayed final report. When looking back on my last two months in Ghana I mostly remember trying to really make the most of it. At school the new term had begun so I had to start teaching the girls new stuff, but I allocated two weeks, which would be my last two weeks just to ‘having fun’… in an educational way of course! I remember how happy they were when I brought sweets for everyone. But soon the class had got into a bit of a fight as I had a mob of girls fighting around me for the bag of sweets. This then brought the headmistresse’s attention as her desk was only down the corridor - she marched in with her cane! I gave her a few sweets and sent her back the other way but the thought of bringing sweets to school again wasn’t one that occurred to me. I often had to come to the defence of my pupils when other teachers tried to cane my class for being too loud, this really made me angry and once got me into trouble with a fellow teacher as we argued in the school field about how my class were being far too loud so he wanted to beat them all. Of course I told him where to go. We often met with the other volunteers who lived down the road from us for a drink at what we would call a bar/pub but the Ghanaians call the ‘Spot’, which is like an outdoor shanty bar that blasts heavy Ghetto music and serves Star beers for one Cedi (about 50p). We had a spot at the top of our road and a little man selling goat meat, which tasted really nice, a lot nicer than a doner kebab that’s for sure! We used to take our Uncle (host uncle, he requested that we call him uncle) and his friends there sometimes for a beer or two and a chat about Africa. One unfortunate event during my last week happened which momentarily made me think that I wanted to leave Ghana there and then. While wandering along the roadside just after dark with two other volunteers a group of men came up to us, asked for our belongings or they would shoot us! It’s hard to imagine they actually would have, but we handed over all our things, which for me included my camera. I hated the fact that all my photos of my girls at school and gone, but Hannah, the volunteer I lived with was quick to offer me her camera so I could take some of my school before I went home. I tried my best not to let this put a down on things, as it was my last week. This was the first time anything like this had happened; Ghana is a very friendly country! I met a good friend while in Ghana, a teacher who also worked at the school and we often write and email to each other. I hope to keep the link between us for future connections with Ghana. On the last day I was there he brought me a lot of gifts, which I felt very bad about because I knew his teacher’s wages didn’t come to much. Now my room at university is cluttered with Ghanaian culture thanks to my friend Ben! I have learnt a lot from my six months in Ghana; how to cook plantain is not one of them! I want to go back to the school and orphanage this year and next year I hope to run the London Marathon in aid of the school, and one day set up my own charity run school in Ghana. My trip had a very strong influence over me and I’m so pleased that I went and, although it sounds cheesy, I really do have another outlook on life since I have returned. A few less luxury items that I didn’t even miss and I managed to loose a stone in weight! I would recommend Ghana to everybody; it was the best time of my life! 
