Football fever

The cheering, dancing, and singing started as soon as Ghana knew it had won the World Cup soccer game against the United States last night (2-1). I was able to watch the game in a crowded bar/restaurant in Ho with about 200+ Ghanaians. The celebrations continued out on the street throughout the evening, as hordes of people swept past us singing, dancing, hugging, and cheering. To say that this win is a big deal would be a huge understatement.

I am literally living in a football fever. To see the start of the games in South Africa and then to experience them with a country who is representing the entire continent right now is incredible! I have had some great conversations with Ghanaians (and South Africans) about how much these games mean to them and to their nation. It is inspiring to witness how people come together, regardless of gender, race, and nationality. I can only hope that that this worldwide unity continues long after the games are finished.

In other news, three of my other GlobeMed members have just arrived. It has been so much fun introducing them to the HOPE Center’s staff, the nearby communities, and to show them around town. The partnership between GlobeMed and the HOPE Center continues to get stronger every day as friendships are formed and project progress made. Exciting things are happening here, and it is so neat to be a part of it all!

Healing and H.O.P.E.

I am in the company of fascinating, wonderful people. Since I’ve been in Ghana, there has been no shortage of men, women, and children coming to welcome me into the community. One of the neatest people that I’ve had the privilege to spend time with is the H.O.P.E. Center’s head nurse, Margaret. She and I have had many conversations about the Center and its partnership with GlobeMed over the last week. Everything from balancing the Center’s operating budget to designing the next phase of the childhood nutrition program to taking steps toward the design of a future maternity ward- we’ve already begun to lay out a solid plan for next year.

It is neat to learn from Margaret. She is a passionate, dedicated nurse who not only runs the H.O.P.E. Center but also her own non-profit designed to empower women throughout the country. Besides her hectic work schedule, she still manages to reach out to those that need her most. For instance, there is a young, HIV-positive mother in town. When her HIV status was accidentally revealed, many in her village forcefully kicked her out of her home and have been hostile to her ever since (the HIV stigma is terrible around here, in case you didn’t catch that). Margaret immediately saw the potential in this young woman (and fell in love with her 5-month old baby girl- see photo) and took her under her wing. She and I have been to visit village chiefs, landlords, artisans, and church leaders so that Margaret can negotiate a future for this girl. Margaret’s persistence is inspiring and her integrity honorable. To be working in the company of such a woman is amazing!

I have also begun to conduct my first interviews for my research! I went into the village of Kodzobi yesterday to talk to six pregnant women and I had four interviews in Ando today. They have gone well so far and I am already getting a lot of good information that we can use to improve and expand the H.O.P.E. Center’s programming. My time here convinces me more and more that this is a place of incredible healing and “H.O.P.E.”

Today’s most recent bug bite count: 47

A change of pace

Greetings from Ho, Ghana! I have arrived safely and am getting settled in the rural village that I will be staying at for the rest of my time in Africa. The pace of my life has definitely changed speed: from the hectic, bittersweet last days in South Africa (the World Cup soccer and International rugby games were amazing) to the relaxed, easygoing lifestyle in Ho. It has been neat to meet new people and try new things such as learning how to administer vaccines to young children as part of a child welfare program I'll be helping with (see bottom photo).

I will be working at the Health Outreach and Peer Education (H.O.P.E.) Center, which is a rural community health clinic. GlobeMed, the Northwestern global health student group that I am now president of, has had a sustained partnership with this Center for many years now. One of my primary goals while I am here will be to continue to expand this positive relationship. This will entail meeting with the Center staff, community organizers, and municipal health directors to ensure that we are all able to advance the Center's outreach programs. I have already been engaged in many great discussions with the Center’s head nurse, Margaret. We are currently in the planning stages of increasing the Center’s current (and very successful) childhood nutrition program. This nutrition program is run by the H.O.P.E Center's nurses who teach mothers how to prepare healthy meals for their children, especially since malnutrition is a significant health concern here. I will continue to give updates on our goals for this program, but suffice to say for now, exciting things are coming!

In addition to the administrative tasks that will cement the partnership between the H.O.P.E. Center and GlobeMed, I will also be conducting my own research on maternal health and nutrition. I will be going into the surrounding communities to interview pregnant women on their current eating practices, beliefs, and knowledge. This will enable us to assess where there are nutritional shortfalls and how we can best respond. One of the aforementioned goals is to expand the current nutrition program’s outreach to include expecting mothers. I hope that my research can provide the informational link that we’ll need to best tailor the program to meet these women’s needs. I am looking forward to the chance to engage, collaborate, and learn from them.

All in all, this change of pace is something that I am already loving. It is such a neat opportunity to be here and I can’t wait to see what the coming weeks will bring!

Let the games begin!

As my time in South Africa rapidly draws to a close, I wanted to write one final South African post before my experience in Ghana begins (not to worry, I will continue to update once I have internet access again)! I have been having a great week, made even better by my time volunteering at Nonceba Child Abuse Center. There is nothing better than the feeling of walking through the door in the morning to smiles and hugs. We've had lots of fun playing soccer, puzzling, arts and crafts (see photo), and more! The children are truly wonderful ; it has been so neat to be able to spend time with them.

This weekend promises to also be amazing, seeing as the FIFA soccer world cup starts tomorrow! I have tickets to watch Uruguay take on France in Cape Town tomorrow night. We are planning on heading to the city bright and early to catch the opening games and festivities. The fact that this is the first time an African country has hosted is like watching history in the making. Saturday, I will be at the international rugby championship, cheering as the Springboks (the South African rugby team featured in the film Invictus) play France. My jersey, flag, and face paint is ready…

I am off to Ghana in a few days, which is so exciting (and a little nerve-wracking)! I am eager to apply the public health knowledge and experiences that I have gained in South Africa to a new context. My time here has been an incredible, life-changing experience. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of my African adventure will bring! Stay tuned…

A smiling witness witnessed a smile

I have been a witness to the world’s most beautiful smile today. The bearer of this grin was a little boy, around the age of five. He and I spent the better part of the morning playing dominos, coloring, and teaching him how to do a puzzle. The pearly whites came out as the last piece of the puzzle had been put in place. High-fives and hugs were exchanged all around. The pride in his eyes and the smile on his face meant even more, knowing that he has been a victim of childhood rape.

My new friend and his two brothers are currently living at Nonceba, a safe haven for children who have been abused. Currently, there are seven children living at the shelter, all there because they have been the victims of horrendous, unspeakable crimes. The Center is located in Khayelitsha, the second largest township in the country, situated on the outskirts of Cape Town. It is amidst these miles of shacks that young children are more likely to be raped than they are to learn to read.

Nonceba is an incredible organization. It dedicates itself to providing counseling, shelter, and support services for those adversely affected. There is also an attached domestic violence shelter that currently houses nine women. Now that I’m done with my classes, I will be spending the mornings volunteering here. There is no better way I can think to spend my last week in South Africa.

Speaking of my last week here, boy does time fly! It is hard to believe that the quarter is drawing to a close and I’ll be heading to Ghana in t-minus six days! I’ve been busy trying to pack in the last minute items on my “to-do” list. Since I last wrote, I can check off wine tasting, dining at a vineyard with my professors (for our farewell banquet), going to a music concert (to see the South African band “Goldfish”), a night on the town with girlfriends, hiking, and having a potluck off my list. Whew! What a way to kick-start summer!