Our camp was an amazing success, and I'm very proud to have been a part of it. The students were shy and tired when they first arrived in Bolga from seven different schools scattered around Ghana, but over the course of several days, they opened up with one another, bonded, and showed us all how incredible they are. I think this was a meaningful experience for my students, and one that they will remember far into the future.
Our bus rides were rather cramped, but we liked the company.
The first evening in the dining hall.
Newspaper towers---as high as they could build them in 20 minutes.
my school!!
Volta School for the Deaf
My school, Savelugu School for the Deaf, showing off their winning 'tower'.
Gbeogo School for the Deaf
Robert, a powerful deaf leader in Ghana. He was a fantastic speaker; it was very emotional to hear his talk, because I thought it probably meant a lot to my students. He told the students about confidence building and about the Ghana National Association for the Deaf (GNAD).
two girls from Volta
Some Cape Coast students showing off their traditional dancing skills during the talent show.
Kwabena, my student, singing and signing a church song.
Kwabena dancing
Me with Armstrong, one of my PC trainers, and also the President of the Ghana Special Education Teachers Association.
piecy-piecy coil pot making session
my two ladies are inseperable
Melissa, the volunteer at Wa Deaf
Robert, again.
Me, with Joe Bee, my father and PC Education Director, who will soon be retiring.
Oh yes, I finally went to Paga. I did not sit on a crocodile for ethical reasons, but I did photograph my students sitting on crocodiles.
Ignatius, the driver at Savelugu Deaf
Foster, my student
Kwabene, my student
Zenabu, my student
All of them
Foster also wanted to sit on the horse that was right next to the crocodile. One stop shopping, there at Paga. One of the most fabricated 'natural' experiences I could possibly imagine. Comical, really.
We visited the border of Burkina Faso on our field trip.
me and my students
Me, the other volunteers, and Armstrong and Godfrey
I gave a talk about HIV with a powerpoint presentation.
Another student is explaining what AIDS is.
My students, Arahamatu and Foster, doing a skit about saying no to sex.
We played a scavenger hunt game, where the students had to collect HIV risk activity cards from different locations around the school while tied together in groups.
Running around campus to find the cards
They were really excited...
Running from the latrine to the girl's dorms
Putting the risk cards in order from least risk to most risky
skits
I found some more baby goats!
Condom demo with wooden penis!!!
condom games---blowing them up
Giving the girls a try...
my students!!!
Playing a river crossing game where they have to help all their teammates reach the other side of the river.
trust games
field trip!
Sirigu traditional painted village (except there's nothing left of the traditional village and the only thing left standing is the visitor center, gift shop, and the ladies making the stuff for the gift shop)
ladies painting in Sirigu
gourd maracas
Glow sticks on the final night of the camp! What a HUGE hit they were. The students went insane. P.S. send glow sticks.
