Hello friends,

I am glad to report to you all of the changes that have occurred in Ghana over the last several months. With about 105 volunteers working in our communities, we have seen many results.

Senchi Ferry
Senchi Ferry celebrated the installation of sub-chiefs in Senchi Ferry Asona clan this spring. The community clinic in Senchi Ferry received wonderful benefits from the volunteers whom provided health care delivery in the community clinic as well as rehabilitating and expanding the wards of the clinic.

The schools also benefited from the volunteers who taught at the schools and constructed pre-school classrooms. The pre-school now consists of two classrooms, an office and store, a bathhouse and a kitchen.

Strong bonds of friendship are most always formed between volunteers and community members. This summer, two local contact persons from Senchi Ferry - Samuel and Zachary, have also developed a strong bond of rapport with most of the volunteers as they were always ready to offer help, support, and assistance to volunteers whenever something needed to be done to make the program more meaningful.

New Akrade
On May 26, 2007, the public launching of "New Akrade@ 50 Celebrations" occurred which marks the 50th anniversary of New Akrade. The New Akrade schools also benefited from the volunteers who taught at the schools and constructed pre-school classrooms.

In New Akrade, about 2,500 bricks were molded for the market project, and 1,500 bricks were molded to support a pre-school classroom project that consisted of one classroom block, an office, a store and urinal.

A market in New Akrade was also constructed which truly benefits the entire community and helps to improve the local economy.

We are very excited to announce the expansion of Global Volunteer's child sponsorship program to assist the students of the New Akrade area. Sponsorship is a wonderful way for you to continue your service in Ghana without traveling. The children of the New Akrade area will be ensured that they have the school books, materials and supplies necessary for a quality education. Please visit the Ghana sponsorship webpage for more information about this exciting opportunity: http://www.globalvolunteers.org/sponsorship/ghana.asp.

The volunteers who have come have been inspirations to us. In fact, one volunteer who served in one of the school communities just four months ago, is coming back in three months time to provide humanitarian support on the program. A group of students from an American school in Japan came and worked in two pre-school projects in both communities and made substantial progress in record time (just two weeks) which the communities largely supported.

Culturally speaking, our Global Volunteers program is a learning, life-changing and eye-opening experience for most volunteers. Among other things, working with the support of community artisans and partners, has inspired one Ghana volunteer, Mary Dee Hicks, to say, "As with many things in life, we get out of the experience what we put into it. Those of us, who took initiative to observe, participate, offer ideas, and ask questions had a very rich experience. Those who waited for the experience to come to them demonstrated little curiosity, and remained tethered to their lives in America were the poorer for it. Thanks for a rich experience and a great program."

We had a wonderful program in October when Chiefs and Elders of New Akrade celebrated 'Abedu' festival between the 8th and the 14th. In my next newsletter I will tell you all about when Durbar of Chiefs, Queen mothers and people at New Akrade finalized all activities, marking the 50th anniversary of New Akrade on the 13th of October.

I look forward to seeing you on upcoming service programs

Sincerely,

Richard Martey
Global Volunteers' Ghana Country Manager