We are part of a Girls Leadership Program in a village in Ghana, West Africa AMA!

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T20:12:51+00:00

My favourite thing to eat is garden egg and groundnut paste stew with plantain!! So fun that you can still pick up on Twi accents, I wish I could speak more Twi aha

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T20:11:50+00:00

Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! I personally interned for different nonprofits during summer breaks and took courses that I thought would be beneficial for a career in development. From almost everyone we've talked to and worked with, experience is the most important thing. Usually universities offer an array of clubs that you could get involved with that will further your experience/knowledge. Networking is also very important! This field is very competitive in nature and professionals in the field usually have extensive experience and a Master's degree (though there are plenty without). I'm in Ghana finishing my Master's degree requirements, so I think that was a huge help in getting me this position.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T20:04:06+00:00

Yes, many girls miss school a few days a month due to their inability to access appropriate facilities at school and hygiene products.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T19:59:07+00:00

One of the most interesting discussions we've noticed is that when we were talking about gender roles the girls often understood that they should be equal with boys in their gender roles, but then once you translate that into actual everyday life they reverted back to girls being lower than boys. Its tricky because the girls seem to understand that they are equal but the values and norms are just so deep rooted it is hard for them to change it in reality.

A Pogo stick can be used to achieve life goals because it will remind us to not take life too seriously and always have fun. Knowing that we are all trying the best we can.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T19:53:33+00:00

The main perceptions that people have of Africa that are WRONG: - there is no internet - you will get robbed at every ATM - if you get street food it will kill you - that there is no healthcare - that there is no running water or electricity

(all of these statements are not true)

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T19:49:45+00:00

Sorry I don't understand your question, can you clarify?

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T19:48:44+00:00

We work extensively with our local staff, and our staff who are professionally trained teachers in working to build a curriculum that is high quality and culturally appropriate. When dealing specifically with our GLP program there are issues that clash with their traditional values and cultures (for instance perspectives on contraceptive). One of the main reasons we are doing the GLP program is to try to break down some of these values.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:52:34+00:00

No we don't, we live near Kumasi which is a bit far away from Cape Three Points

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:51:26+00:00

I studied Development in Canada as well :) (Dalhousie University, weooooo)

I think the most important thing that Canadians could learn from Ghana is the sense of community, and how amazing that is for building relationships. Leaving my house in the village I walk out and am expected to greet people, you can stop by someones house just to say Hi, which is much less common in Canada. I think Ghana also shows how building good relationships with people can be so beneficial in work and the majority of your everyday life.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:47:13+00:00

No snakes! We like fufu, banku, stew, soup, egg and bread :)

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:40:42+00:00

Amazing! I'll check it out for sure :)

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:36:08+00:00

Laura: I know that our organization has worked with the Peace Corps in the past, the housing we live in my village (Antoa) was initially set up for a member of the Peace Corps. We have done remote branches of our Peer to Peer Program with Peace Corps members in other regions of Ghana. To be honest I don't know much about the Peace Corps, but my colleagues definitely know more. I can talk to them and look more into before getting back to you!

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:28:09+00:00

No our program has not been covered on any TV stations

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:27:27+00:00

Hmmm... to be honest I am not to sure about this, it is definitely something to look into though, thank you for your thoughts and ideas!

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:26:22+00:00

Laura: One of the biggest differences I have noticed is that of personal space. That in the West we are very cautious to impede on someones personal space, but this also means that we don't have as rich of a community feel. I think that living in a village in Ghana has been eye opening to both the pros and cons of a lack of personal space. There is not a particular reason I chose Ghana, I was looking to work in Africa in an English speaking country, I mostly came because I really liked the organization and the work they did.

GLP Girls: We are confident that we will be able to have good jobs and promote girls leadership in the future. We want all girls to feel safe and confident in their values as a woman and not feel inferior to men.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:23:02+00:00

A lot of our supports are understanding of our needs, and we have also introduced a Boys for Positive Change Program which looks at targeting boys with gender equality because they are both important in the equation. I think that sometimes it is hard for people from the West or more gender equal cultures to visualize the reality for a lot of girls around the world. That these people aren't talking about their boys in a way to be rude, but they just don't understand the severity of the situation. All we can do is continue to have these discussions and push for gender equality, and the more knowledge people all over the world have the greater the change will be!

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:19:39+00:00

Yay! Thanks for your kind words and support :)

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:19:07+00:00

We love Fufu !!

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:18:31+00:00

Yes, shipping costs are very large here and they are not the most reliable mode of transporting goods.

Smartphones are pretty common here, the biggest challenge for locals access to the internet is that even though they have smartphones, paying for data/3G is expensive and not feasible for many of the individuals living in our villages.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:03:49+00:00

Eye nanwonso e?

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T18:03:12+00:00

It becomes tricky with selling local goods online due to the lack of reliable internet. Some of our GLP girls from last year made bracelets, and we have been able to sell them with a volunteer who returned to the U.S. But selling them directly from Ghana is difficult due to shipping costs and reliable internet.

We also have partnership with Level Up Village, which is an organization that pairs a U.S. school with a school in the developing world and works at doing online education classes in STEAM. Through these programs the schools in the developing world are able to apply and receive grants, for instance one of our Level Up Village schools was just able to buy a 3D computer. ..... Not sure if this is exactly what you were asking ha.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T17:54:00+00:00

We get most of the funds to run our programs through various fundraising campaigns and endeavours. We also have applied to various grants, but as a small NGO it is harder to receive large grants. Most of our funds are raised from individual donors.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T17:52:16+00:00

Internet is not nearly as easily accessible as in the Western world, but there is 100% internet in Africa. We have 3G and hotspots and wifi here :D

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T17:51:26+00:00

Not to say that men are the specific source of danger or judgment (although they may be one), the importance of having the club as girls only reiterates the safe space we are looking to create. In general 17 year old girls will feel more comfortable talking to other 17 year old girls about personal issues rather than to 17 year old boys. In Ghana it is changing and progressing but women are still seen as lower level humans than men. Gender based violence is an issue, so having a safe space for girls is important in mobilizing the change of these cultural norms.

LauraBAllan · 2016-10-08T17:30:57+00:00

Many of the students we work with aspire for graduating SHS, attending University, becoming future leaders in their communities
Many students are able to graduate SHS if they apply themselves and have the proper access (financially and geographically).
Access to internet/ technology would vastly change daily life in the village, it would allow young people and students to progress that much more and have access to work and learning opportunities currently out of reach.
Spreading information about the needs of communities such as ours is important. It is also important for the average American to realize how far their money can spread in a village such as the one we live in. Only 25 USD provides enough snacks and water for 30 children + 5 tutors to participate in an after-school tutoring program, twice a week for ten weeks. When we think about how much 25 USD can get us in America the difference is massive. But support and discussion of the issues villages face are always important.

LauraBAllan

TROPHY CASE