Home Safe and a Bit Sad!

Hi Everyone,
Well, I'm home and freezing to death! Leaving Accra was emotional for me, especially leaving behind Prosper. But he will be joining us by the end of May I hope! It was a balmy 35 degrees when I departed the beautiful land of red clay, and the moment we hit Frankfurt I developed a stuffy chest and a runny nose. I just about boarded another plane back to Accra.

I wasn't even all the way home before missing everyone. Africa has made such an impact on my life in the short 8 months I was there. I have made so many friends in Ghana, and I desperately miss my little kids. It was very emotional saying goodbye to Kofi. Being the longest serving volunteer at the school and developing such a wonderful relationship with him and his family, it was difficult for both of us to see me off. But I will for sure be returning in the new future!

I am thrilled to inform all my friends and family that the new school is complete and looking spectacular. It's a strong structure that will last for many years to come, and the children are very excited to learn in their new classroom! Already, there have been many new students who have enrolled in the school from around the community, and Kofi has said it's due to the new school.



















Kofi and Kadio. Kadio is a Liberian friend from Buduburam Camp!


Here are a few pictures of Prosper and me at Keta beach!


















My farewell at Buduburam Refugee Camp. A very emotional event. I was crying like a baby!





I'll keep posting!

Love Heather

Good News for a Change!!

Hello to Everyone!
Well, just over 4 more weeks and I will arrive in Calgary. My first time in Africa is quickly coming to a close, and although I will miss Ghana incredibly, I am thrilled to be coming home! I miss my "white man's" food, my comfy bed, my leather sofa and all my movies. But most of all, I miss my Ma and Pa and all my friends and family.

Prosper is hoping to make the trip to Canada around the same time. I hope he can get his Visa and Work Permit in order quickly and book a trip to the COLD COUNTRY soon! He's so sad to have missed the coldest, snowiest part of the year! (NOT!!!)

My latest news article has appeared in the Fort Record.

http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=10&x=story&xid=382331

It details my wonderful, but extremely "brief" volunteer work on camp. I'm going to miss my Liberian friends a great deal!

Alright, 32 more sleeps and I'm on a plane headed home! Can't wait!

Peace,
Heather

Attention: Please Read!

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AT LIBERIAN REFUGEE CAMP!

Hi Everyone!
First things first - I know many of you have been worried about my safety over the course of the last month because of the situation on camp. But I assure each of you that I am safe. I am not even on camp anymore. I am safe and sound with Prosper and his family in Accra. And yes, I fly home at the end of April. Couldn't be soon enough, because this country is headed into chaos.

THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD IS STARTING TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE ATROCITIES OCCURING ON CAMP, BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH. I FEAR THAT IF THE GOOD PEOPLE IN OUR WORLD DON'T STEP UP SOON, BLOOD WILL FLOW ON CAMP AND MANY INNOCENT LIBERIANS WILL DIE.

The Refugee Women for Refugee Concerns are holding peaceful demonstrations every day to bring attention to the situation on camp. They stay on the field all day and sleep on the field at night. Many women have fallen ill due to extreme heat, no food, and no water. The NGO's on camp have all raised money for the women to purchase water and food. Many nights, the Government sends armed Police out to the camp and they surround the women on the field. They come to intimidate the Refugee Women in the hopes of shutting them up, however, the Liberians are desperately tired of the situation on camp. Many of the women personally told me that they are willing to give their lives for the truth to be known.



The Refugee Women are demonstrating against forced Integration by the Ghanaian Government. They simply want to return home, but the United Nations High Commission for Refugee's will not grant them the $1000 that is required for their transportation home. The UNHCR is currently only providing each refugee with $5 US to return home. Tell me, as a war refugee who has lived in asylum for 18 years and has nothing, how can you be asked to return home to Liberia with five dollars. You have no home in Liberia (rebels burnt it down in the civil war), you have no job, you have no food, and many of your family members are dead from the civil war, so you know nobody in the community. How are you suppose to start a life?? As one young Liberian refugee told me, "the five dollars given to you to return home is like a slow bullet to the head."





I have many more pictures - many including child victims of sacrificial murders being carried out by Ghanaians. However, BLOGGER will not even allow them to be published on my blog. Better anyway because I want you all to remember my blog as one filled with pictures of beautiful, smiling children!!

I am currently creating a Human Rights Abuse Package to send to various African governments, the UN in New York, my own Canadian Government, Geneva, Italy, France and the various NGO's and Human Rights groups that have stepped up in the Congo and Darfur. I am sending a package to Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and George Clooney (all the Hollywood actors that have been vital in addressing Darfur) You know, the world sat back and watched innocent men, women and children be hacked to death in Rwanda, starved to death in Somalia, and now perish in Kenya. The good people in our world must step up and stop the violence. We are all dead wrong if we think this is simply Africa's problem. When our brothers and sisters suffer anywhere in this world, we all suffer! We must stand together and fight the tyranny and oppression so many innocent lives still face in our world.

Peace to All of You!
Love Heather

Dream Comes to an End!

Hi Everyone!
This is by no means a cheerful blog. I know many of you have been wondering where I've been for the last month. The fact is, there are so many problems on the Buduburam Refugee Camp that I don't even know where to start.

This country is so political and corrupt, and as I've told you, it's going to get very dangerous in this country prior to the December 2008 elections. Tensions have hit almost a boiling point here, and daily there are army helicopters flying overhead. It is widely speculated that there will be a cout d etat in this country soon, and a violent one. Good thing I'll be getting out of here at the end of April.

This is effecting the Liberian refugees greatly as the current government doesn't give a damn about their welfare. President Kufour has even sent army and police on camp regularly to arrest all the men over 15 years of age, accusing them of being rebels used to overthrow the government. There are cases of beatings, rape and murder on camp that are not being investigated. There are reports of young children being murdered for sacrificial purposes. You have to be in Africa to understand the twisted and barbaric ritualistic traditions that still grip so-called prosperous African countries like Ghana!

So, being an International Volunteer with connections to the International world, the camp manager, a Ghanaian, has ordered me to never return to camp. It seems I pose a serious threat to the Ghanaian police's wicked control over the 40,000 refugees who call Buduburam home. They fear Internationals will talk to the outside world about the atrocities that are occurring on camp. Many Volunteers have fallen victim to this. Doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, journalists have all faced harassment and even threats by the Ghanaian police on camp, and in particular the camp manager. Materials, including medical supplies have been confiscated by police and they have been handed out to Ghanaians, instead of the refugee population who so desperately need them.

So, to make things short, I no longer travel to work on camp. I'm totally heartbroken, because I have made an impact in the short time I was there. My Grade 5 class, the SMART KIDS, the Adult Literacy group and the NGO volunteers all miss the white girl who cares so much for them. But I continue to do my work from my comfy room at home. I must address the plight of my Liberian brothers and sisters to the world. After all, no country is ever immune to war. And when it hits, we all need wonderful and caring people like the ones I have met at Buduburam. I am so humbled to have met and worked with so many Liberians. They have all experienced so much trauma in their lives and yet they are some of the most warm and peaceful people I have spent time with. We could all learn a great deal from our Liberian brothers and sisters.

Peace,
Heather

Living My Dream!!

Hi to Everyone!
I wanted to inform you about the new blog address I have added to my list of web links; I have added the link to the PAN AFRICAN CENTER FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION. This is an organization that I am working with at the Liberian Refugee Camp here in Ghana and I have undertaken a number of roles with them. One of the most profound activities I perform at Buduburam includes teaching an Adult Literacy group of older men and women. These are refugees who have never learned to read or write until now. Absolutely priceless group of people. I have a blast with them! There's one particular old man in the group who is quite a brilliant learner. I can only imagine what this gentleman could have been had he had the chance to go to school as a child.

But the ultimate role I have on the camp is my work with former Liberian Child Soldiers. I AM SO PUMPED! This is my life's dream, and here I am living it. Now, these are no longer young boys however. They were recruited as Child Soldiers over a decade ago during Liberia's civil war and they are now in their late 20's and early 30's. A very dynamic group of young men and each with their own traumatic stories. The Pan African Center provides counseling, Peace Education and mediation for these young men. They also have their own Agricultural Project going that allows them to grow food for the local community. The farming project is amazing and it's quite an experience to see these young men working the land and cooking meals! I cherish my time with these boys!

And on Saturdays, I work with the SMART KIDS project. These kids fit their title for sure. Brilliant little minds, but once again, they all share traumatic stories. I lead them in creative writing, drama, spelling bees, news broadcasting, music, and a number of other activities. Wonderful group of children! And they all have a passion to learn about Canada!

I would like to share with you a letter from a student of mine from SMART KIDS. I had each child write me a letter explaining their stories and I had them ask me any questions they wanted to know regarding me and my country .

Here's what one young boy wrote to me:

Dear Heather:
By way of introduction I am James S.Momo Jr. I am 11 years of age. I was born in Ivory Coast in the year 1996 August. I am a Liberian. I have been on this settlement for 8 to 9 years,I say 8 to 9 years because May 28, 2008 will make me nine years. I am the Vice President of SMART KIDS. I attend the St. Gregory Catholic School. The school I attend is near my house. I am in the 7th grade class. I am one of the best students in my class. My hobbies are reading and studying. I love to play soccer. I don't like to fail in my lesson. Whenever I fail I begin to cry. The name of my parents are James Momo and Argbah M. Morlu. My father is in Liberia and my mother is in Ghana with me. I have three brothers and two sisters. I want to be a silver engineer. My happiest moment in my life was when I was awarded as the best student in my class. My question I have for you is does Canada have many Liberians? Do people die from hunger as we do in Africa?
Sincerely Yours,
James S. Momo Jr.

I shed a few tears reading all these letters. There are thousands more stories like this on the camp. Sure makes me reflect on how fortunate I am!

Peace,
Heather

2 Blogs to Enjoy!

Hi Everyone!
Just to let you all know, I have posted two new blogs for you to enjoy. My Birthday celebration of course, and my Christmas holidays. However, to view my holiday blog, you need to scroll down a few blogs until you reach the one entitled, "Long Awaited Blog"

Hope U Enjoy!

Love Heather

African Birthday!

Hello Everyone!
Well, my first Birthday in Africa was an everlasting experience! For my 27th, Prosper and I celebrated in style. We had dinner at the famous La Palm Golden Beach Hotel. This is a gorgeous hotel right on the ocean, with many important faces having vacationed here, including Bill Clinton a few years past. Prosper had a local seamstress make two beautiful Ghanaian outfits for me – one a beautiful embroidered purple top and trousers, and the other a class Ghanaian print in a top and trousers. So we celebrated like a classic Ghanaian couple!

Dinner was an interesting experience! When push comes to shove, Prosper will always choose to eat his local dishes over my “obruni” food. So, we made the night a Ghanaian-Canadian celebration. Prosper patiently watched as I devoured my plates full of Continental Buffet and Pineapple Juice. After the staff sang me a Ghanaian “Happy Birthday “and Prosper paid the tab, we then took a stroll under the enormous palm trees over to “Ghanaian Village”. This is a section of the hotel that sits right on the sandy beach and hosts guests to traditional Ghanaian dishes. Prosper topped his plate up with goat meat, fish, banku and veggies. After dinner, we watched a live band and African dancers perform. Absolutely beautiful location for any celebration!!

So I have now been a guest at the two most posh hotels in Accra – La Palm and the Golden Tulip! Very pricey however!! Just to put it in perspective, a soda for me was 2 Cedi. Prosper’s Star beer was 3.80 Cedi. And the Continental Buffet was a whopping 32 Cedi. Not to mention the hefty price for a taxi to and from the hotel. So in other words, this is a place to visit once in a blue moon! Unfortunately, these are places most Ghanaians could only dream of visiting. The average person, making less than a dollar a day, would need to work over three months to afford the bill for our night out!



























All right, the Ghana Black Stars just scored a goal at the Nation's Cup! Ghana is hosting 15 other teams in the soccer championship. The streets are crazy here! They could rival Oiler fans during the playoffs! Totally awesome!

Take Care! Love U All!

Peace,
Heather