West Africa Day Two: Nsiana, Ghana

Comments 14 by Rebecca Bollwitt

I am currently in Ghana to experience Cadbury’s Bicycle Factory delivery. This is their second delivery in two years thanks to the help of Canadians who participated in the online project.

Our second day of community visits in Ghana took us to the Nsiana, almost two hours outside of Kumasi City. While the region we were in the first day was cared for by the Kuapa Kokoo fairtrade union and World Vision, I learned that Nsiana is a Care International community.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

The woman in the photo above called me over from across the dusty field to ask me to take photos of her children. She said she wanted me to take pictures so that they can be sent more food. There was such a flurry of activity I don’t think her words had a chance to sink in; I am still thinking about them. I told her my name and throughout the day, she would continue to call me over to take shots.

The woman in the photo below, who I believe is a teacher at the school, also asked me to take photos of her class as she lined them all up.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

This man’s name is Alexander, Alexander The Great he said.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

The school children in Nsiana were incredibly excited to see us all. They crowded around as close as they could and would touch my arm or hand every now and then to wait for me to look over and smile.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

The boy in the photo below was proud to show me his school work and his writing. He had copied down the books of the bible and told me he also knew them by heart.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

After the bicycle dedication ceremony we presented the Chief and the head teacher of the school with supplies (books, pencils, games, crayons, and more). The supplies were then divided up into big metal bowls and carried off to the school house.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

We spent the rest of our time in the community visiting with children, mothers, teachers, and learning about the work that Care International is doing. Nsiana received a shipment of bikes in 2009, from the first edition of the Cadbury Bicycle Factory, so we also had the chance to speak with past recipients.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

I plan on writing detailed posts about the cocoa industry and the specifics of the bicycle factory deliveries in a few weeks, however I thought it would be important to mention the following items right off the bat:

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

First, the delivered bikes are put in the charge of community leaders who are responsible for distributing them to their children and youth. Second, the communities receive training and tools from David Peckham and the team he’s assembled from the Village Bicycle Project. These two steps ensure that the bikes are not simply dropped off without care and that the communities can self-manage.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

David told me that it was rare to see a girl with such interest in tuning the bikes. It’s still considered more of a boys’ activity and girls can sometimes be teased or mocked for their involvement with bikes. It’s a barrier he and many others try to help break down and it seems to be working, slowly but surely.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

We haven’t been traveling too far out of major cities but within minutes you’re transported from bustling streets, honking horns, and billboards to groves of palm trees, children splashing in at well-water pumps, and random goats or chickens hustling across dirt roads. It’s one contrast after another but the universal language, I’m finding out, is that of a handshake, smile and dance whenever a good tune is played.

Day Two in Ghana - Nsiana

We return to the capital city of Accra tomorrow where I believe we will head out to another rural community before beginning the long trek home on Saturday.

Please note: Photos were taken with the permission of the community. You can view all of my photos in this Flickr set.

Disclosure: I have not been paid by Cadbury to participate in this trip. However, they have covered my accommodation and airfare to come along and document what I experience.

14 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. Mom-in-lawThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 11:25am PST

    Another great set of pictures. You look so at home with all the children and they with you. Your smile shows how much you are enjoying your trip. Take care.

  2. KateThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 11:43am PST

    Amazing!

  3. John BiehlerThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 11:57am PST

    I have to say that these are some of the best photos I’ve seen you take, Beck! You really seem to be taking to the DSLR and in such a fabulous locale too!

  4. ariane cThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 12:59pm PST

    Well done! You’ve painted a realistic portrait of your travels and the photos as John said, are pretty awesome. So much going on; your trip sounds like a lot of activity is packed into each day.

    I’m sure it’ll take at least the flights home and then some to unwind and take it all in once the week is through. Safe travels!

  5. Henry LeeThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 1:37pm PST

    @Rebecca, you have taken fantastic photos of beautiful people.

  6. raincoasterThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 5:26pm PST

    The pictures are beautiful, and frankly, if they want to raise more money they should sell those shirts with “Village Bicycle Project” on them. They’re so loud cyclists here would go nuts for them.

    Also, it must be said that CARE is a great organization.

  7. JuliaThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 6:41pm PST

    Send more food where? Is there a PayPal button somewhere?

  8. Rebecca Bollwitt, Miss604 Rebecca BollwittThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 10:36pm PST

    Hi Julia,

    CARE International helps this community. Here’s a local donation link to CARE Canada.

    Thanks!

    Rebecca

  9. GigglesThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 10:43pm PST

    The photos are breathtaking! The one with you in a sea of yellow shirts and white smiles is so emotional. Not going to lie, it made me tearful!I can’t even imagine how it felt to be adorned with that much love and excitement. I hope you find and refer to the cocoa documentary I saw recently… I was shocked. I think most of the footage was taken undercover! So glad Cadbury is making a difference, and trust you to get the word out! Safe travels!

    Hugs Giggles

  10. Rebecca Bollwitt, Miss604 Rebecca BollwittThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 11:04pm PST

    @Giggles There was a comment about it on my Day One post so I have provided more information over there in the post and in the comments (it was also mentioned in a comment on my first post about Africa as well).

    I know it’s a great concern (and that documentary was seen by a lot of Canadians). Hopefully my coverage, personal accounts, and links, will put a some minds at ease with regards to the communities I personally visited. It’s a very real issue but the communities were also very concerned/aware about this and are doing whatever they can.

  11. kathleen mazzoccoSaturday, February 19th, 2011 — 4:03pm PST

    That last photo is absolutely gorgeous. What stunning faces. I really enjoyed these posts from Ghana, and seeing the results of the bicycle donations. It doesn’t take much to improve a life by several degrees of magnitude, does it?

  12. DaveOWednesday, February 23rd, 2011 — 2:41pm PST

    Just amazing. Stunned at your tenacity and adventureness. Wow.

  13. Angie RaiWednesday, February 23rd, 2011 — 11:27pm PST

    This is amazing! We are a group of SFU MBA students and we are currently trying to raise $5,000 to build a water well in Sierra Leone. Our campaign is simple. For every “like” that our facebook page gets, our sponsors will donate $1 towards our cause! http://www.facebook.com/1DollarPerLike
    It’s that simple. Please consider liking our page and telling all your friends!!

  14. AlexWednesday, September 21st, 2011 — 10:24am PDT

    Holy cow, amazing story and pictures. Africa is one of those places on my ‘bucket list’ that I absolutely must visit. And those children are absolutely beautiful!!

    Nice work. 🙂

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