We're here! Downtown Accra
After over 19hrs of traveling, we arrived in Accra, the capitol of Ghana. Traffic was heavy in the city. Men, women and children were walking between the cars selling their wares.
West Hills Mall in Accura
Before we left Accrra we stopped to pick up snacks and eat lunch. Interestingly the mall wasn't crowded. There were armed security guards patrolling inside.
Anyone hungry?
Shoprite. Similar to our Walmart. Food, drinks, toys and homeware. We were told that this would be our only chance to load up on snacks. Obviously we took that very seriously.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Common sight. Garbage and lots of it.
Ingenunity
Why walk when you can ride?
Winneba accomendations
Secure. The hotel had wire fencing long the top of the perimeter walls. The gate was kept closed and locked at night and had to be opened from the inside.
Waiting for our room keys.
We all wanted to get to our rooms so we could shower, change and go exploring to find something to eat.
We want food.
Showered, changed and somewhat energized. Heading down the road to search out dinner.
Safety first
Not just wall ornament
View from my hotel room
The dirt paths lead to a main road.
Sunday Best
This beautifully dressed woman was passing by the hotel on her way to a church service.
Beginnings
Formerly Challenging Heights School
Touring the former school ground.
Say cheese.
Kevin, Lex and Nicole
School rooms
One of the classrooms
Original classrooms
Walking tour of Winneba
Goats, chickens and pigs roam free and are a common site. Electricity is a precious commodity and so people use clothes lines instead of clothes dryers.
Fishing District
I had to take my photos from a distance. The people living and working within the district were adamant about not being photographed.
Living on the outskirts
This home seems to be a hodge podge of wooden boards, steel plates and whatever other material that could be obtained. Notice the pig in the lower right corner. The smoke is from garbage being burned.
Follow me...
Ed. He dreams of one day leading a boating expedition.
Hey there...
Entrance to the Fishing District
Break time
Boats on the outskirts of the district
Smoked Fish
Fish were arranged on wire shelves and then placed in ovens
Teamwork
Everyone pitches in to do their part.
Family affair
Long pieces of cloth were used to create baby carriers.
Modeling
This women approached our group and asked to have her picture taken. I don't know why what appeared to be flour smeared on her arms and neck. She told me she was a ghost.
Basket on wheels
They say necessity is the mother of invention.
Hungry?
This girl was very sweet and had a nice smile. Several of our group brought bags of peanuts to snack on. Side note: I was told both girls and boys shave their heads until University.
Mid day -Lunch Time
As the name implies; the lodge built next to a lagoon.
Bring on the food and drinks
Rested, fed and ready to do some more exploring
View of the Lagoon behind the lodge
Beach Time
Time to go play in the ocean
Straight from the tree. It doesn't get any fresher than that.
Making new friends
There was an area right on the beach were rocks formed a natural pool.
Photo bombing taken to the max
Friendly bunch. Everyone wanted to be included in the photo.
Play time... and loving it.
Come on in, the waters' nice
The crew
Standing in the courtyard of the house. Directly behind us are classrooms.
Medical office
The house provides basic medical attention to the children. Almost all children who arrive at the school are treated for Hepatitis B and Bilharzia. Bilharzia is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms that live in fresh water (Lake Volta). The rescued children had been forced to labor long hours on fishing boats. One of the high risks to the children is that they were made to dive into the water to untangle nets. While at Challenging Heights, if a child has a medical need that they are unable to treat, the child is transported to a hospital for care.
Art room
Art is a safe and creative outlet of expression. It is also used by the physiologist to help determine the level of PSTD each child may be suffering from. Art is also used to teach behavior lessons. During one class assignment, the children were instructed to draw an outline of their hand. The lesson was "Hands are not made for hitting".
Tree of Hope
This tree is a visual declaration to the children of Challenging Heights commitment to them. To give them hope for a future. A future that includes the principles listed on the tree. **Notice the artwork above the tree -drawn from the lesson, "Hands are not made for hitting".
A place to lay your head
This is the girls dormitory. Each child is expected to make their bed and keep their area tidy. Notice there are no pillows. The school's goal is to help the children incorporate back into their own family. Pillows are a luxury that most families do without. The children are also responsible for washing their own clothes. The house provides clothes lines for drying. The woman to the right is Pomma. She is the Recovery Manger for the home and oversees the operations. She is a wonderful, kind, funny, and all around amazing woman.
It's a jungle out there
A portion of land behind Challenging Heights is used for farming. Our first task was harvesting small red peppers.
Sitting on the job
We were given small wooden stools to sit on while we harvested the peppers. To which our backs and knees were grateful.
Peppers and more peppers
The harvest was plentiful. We collected full bowls of peppers. They are used to flavor the food at the home and the excess peppers are sold to help provide for the needs of the children.
Super sized
We also harvested these bigger peppers. I think they're called 'Egg Peppers'.
Getting our Picasso on
It's all about teamwork. Some of us painted, while others prepared the walls by scraping off clumps of old, pealing, excess paint.
Focused and determined
We believe if you do a job, you do it right.
