Project Ghana 2009 Report

Sponsored by HKU 81 Inclusion Fund

Date: 13th January 2009 to 5th February 2009 Place: Ghana – Kumasi, Tamale, Wa, Han Participants: 12 HKU students In January 2009, with the support and sponsorship of Cedars at HKU, 13 HKU students went to Ghana for a month to participate the voluntary works done by a local NGO Light for Children, Ghana, hoping that the support from the other side of the world can make a difference to the lives of children in Ghana. We aimed to cooperate with volunteers from all over the world to increase awareness about Ghanaian children inflicted with HIV. By linking up the children of Ghana and volunteers from different countries, we believe that we can gain support, not only from Hong Kong, but also from other parts of the world, to bring a little light to these children and make a difference in their lives.

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APPENDIX

I. Background II. Objectives III. Team Structure IV. Participants Profile - Impact on participants V. Project Schedule - Work done - Work in progess VI. Budget VII. Acknowledgement

- Acknowledgement from students

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I. Background

As the first decolonized African nation, Ghana has a politically and economically stable environment which makes investments and sponsorship able to reach people who are in needs. It is also a country that uses English as the national language, which makes the communication between the locals and volunteers possible. With these two factors, voluntary works and sponsorship can effectively improve the lives of inflicted children in the country. Sebastian Lindstrom, a current HKU student, visited Ghana as a volunteer in 2006 and founded the NGO Light for Children, Ghana with two Ghanaians. The NGO aims to provide help to local children inflicted with HIV, and strives for the well-being of these children. He moved to Hong Kong and studies at HKU in 2007, and has awakened HIV/AIDS locally. In February 2008, with the kind sponsorships and support from various organizations, he held a 12-day 12-student volunteer trip to Ghana. Two production members from Mirror Productions, a Hong Kong based production and multimedia firm, also joined the trip and produced the movie Obruni: Where are you going? which records the impacts to both Ghanaian children and participants in the trip. The movie premiere was successfully held on 2nd December 2008.

II. Objectives The main objective is to provide a chance for students to participate in voluntary works oversea, and thus broaden their horizons through interacting with people from various backgrounds and cultures. By working with children, the project also aims to influence and incite the sense of social responsibility of the students, which will hopefully continue to inspire younger generations when they come back to Hong Kong. Another goal of the project is to raise the awareness of HIV/AIDS in Hong Kong community.

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III. Team Structure A total of 12 volunteers, including our chief coordinator Sebastian Lindstrom, enlisted in the group to Ghana from December to February. The 12 HKU volunteers are from different faculties with both full time undergraduate as well as master students. Early in late December, 2 of our devoted members, Joe Buetzler and Joyce Wong arrived in Ghana 2 weeks before the groups to arrange accommodations and organize the activities and programmes for the group. They also visited 3 other Nongovernmental organizations in various parts of the country so as to get familiar with the work in Ghana. In early January, 1 reached Africa to start our work, including school education programmes, public education programmes, home visit to HIV+ children and visit to other NGOs.

IV. Participant profile

Name Sex Major Year Sebastian Lindstrom M BBA (IBGM) 1

Joe Buetzler M Master of Economics

Sapphire Wang F Master of China Development Studies

Vincci Chan F BA 3

Charmaine Wu F BBA (A&F) 1

Ada Wang F BBA (IS) 1

Betty Wong F BA 2

Joyce Wong F BSS Year 4

Juson Xu M BSc Quantitative Finance 1

Matthew Man M BENG 3

Phoenix Cheung F BBA (LAW) 3

Ray Chan M BSS 2

Eric Law M BBA 3

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V. Project Schedule

1. Pre-trip:

Date Activity

16-Dec-08 Roundtable meeting with Dr. Chen (Director HKU Aids Institute)

18-Dec-08 2-hour course on greetings in the Twi language by Dr. A. Bodomo (Associate Professor of Linguistics and African Studies Programme Coordinator)

2. Trip Schedule:

Day Date Activity

1 13-Jan From Hong Kong to Guangzhou (by train), fly from Guangzhou to Dubai, and Dubai to Accra.

2 14-Jan Take bus from Accra to Kumasi, live in either host families or hostel.

3 15-Jan Receive training about HIV, and stroll in Kumasi city center.

4 16-Jan Receive training on Malaria and visit orphanage.

5 17-Jan Meet AIDS Children and their families at National Center and give them our gifts. Attend a funeral in the countryside.

6 18-Jan First time to have Fufu at a local restaurant. Visit rainbow village.

7 19-Jan Group in pairs to speard Malaria knowledge. Visit girls' school Yaa Achia

8 20-Jan Group in pairs to spread Malaria knowledge. Practice talent show for Chinese festival at Yaa Achia. Obama's inauguration party at night.

9 21-Jan People distribute into 3 groups going to Tamale, Wa and Han.

10 22-Jan

11 23-Jan

12 24-Jan

13 25-Jan

Get in touch with local NGO and help their work there: Tamale, CID. Han, RAAP. WA, Child Support.

14 26-Jan All groups back to Kumasi.

15 27-Jan Chinese New Year Event at Yaa Achia, including performance by HKU students and information on AIDS and Malaria.

16 28-Jan Home visiting for AIDS children. Good bye BBQ for people that are leaving the next morning.

17 29-Jan All members head to Tamele from Kumasi.

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18 30-Jan

Visit primary school that CID Ghana is sponsoring. Dam visiting and welcoming party.

19 31-Jan Head to Han from Tamale.

20 1-Feb RAAP projects visiting including the microfinance project.

21 2-Feb Head to Wa from Han

22 3-Feb Child Support projects visiting

23 4-Feb Back to Kumasi from Han

24 5-Feb Go to Accra from Kumasi, catch flight in Accra to Guangzhou

Output achieved on the trip:

� Established Partnerships (see the NGOs named in the timeschedule) � Supported LIFOC with work with kids, by distributing gifts donated from

Hong Kong and home visiting children inflicted with HIV � Organized HIV, Malaria, etc. Awareness talks � Supported an orphanage in Kumasi with labor and food � Worked on Marketing � Accreditation for a grassrot NGO fundraiser � Raised more awareness in HK, Africa, Europe, US � Got future volunteers involved and sent to Ghana � Donated cash � Learned for ourselves about social issues (eg Malaria), economics and

business (microfinance), geography, negotiating, intercultural issues, Twi basics

3. Post-trip:

� Send additional HKU students this summer � Send a German student � 10 Students from Sweden � Organize more info session � Started a Sports-volunteering program for the summer break � Trip from Spain to South Africa linking NGOs and to increase awareness

(summer 09, booked) � Translate the NGO’s homepage into Chinese – pioneer of Africa based

grassroot NGOs.

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VI. Budget

INCOME Amount ($)

Remarks

HKU 81 Inclusion Fund $40,000 Subsidized 4 pre-chosen students with 10,000 HK dollars each.

Total: $40,000

EXPENDITURE

Air ticket

Guangzhou (China)– Accra (Ghana)

$110,500 $8500 HKD per person, 13 volunteers

Costs in Ghana; accommodation, transportation, food

$65,000 ($5,000 x 13 =$65,000) This covered all costs in Ghana.

Vaccinations $10,400 ($800 X 13)

Total $185,900

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VII. Acknowledgement

Without the generous support of our supporters the trip would have not been possible: Our special thanks are going to the HKU 81 Inclusion fund. With their generous support of 40,000 HKD, they made it possible students to realize their dreams of a truly extra curricular activity. The fund opened a window through these HKU students to see what is happening in other parts of the world, effectively increasing the international awareness of the entire institution.

CEDARS The University of Hong Kong, supported by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) has assisted us throughout our project and connects us with the HKU 81 Inclusion Fund.

Light for children is a non-governmental, child-centered development organization without religious or political affiliation. The organization’s concern is the welfare of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, especially those whom are HIV-positive. Many of these Children face abandonment and social stigmatization, and lack the family support systems to take care of their basic needs. Since their establishment in 2005 they have been working closely with regional HIV/AIDS clinics in identifying vulnerable children, assessing their needs and assisting them.

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Acknowledgement from students Sebastian Lindstrom Impact on participants I love the word impact; it's associated with both progress and obstacles. Shock, force, collision are all synonyms of impact; however, how do you adequately measure impact on your fellow volunteers who have dedicated time and funds to go to the new world, also called the old world, to examine how they can assist, inspire and mobilize people less fortunate than themselves. I measure progress by gut feeling and the sustainability in a person's dedication towards volunteer work. Positive impact has occurred when a large group of volunteer decides to continue their servicing quest to the world after their initial field trip. In my stomach I can feel that they are doing it for the right reasons; because they care; not because people expect them to conduct volunteer work or because it looks good on their CV. Impact is correlated with change and change in the minds of the young Hong Kongers have definitely arrived as the connection between Hong Kong University and Light for Children (Ghana) is entering its third year. Sustainability is everything.

Joe Buetzler I am grateful that funding exists to support motivated young people to change the world! The work in Ghana has been a great learning experience to me. To give back even more I further work with Light for Children and coordinate volunteers and support the NGO on marketing. Seeing one of the kids we support with its warm smile coming up to you, hugging you, never want to leave you – then you know the work we put in is worth it!

Charmaine Wu I would like to show my greatest gratitude to all the people who have been helping us and assisting us on our way to Africa. Thanks CEDARS for the everlasting support in voluntary work in Africa. Thanks staff in Light for Children for their help and accommodation in the days in Ghana. Lastly, thanks all my obroni (white people) and Ghanaian friends for giving me such a nice memory in Africa. The way of changing the world is still long and not easy to go on. Let’s work together and let our mission spread! ( :

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Vincci Chan Without the kind and generous support from CEDARS and other organizations in both Hong Kong and Ghana, I would not have such a once-in-a-lifetime experience to understand what is going on in other parts of the world. What impressed me most was how people contribute wholeheartedly to voluntary works, sacrificing their stable and comfortable life and give a hand to those in need. The warmth and love from these people might not be a big thing in our eyes, but they do change many people’s lives. I will never forget the lovely smiles of Ghanaian children I saw in this trip – let’s make the world a better place for you, for me and the entire human race.

Sapphire Wang On Jan 13th, our trip to Ghana embarked, and my dream was realized. With my fellow schoolmates of HKU, we experienced a 1 month mission there to help the children who are HIV positive, and those who are desperately in need of Malaria knowledge. For me, it is my first time to feel being strongly needed, and what a little help u think u just did can result in a life changing experience for the children there. I still remember in late 2006 while I was in Beijing, during the 3rd China-Africa Co-operation Forum, endless luxurious saloon cars carried countless African leaders in expensive uniforms and ties. They dined with our president in the magnificent People’s Hall. Besides newspaper photos and old reports in the news, we know little about the real Africa. The information we are able to access has been very limited. My ultimate goal in the future is to be a reporter in China. With this responsibility comes a strong feeling that I have to know Africa, I have to get in touch with the people there, and I have to witness the real life a lot of native Africans are actually experiencing. And this trip realized my dream! What I want to do in future is to spread the real information I have experienced there, and to let people realize it is not a mysterious un-known continent, but a place of warm hearts, kind people, and lovely children.

Betty Wong My mission to Ghana is to serve with love. I am lucky to have this opportunity to experience the life in Africa, specifically the West Africa. I appreciate the work done by different NGOs in Ghana, e.g. Child Support, whom truly serve the needy with passionate heart and love. The trip changes my attitude of life. Life is very simple, only if you stop and treasure the livelihoods, you enjoy life! Life in Africa is unexpected, you do not know what will happen next and this is the most challenge thing I came across there. By the way, I met good friends of different races, I miss my African host and friends. I will never forget the precious moments experienced in Ghana with different volunteers.

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Ray Chan “Be the change you want to see in the world”, said by Gandhi, and I find it very true and inspiring. However, sometimes making changes seems so distant and impossible. But in this trip, I had witnessed how changes happen though cooperation and selfless sharing of people. Changes only happen as an accumulation of the efforts made by the people. It gives me courage and passions to keep contribute to the world to make it a better place to live.

Ada Wang I should admit that the program has already changed my life. Since when I was in Africa, lots of my friends in mainland China asked me, how I got the chance to go to Africa. And many of them also want to join this program. Therefore after coming back from Africa, my friend and I formed a team named BTP, which contributes to organize international volunteer program for mainland university students. LIFOC, Ghana, and Africa will be our first step!! I hope that with our effort, more people will become aware of what is happening in another world.

Joyce Wong Before landing on this “unknown” continent, several ideas of helping them were in my mind, 1) giving them material support (money); 2) volunteer in school and teach; 3) visiting children and play with them, which thus offer them some love. I am glad that I have a chance to experience the life in Ghana, and thus my superficial ideas could then be refined. Merely giving financial aids for food or even education could not pull them out of poverty, as it would kill their incentive to pursue self-improvement, and the government may also rely on the foreign aids (both governmental and NGOS) to improve their situations. US president Obama once said, “Further aids to Africa could only go with sound developmental plans.” Then what can be regarded as a developmental plan? I was introduced to the idea of micro finance scheme during my volunteering experience, even though it may not be a top-down grand plan, but it is a very constructive idea to pull the marginal group, especially women out of poverty.