Kayleen Travels

This past week I learned about Anas Anas, an undercover journalist in Ghana. His mission is to expose criminals throughout Ghana. What makes him so good at this? Nobody knows what he looks like.  Learn more about Anas Anas and what he has accomplished in Ghana by clicking on the following links: Anas Anas' website http://anasaremeyawanas.org/ TED.com article http://blog.ted.com/2013/06/05/4-must-read-stories-from-anas-aremeyaw-anas-the-journalist-exposing-unthinkable-crimes-in-ghana/ TED.com video http://www.ted.com/talks/anas_aremeyaw_anas_how_i_named_shamed_and_jailed.html Most recent news article, CNN http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/09/ghana-journalist-goes-undercover-to-expose-traffickers/

One thing you should know about special needs and disabilities in Ghana is that it is highly stigmatized. One widely held belief is that those who are disabled are so because of demonic powers and evil spirits. Therefore it is common for children who have special needs to go without care and to be outcasted by the community. It is even more common for these children to not have access to an education. There is a wonderful special needs school in Kpando, started by a man whose daughter had special needs. As the school expanded, the government saw he was doing a good job and began to fund the project. The have great facilities- a nice building, a playground, a well-trained and caring staff, and they even provide lunch (for some children this will be the only food they have all day). They used to serve 50-60 children. Now they serve less than ten. What happened? The bus broke down.  Something so simple, but the road to the school is rough and it is impossible for most...

Lack of financial resources: Sometimes projects begin by people with big hearts and good intentions, but no means of providing proper care. There may be a great staff and a great mission, but without the funds to give the children shelter, food, beds, clothes, education, etc, how are you helping? All you are doing at this point is collecting needy children.  There are also many unfinished projects due to insufficient funds. Buildings are built--intended to be schools or children's homes--but they remain vacant because the finances are not there to carry out its purpose. Money sits because it is donated for too specific of a project that is either not necessary or not currently possible. Or there are people who are able and willing to give, but they don't know where to go or what the needs are. And so on. Lack of human resources: One of the biggest issues at Ryvanz-Mia in Kpando, Ghana is that they are severely understaffed. Maame Esi (who is not only an elderly woman but also h...

Ryvanz-Mia Childcare  in Kpando, Volta Region, Ghana- The kitchen of Ryanz-Mia.  The onions and plantains are from a garden run by the home, which is part how the orphanage funds itself-  Women helping out by husking corn from the farm- Other facilities in the orphanage: the poly tank where children and staff fetch water- Note: at the time I was taking pictures at Ryanz-Mia the children were in school. These pictures I have with the children are from another orphanage we visited on the outskirts of Kpando. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014.  Cape Coast, Central region to Kpando, Volta Region.  9:30am. I should have left an hour ago. I am downloading some podcasts to listen to on the road. My favorites are The Moth  and This American Life.  10:00am. I haven't left Cape Coast yet and I already have to pee. It is important to take care of this now because once the tro-tro leaves there are no rest stops. If I want to pee, I will have to ask the driver to pull over and go on the side of the road. No thanks.  10:30am. On the tro-tro* ready to go. I bought plantain chips to snack on.  *A tro-tro is a 15 passenger van, though it is usually crammed with more than 15 people. It is a common mode of transportation in Ghana and is a cheap way to travel across the country (a five hour trip may cost between $5 and $10 USD).  11:00am. We are off for Accra. Good news- there is air conditioning. Bad news- the man next to me has B.O. 01:15pm. We arrive at the Kanishie station in...

My shoes after a week of volleyball games. They are supposed to be tan and gray.  AND LOOK AT MY FEET! HA!