In a small, rural Ghanaian village called Sega, the local school–founded by the Headmaster, Mister Godwin–provides classes for about 300 children from kindergarten to grade 7.
I was asked to teach a grade 5 class while I was there so that I would experience the work that our students from Canada would be participating in.
One day Mister Godwin pulled me out of class to be part of that morning's PTA meeting . He said that every Thursday morning the parents of the school's children come out of the fields to meet together about their children’s education.
Mister Godwin wanted the parents to hear about Intercordia from me so that they would be more comfortable about having volunteers come and be with their children. About 50 parents turned up–mothers and fathers–looking tired and worn by the sun, carrying baskets and wiping their brows. They all sat and listened as Mister Godwin introduced topics of discussion and shared information in Dambe, their native language.
It was obvious as I looked around the room how committed they were to providing a better education for their children and how much they respected Mister Godwin. Finally, he introduced me and asked me to say a few words about Intercordia.
When I was done, Mister Godwin asked if any parents had questions. A small, older gentleman stood up; his back was hunched, his skin wrinkled by the hot sun. He asked in Dambe what my first impressions were of their community. Mister Godwin translated as I began to describe my first day arriving in Sega:
Having arrived very late the night before, I awoke to the rooster outside my window, reminding me that I was in a different world. I got up, and Sister Vic (Mister Godwin’s aunt) directed me to the room with the bucket where I was to shower. I had breakfast and then walked outside and watched as people walked by, nodding and said "mornin'" to this new stranger before them.
The children who lived next door spotted me and immediately took my hand. They began leading me through the village. I got anxious–did Mister Godwin know where I would be? Where were these children taking me anyway? The energy of the children distracted me from my fears.As we passed people on the road, they recognized right away that I was new in town and most would nod or say “you’re welcome”. Some would enthusiastically take my face in their hands and say something in Dambe and then repeat "you’re welcome, you’re welcome".
I looked at the man standing there amongst the other parents. I told him that if a stranger came to my neighbourhood with different clothes and coloured skin, who dressed differently, no one would greet him. In fact people might look at that person with suspicion, not having seen them before.
I explained that some people in my village don’t even know who their neighbours are. I told him that my impression is that people are self-sufficient back home and therefore believe they don’t need each other.
The old man looked at me with concerned eyes and said, "but that is no way to treat a stranger".
I humbly agreed with him. Then he continued with conviction, "then you must send your students so that we can help to develop your community."
Clara Fraschetti is part of Intercordia Canada, a non-profit organization that partners with Canadian universities to offer students a unique, university accredited, engaged-learning experience. The goal of this innovative learning program is to encourage moral responsiveness, develop respect for diversity and a valuing of other cultures, religions and socio-economic backgrounds that will enable Canadian students to attain a well-educated solidarity with others who are different. This post is an updated version of her story.
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