Day 21 - Tuesday

It was another early start on the penultimate day of the trip as we bid farewell to Akwasi and the rest of the staff at Escape 3 Points and started the journey to Accra.

The scenery along the way provided a variety of things to entertain and interested on the long journey. Some of the stand out moments was the gentlemen selling field rats on the side of the road to be cooked for bush meat, the regular police blocks which required a handshake from our driver that involved a small amount of cash being deposited with the policeman in order for us to carry on our merry way and the colourful street sellers!

We arrived in Accra at 4pm for our stay at Big Millie's which is a well known Rastafarian hangout. There were some more stalls for the students to browse the locally produced gifts and trinkets before sitting down to a wonderful meal of steak and chips which was a welcome change to rice!

We had a great final night with an awards ceremony involving a range of nominations and awards being given out as we reminisced about parts of the trip. The highlight of the awards was the much anticipated and built up 'Grafter' Award for the person who had worked hardest throughout which was voted for by all student and staff. With one vote in it the winner of the award was Barney Thorp but in a selfless act he felt that award deserved to be shared with Jekin Patel, which everyone agreed as the two of them were the 1st people on site on the morning, the last to leave and drew the most complimentary comments from the local works!

And so this draws to a close the Ghana 2013 trip which was a great success as we made a difference in both of the communities we stayed in and worked together in order to improve facilities. All of the donations were greatly received and the students have experienced many things that nobody else will have the opportunity to see!

Escape 3 Points

We've had a wonderful stay at Escape 3 Points and Akwasi was the superb host for the duration organising beach parties, supplying wonderful food and also acting as a link with the village. Below is the image from the top of the village...

Below are some photographs from the site with every house/lodge being made by Akwasi and his team over the past 4 years ago...

These provided a unique living experience for the whole party staying in an ecolodge for 10 days! Sadly we aren't going to be here when the turtles start landing on the beach to lay their eggs...

Day 20 - Monday

IThe final day of the project started with a 6.20am wake-up and on site by 7.15am with the aim of getting as much done as possible so that we can take advantage of the sea, sun and surf in the afternoon. The building was starting to resemble a building as the locals continued to work tirelessly as we provides them with the bricks and mortar. The majority of the group worked on finishing the painting of the outside of the school and the mural of the school logo. The floors of the classrooms were sealed with cement to ensure some longevity to the work that we have done. There was also a select group on brick making as they produced the final few bricks required to get the building up to roof level.

Mr Abbott installed the solar panel system to the main school which will provide light and power to charge the laptops.

Nathan experienced a very strange and impromptu request from a local boy who wanted his socks. He duly obliged removing them from his feet and presented them to the delighted lad. This wasn't his first experience with clothing in Ghana as he went to the local market in his work clothes, he then encountered something I think no westerner has ever had when he was donated clothes by a local based on how scruffy he looked!

After lunch and a brief rest we went back to the village to do the official farewell and commissioning ceremony for the work that we had done. The community turned out in force and were very grateful for the work that we had done at the school. The very generous donations that we brought from Stortford along with the solar panel system which is going to be used to start an Internet cafe for the village outside of school hours was tremendously well received. Mr Abbott spoke on behalf of the school and explained that it was important that the community finished the work that had been started and that we would look to raise some additional funds to assist with finishing the medical centre.

A fantastic 10 days in Cape 3 Points is coming to a close and so much has been achieved by a dedicated group of people from TBSHS working alongside a community highlighting how much can be done in such a short space of time!

 

Day 19 - Sunday

For some this was a day of rest but for those who chose to work they went up to the site at 8.30am to do a few hours graft. There were a team of painters who subdivided down to attack the remaining classrooms with rollers, brushes and paint in order to put the finishing touches to the rooms. The screeders carried on working their way through the classrooms filling in the craters that existed with mortar and then cement power over the top to seal them. Finally there were the labourers who were assisting the local artisans working on the new building by carrying bricks, moving soil and levelling the rooms.

Great progress is being made on all fronts but sadly we won't get to see the finished article as time seems to of beaten us! However, by the end of tomorrow we will be up to roof level leaving the school with the relatively small task of applying the roof. Mr Abbott will be hooking the solar panel system up tomorrow which will provide power to charge the laptops and lightening in the classrooms.

One of the things that everyone thinks we should bring back to Stortford with us is the concept of random animals just wandering the high street. We are regularly spotting sheep, goats, chickens, dogs and the odd gecko darting across the walls!

In the afternoon half the group went to the next local village to watch a football match and present a couple of kits to the team. The kits were greatly appreciated and perhaps got the biggest cheer of the day.

We then had a walk through the fishing village which gave everyone a taste of a typical Ghanian fishing village. It is a picture postcard village which wowed the students as they walked down the hill.

Tonight sees the final quiz followed by the first Annual crab catching competition sponsored by Club!

Day 18 - Saturday

Following the late night celebrations at the beach bar and around the camp fire everyone was given the luxury of a very welcome lie-in. Rob had a fantastic birthday as did everyone else who helped him to celebrate!

Then it was back to work as normal at 8am for some who chose to do the early shift. There were three shifts throughout the morning and people chose their area of interest/specialism to work on for just over 2 hours. This helped to move the projects on greatly as two more classrooms had their floors screeded, three classrooms were given 2nd coats of paint and the building was really starting to take shape as the three levels became evident.

It is amazing to watch the building take shape and to see our students working so closely with the local community developing skills and friendships. At about 2pm everyone knocked off for the day to take advantage of the good weather and beautiful beach! The table tennis table is getting good use despite being a lot shorter and wider than a standard table with a ball that camouflages itself perfectly against the backdrop. For those who prefer board games there is quite a competitive monopoly league and backgammon competition taking place alongside the standard card games to keep everyone entertained.

Tonight there will be a jamming session led by the students as the owner of Escape 3 Points has organised some instruments and a sound system to facilitate the music!

Tomorrow will see us working in the morning and then taking advantage of the beautiful deserted beach after lunch...

Day 17 - Friday

Following the welcome excitement of yesterday's football match it was back to business today with loads of small tasks that will make a big difference. Once again we had pancakes for breakfast which were lovely except it feels like a shrove Tuesday Groundhog Day! It was also Rob Pryor's 17th birthday and what a unique way to celebrate...

We made our way down to the site and quickly split up into groups based on people's chosen interest/specialism. One group was moving the soil back into the trenches surrounding the bricks that were below ground level, a thankless task but one that required doing. The more artistic amongst us chose to paint the primary school down the road and then the outside of the main school which has made a real difference to the appearance of the place. Finally it was the skilled labourers of Jekin, Jack K and Mr Harris that took on the job of filling the capacious holes and then screeding the floor.

All the groups worked extremely hard and a significant improvement in the building is visible as it starts to be put up relatively quickly.

This afternoon the students are going on a walk through the rainforest that surrounds the village in the hope of seeing some wildlife! Meghann was clearly ready for the rainforest walk with her pink converse trainers...

A special birthday treat for everyone to help Rob celebrate started with a lobster meal which was delicious before moving on to the beach bar where the music and dance moves with be out in force!

Day 16 - The Big Match (Thursday)

Welcome to Terrific Thursday with TBSHS v Cape 3 Points U17 being played on at a wonderful beach side pitch which is possibly the most Southerly pitch in West Africa. As the excitement builds Manager BarneyThorp announces the starting 11 - Brewer, Osbourne, Pryor, Penson, Clark, White, Cochrane, Barker, Mallett, Laycock and Albert (c). Barney is looking for "3 goals and a clean sheet, for TBSHS to maintain their unbeaten run"... Game day is here folks!

Small issue in the warm-up when the ball hit the crossbar and it fell off but a quick repair job and we're back ready for kick-off! The opposition are wearing green and playing in bare feet apart from a couple of players who have trainers. The crowd numbers approximately 100 and someone even managed to smuggle a vuvuzala into the ground, hopefully they will be found and ejected.

After a good initial start by TBSHS with some good possession and a few flicks and tricks to wow the crowd, Dan Mallet produced a good save from the keeper. However, the Cape boys are starting to get into their rhythm and have come close on a couple of occasions. A long straight ball from the Cape centre back isn't dealt with by our back 4 and after a quick turn the striker buries the ball into the bottom corner leaving Brewer no chance... 1-0

The Cape seem to have more players on the pitch as wave on wave of attacks put pressure in TBSHS. Surely they can't keep withstanding this pressure and another goal may be on its way! As 3 vultures circle above maybe they can sense blood... Just as it was looking dodgy for TBSHS Cochrane lays a good ball out to the left and the captain Albert strikes it sweetly into the opposite corner, 1-1 game on...

Harry Cochrane is playing to the crowd with an array of tricks which has them whooping with delight as they appreciate true skill. Alex White is proving an inspirational selection as a defensive midfielder as he breaks up play and sends the ball forward.

Near miss as Cape hit the post just to remind us that we can't lose concentration for a minute and that was quickly followed up with a great strike from about 20 yards that shot straight underneath Brewer, 2-1...

I've seen some donkeys on a football pitch but today I can now add a goat to that list as Albert has to dodge a goat as he chases the ball!

The number 6 for Cape is cut above and once again shows his class as he beats 3 players before calmly rolling the ball past a helpless Brewer to extend lead to 3-1...

Once again he beats a man with ease a top class save from Brewer prevents 6 gaining his hat-trick but I think that's only delaying the inevitable!

It's all a bit one way traffic in the 2nd half as Cape start to turn the screw and TBSHS are chasing shadows! Just as I write that up pops 6 to smash one in past Jekin in goal and that secures him his hat-trick, 4-1...

Both Albert and Cochrane come close but the chances are few and far between as the 6 wiggles through again before drawing a good save from Jekin. Tiredness seems to be setting in as the days on the building site catch up with our lads but they're certainly trying hard and throwing themselves into every challenge!

The final score finishes 4-1 and at the end of the game the TBSHS players gave the opposition their shirts which was greatly appreciated... A great game played in a wonderful spirit!