Travelogue and volunteer experiences in Ghana

Now that I am slowly making my way back home, it comes naturally to me to take stock of my volunteer experiences in Ghana and in particular the one I have just completed, after my first one 10 years ago.

I found a mission that has grown in its infrastructure and organization of activities and at the same time is still rooted in the principles that Father Peppino has been carrying out for more than 40 years, which is to help African children grow and build a future in their own land.

I found the children again, always them, the central element of this experience who with their smiles and affection give emotions and feelings that remain inside, even when you are thousands of miles away. That is the real experience and richness that you take home and that is what I wish for anyone who would like to have such an experience.

Other people, old friends or new friends, have followed my example and come to Ghana and more are on their way. A thought and thanks goes out to all of them for their ability to make things happen.

I believe that Chiara Caliceti, who was in Ghana for almost a month, in her farewell post best expressed the outcome of this experience, and that is why I am quoting her full text as written by her.

HAPPY NEW YEAR IN CORTINA!

I am in Abor, Ghana, my Vespa trip started two and a half months ago, and for the past two weeks I have been at the IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE mission created 40 years ago by Father Joseph Rabbiosi who still runs it with love and passion (it is all told on VESPUP).

Chiara Caliceti is a very dear friend whom fate gave me a very few years ago, one of those people who when she decides to do something she does it, as in this case. In fact, he chose to give up spending the Christmas season in Cortina where he lives and where he has his affections in order to devote himself to the children of the mission, that is, those who during these holidays have not returned to their homes or villages because they don’t have anyone at all-they are the loneliest.

The last day of 2022, a great year for me, we spend it in the best possible way:
We devote the morning to organizing a scavenger hunt for the children and young people of the mission.
In the afternoon we play with them. Among the many steps of the hunt are such simple things as picking a flower, finding a tomato, a spoon, a bar of soap, or picking up a lot of garbage , which unfortunately there is a little bit everywhere here. The last rehearsal sees each group engaged in singing a song, beautiful the enthusiasm, commitment and joy with which they did it. Prizes, there are for everyone; caps, backpacks and t-shirts donated by the Cortina ski club. To a boy who was left out, the one who is seen on crutches in so many photos these days, Chiara gives the suitcase with which she brought gifts from Italy and in the end he is perhaps the happiest.

What about in the evening? Well in the evening we organize our “New Year’s Eve in Cortina.”
I tour the market, at dusk, when the total absence of lighting causes everything to go out and end when the natural light disappears. Looking at that dark and dusty street I say “Chiara, pose for me to take your picture , we are in Corso Italia in Cortina,” she smiles and accepts.
At 6:30 p.m. our dinner in the mission refectory room. noodles, overcooked because we got in late, rice left over from lunch, a mixed salad with avocado, a fruit plate (mango and watermelon).
By 7:30 p.m. we are finished and plan for after dinner, waiting for 2023. My proposal is to rewatch “Perfect Strangers,” a film that is a cult for me and that I would have more than gladly rewatched for the sixth time. We fight with Netflix, Infinity, and various streaming sites but cannot see it in any way, even with VPN connections to get around the fact that we are in Africa. We finally succeed, thanks to iTunes. Phone connected with another one that has data traffic and attached to the chair with the Vespa’s duct tape, mini amplifier, water and cookies, we spend two hours of pure fun.
It’s 10:30 p.m. We wish each other well, and then everyone to bed in his room, thinking of the people dear and far away, but happy to have spent a very different, essential but special New Year’s Eve…, unique.

Tomorrow, Monday, January 2, 2023, I will say goodbye to the children, whom I adore for the affection and smiles they give me every moment. I will set off on my long 10,000-kilometer return journey, traversing in the opposite direction to the outward journey Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Spain and France, until arriving, I predictoo in 45 to 50 days, in Italy.

Thank you 2022, beautiful everything, even the last day.
Welcome to 2023, you may look less sparkling on the outside, but you will be even more awesome, I’m sure!

CHIARA CALICETI

#homeward

And now that my experience in Ghana is coming to an end, I try to answer a question that has been asked me recurrently: “Why did you go there?”.
Anyone who knows me knows, I’ve been dreaming of an experience like this for years. As a little girl I wanted to convince my grandfather to create a sort of community in our country house, where we could welcome all people in difficulty and be self-sufficient by cultivating the land. And incredibly, arriving here, I somewhat relived that community spirit that was lived in the countryside at that time.
Then the desire came back forcefully when many friends told me other stories of extraordinary solidarity. There is little to do, good is contagious. Like stories of courage and generosity.
So it all started: a pinch of recklessness that always accompanies me, the search for the right mission, lots of vaccinations (15) and off we go!
I found myself in My Father’s House three hours from the capital of Ghana.

What I will miss:
Lots of smiles from the children who gave me good morning every morning. I’ve always had an alarm clock at 6.00 (with the sound of the bells) for prayers, while they were awake from 5.00, bent over the floor for daily cleaning. Our afternoons of drawings. Lunch at 12 and dinner at 18.30: our slow pace in addition to the clock that does not exist here. The suspended time and the time of boredom. Those times of which we have lost memory and taste.
The market: the first time I went there I felt bad, I confess. Smells and foods so different from ours. Their concept of cleaning let’s say non-existent. But it was nice trying to immerse myself in this culture, trying to free myself from preconceptions and habits so consolidated that not being able to go and buy my fresh mango anymore will be a disappointment, I know.
Classroom activities: children are sponges. And it’s fun to stimulate them. And over time see what and how much they can give back.
Community life: cleaning bell / prayer bell / breakfast bell / school bell / snack bell / lunch bell / prayer bell / dinner bell. Every day like this. Everything always together. All the same for everyone.
Group faith: the moments of prayer of the day are a fundamental moment of meeting, reflection of songs and dances all together. A real burst of joy.

The lesson I would like to treasure:
That of Father Peppino who about fifty years ago founded this magnificent mission #InMyFathersHouse in Abor in Ghana (www.casapadremio.org)
That of Gianluca Pellegrinelli – my friend who came to Ghana on a Vespa and who is now returning to Italy on a Vespa (vespup.com) – about the weather. It is the most precious asset we have. We need to spend it with the people we love and who give us joy. You have to learn to choose who to dedicate your time to.
That of Anna and Carlo, the two Trentino friends who have been here half the year for over 15 years to give concrete help to many families. An example of the good life.
That of Guido Corradi, a dentist from Novellara, who is trying to give a future to the smallest, poorest and most rude orphanage in Aflao with the #PatrickeProvvidenceHome project
That of Guido Samul Frieri, a magnificent photographer who has done everything to be able to reach me and who is creating an incredible reportage.
That of these children who have nothing but are happy in the end. They live peacefully, in community, loved, protected.

And now that I’ve landed in Casablanca and I’m just about to get on the plane that will take me home, I look straight ahead and count the minutes that separate me from my arrival: I can’t wait to embrace my loved ones again, my cagnetti and all of you who have supported me so much during this time. Even so far away, I always felt “very close”

ROBERTO GIUNTA AND HIS WIFE

As I, after almost three months, leave Africa, Roberto Giunta arrives with his wife in Abor, at the #InMyFathersHouse mission .

With Roberto we never met in person, but especially in the initial phase of the trip he went to great lengths to give me advice that turned out to be very useful.

Now, that he has resumed his journey from Ghana, heading south, he has decided to switch to the mission as well. A nice handover, waiting for the arrival of Andrea Foggia who is in Guinea struggling to obtain an entry visa to the Ivory Coast.

ANDREA FOGGIA

Andrea Foggia is a guy I met on the net a few months ago, he is my son’s age, the little one, and he too is a super passionate motorcyclist, maybe even a little crazy….

Andrea left Cuneo on Dec. 31 on his 1980s Yamaha to come to the In My Father’s House mission in Ghana.

On his journey he experienced the hardships of the deserts, first in the Sahara and then in Mauritania. We crossed paths Saint Louis in Senegal, he was going down and I was going up, a good time of getting to know each other and sharing.

As I write this post Andrea is still in Guinea, trying to get a visa to enter Côte d’Ivoire and from there on to Ghana. If all goes well, it could arrive in Abro around February 10.

DENTAL DOCTORS: SERGIO DUS AND COLLEAGUES

And finally, special thanks to the three doctors who will dedicate their free time to this work: from Sacile Sergio Dus and colleagues Sergio Paduano and Donato Mario Romeo.

They will arrive on February 11 and stay for two weeks, performing dental and general medical work.

Thanks also for the consumables and dental equipment donated to the mission, a very useful mobile dental unit that will also allow dental operations to be performed directly in the villages.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT ME
To make a donation to the mission in Africa (you really make me a great gift, any amount – as a company you also have the tax deduction)
To purchase my book NEPAL IN VESPA (making this second trip made me realize even more the value of what I wrote)
To follow me in real time during my journey

Thank you from the bottom of my heart