Day 25 (tuesday)

Me and the warden (Rahaman).

One of the buildings that could no longer be used.

Just wanted to provide an idea for the general conditions of the place.

Me and Kweku...what a courageous boy!

The director's (Lisa) office at the vocational school.

Some students in one of the classrooms.

A storage room...the only computers in the facility and maybe anywhere nearby and they don't work.

The sign leading up to the school.

 

Today I woke up feeling pretty good...I was able to get a decent night's sleep (with help). Maureen was already gone by the time I got up but she had warmed some water before she left so it was ready for coffee. I made a pb & j sandwich and then jumped in the shower, and just before I got out, Eugene had arrived. I quickly got ready and we departed on our “journey.” We waited for awhile to get a car to ted junction but finally someone picked us up and took us there. I wasn't sure where we were headed but we ended up at kejetia market, which is where we had to transfer vehicles...we walked around for quite some time and were directed to a few different places who directed us to some other places (all within the market) before finally we found one that was going near a stop where we needed to go. So the adventure started early and certainly didn't stop, the ride was about an hour and a half as suggested, and then we had to try and explain where we were going and nobody knew what we were talking about but were trying to direct us somewhere or to someone else and finally we got someone to take us to the center involved with the department of social welfare (and surprise! It's exactly where we needed to be). The roads leading to this place were...well...less than desirable and many trucks wouldn't be inclined to travel them. We made it to the central destitute infirmary and were greeted by the warden, who had been expecting us. He was eager to tell us everything and whole-heartedly answered all of our questions...he also suggested that he was more willing to tell us everything and show us everything, as opposed to people who come with cameras and public affairs related people, because I was here walking around doing research and was actually interested in the place rather than sufficing some sponsors or people who donate (which I will add, is absolutely crucial). I must add that there are no working phones here (Rahaman has complained to the phone company but they just put it aside), no computers, and no typewriters (which means if they need access then they will need to find an internet cafe and pay for usage and printing...they also don't have vehicles for the facility so transporting a gravely ill resident is sometimes not possible).  From there, I asked him if I could walk around the facility (he immediately jumped in and said I will show you everything, feel free to take pictures). I simply cannot find any adequate words to express how grateful I am (so far this day has been the most humbling and inspiring since my arrival in Ghana) for my abilities...I am tearing up now a bit as I write this but it's the only way I know to express the emotion of what happened next. I saw some of the rooms where the clients stayed, I saw what used to be a dining hall that can't be used because most of the residents can't access it, I saw another room that had completely caved in (they don't usually show that room to people)...and as we were wrapping up our tour I saw another building and asked about it...it was resident rooms and they are nothing but cinder block and cement with open doorways and a cut out for a window with some bars and a screen on it, a bed pad, bed pan, and some very basic belongings. I noticed a person laying down in the room and was hesitant to ask but the warden explained to me THIS BOY, KWEKU, WAS ABANDONED BY HIS FAMILY, WENT TO JAIL AND FELL ILL. HE BECAME IMMOBILE AND EVENTUALLY THE JAIL COULDN'T CARE FOR HIM SO THEY DUMPED HIM OFF AT THE INFIRMARY. JUST 2 WEEKS AGO HE WAS ABLE TO PUSH HIMSELF UP AND TAKE SOME STEPS FOR THE FIRST TIME WITHOUT CRUTCHES. He called out to Kweku and what happened next made my heart hurt a little...KWEKU GOT HIMSELF UP OFF HIS PAD AND WALKED OVER TO GREET ME, I met him halfway, AND SHOOK MY HAND AND ALLOWED ME TO HAVE MY PICTURE TAKEN WITH HIM. THE OTHER 2 WALKED AHEAD WHILE I STAYED BACK TO PUT MY CAMERA AWAY AND KWEKU HAD FALLEN....THE BOY SPENT WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN ALL OF HIS ENERGY TO SIMPLY GET UP AND COME TO GREET ME! UNBELIEVABLE! I've yet to be so humbled. Next we were directed to the vocational technical school (which happened to be for next week's schedule but we decided to visit them today) and the newly appointed director, Lisa, was actually expecting us (I had met her before at the department of social welfare). She gave us some great insight about the place and the abundance of things that were wrong with it. She showed us around the facility and introduced us to many of the students and staff. It was a great experience no doubt. Now it was preparing for the journey (or adventure) back home but we were given some direction of how to do it a little easier. That turned out not to be entirely true. We waited for several minutes and it was scorching hot and no cars were coming our direction so we had to take a tro tro the wrong way to get to a junction where we could get one that was headed the right direction, mind you the spaces are incredibly cramped and not comfortable. Eventually we made it to the gates so I could get a few items and then take a taxi or tro tro home. No such luck, they were pretty much all full so I ended up walking (I actually like the walk) and I was already exhausted so by the time I got home I was ready to pass out. I quickly took a shower and spoke to Maureen for a bit. She was alarmed to learn that all I had for the day was one sandwich and some water. No surprise, she had prepared some food and brought it to me and it was delightful; a nice dish of beans (sort of mashed) with some stew (it ended up being like sloppy joes), some fried red plantains and some avocados. I finished up and then just sat down for a while. It started raining but I was fixing to use the internet and we had to buy some credits so I went walking in the rain and found a place that was still selling them so most of the rest of my night was spent updating the bloggy.