yay! you all DO read my various thoughts and experiences :)
thanks so much for reading...and now for the comments!
so this last week i attended IST (in-service training) in Kumasi with my counterpart, Ollie. A counterpart is the person whom we, as PCVs, will be working closely with in our respective villages. My CP is amazing, and that's not a biased opinion. We sat through sessions on roles and responsibilities, information about HIV/AIDS, common diseases in tropical weather, grant application information and past stories and projects from other volunteers. In the end, I think we left super motivated and are now ready to get some things rolling in the village!!
We made a 3-month action plan, so I'll let you all in on the plans. After the holidays roll through, we hope to start having community meetings to find groups of people with similar interests to help with any project we want to do. We want to start new groups and utilize the already existing groups (like farmers groups, womens groups). Then our big project we hope to do is a Malaria Campaign before the rainy season arrives. We hope to educate surrounding villages on prevention and treatment of malaria. Malaria is probably the biggest cause of illness in children in my village, so hopefully we can educate people (mostly women) on how to care for their sick children. .... More details to follow when we get things going.
The holidays will be tough, but just know I'm making new friends and people that are like my family here. I'm sad to be away from all of you during these times, but I'm also excited to see the holiday spirit in GHANA! :)
so merry christmas, happy new year, and all that jazz from ghana!!
i love and miss you all.
xoxo
Hello Kimmy
ReplyDeleteKarinna and I miss you tons just posted lots of new pictures of her on FB. It was so nice to talk to you yesterday and I'm glad Karinna got a chance to too. We have your picture well a few of them on her wall so she won't forget what you look like. I'm trying to teach her to to say Ghana but it just sounds like gibberih still. You can be her "Ghana Friend", LOL. I hope you have a fun celerbratig the Holidays Ghana style and bring home some new traditions. Karinna and I will be at your Mom and Dads. I check your blog daily, my IT department hasn't blocked it....yet. WE LOVE you tons and MISS YOU.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Love- Jennifer and Karinna
Merry Christmas Kimmy! We'll all be thinking of you and hoping your Christmas is exotic and special.
ReplyDeleteVicky & Bill
Kimmy, it was great to talk to you yesterday! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you next August. While you are there you are providing such a great service and growing as a person. We are very proud of you that you are so willing to take chances in life and actually live life to the fullest. You are truly an inspiration and I am proud to say you are my niece and only hope that my kids will follow in your footsteps with their attitude of living life! Keep up the posting, it is exciting to hear what you are doing!! Love Valerie
ReplyDeleteWe absolutely love the Christmas card made by Subul - it has a place of honor on the fridge.
ReplyDeleteWe wish you a very Happy New Year and a very exciting, fulfilling 2011.
Vicky & Bill
hello KJ and Ace-
ReplyDeleteBelated New Year 2011 Ghana style!!!
Great to speak with you on Grandpa Tom's
75th birthday. Nana Shirley and I shipped the
next package on Monday 3-January. The newspaper
included has the Michigan football details, that
you and Uncle talked about. Is it accepted to
wear nail polish in Ghana? Just a thought...
Sending a blog hug, Aunt Beth