We’ve been welcomed with open arms by the Holy Child Jesus Sisters. Our nine days in Bolgatanga have been a great experience and one that we’ll never forget.

And it’s absolutely true what people say: Ghanaians really do go out of their way to get to know you and make you feel at home.

Goat curry for lunch

What has come across to us this last week is that school children in Ghana really do value their education. Many of the children we have met at St Clement’s & St John’s Junior High Schools see their education as a way to ‘lift’ themselves out of the poverty.

Morning prayer at school

They are also prepared to make great sacrifices to help towards the cost of their education. While Primary School education is free to all, there are certain costs associated with the next level – Junior High School. These are exam fees, extra lesson costs, Parent Teacher Association levies and a computer levy which can all add up to prove extremely difficult for students and in some case impossible.

Christine, Patrick and students at St Clement's with Moses, the Headteacher

I spoke with Moses, the Headteacher at St Clement’s. He says, “My main challenge is the state of the buildings, especially the classrooms, they are not conducive for learning. We need facilities for the children to have practical lessons, having no computer doesn’t help. ICT is a compulsory subject in all schools in Ghana, and it is really difficult to teach without the technology.”

The school gets 200 Ghana Cedis (approx £90) for the whole year from the government, so they have to appeal to parents for money. Many parents either can’t afford this or don’t view education as a priority.

Moses loves his job and says, “The staff and the children are great. Seeing children learning brings me joy.”

Moses is also a catechist in his community, which means he has to sometime leave school to visit sick people in his community. The parish community life and school life all tends to merge into one – he’s a very busy man!

Moses and Patrick

Stella’s story is so humbling yet at the same time uplifting. She lives with her mum in a village 10 kilometres from Bolgatanga. Without the support she receives from the Holy Child Sisters she would have no schooling and her future would be bleak.

All of Stella’s siblings died, as did her father, and her mother was close to giving up hope. But through the encouragement of the sisters, her mother learnt the art of basket weaving. This gave her a reason to carry on and a means to contribute to her daughter’s education.

Talking with Stella, she says, “I walk into school every day for 6.30am, have a full day of lessons, and then walk the 10 kilometre journey back home in the afternoon.”

But it doesn’t end there. Her village has no clean water, so once she arrives home, she sets off with her water carrier and walks 3 kilometeres to the nearest borehole to collect clean water. Stella returns home, empties it in a container at home, and then sets off again to collect more water. The two journeys to the borehole provide a basic amount of water for one day for Stella and her mum. Wow, it really knocks you back and humbles you when you here and see this first hand.

Stella and her mum

The Sisters have really encouraged Stella and her mum not to give up. They also contribute towards her education costs; without which Stella would have no education. This has lifted Stella and her mum, given them hope. When asked about her future, Stella says, “I would like one day to be a Nurse.” I will never forget Stella’s story!

We also met Melanie who runs the Sirgu Organisation for Pottery and Art. Melanie is 76 years old and was educated by the SHCJs. She set up this project which involves teaching skills such as weaving, wall painting and pottery to local women.

Amy, Emma, Melanie and Christine

Many of the women are illiterate, so the project gives them a steady income and security. The aim is to give the ladies skills with a view to gaining more community bargaining power, as together they are stronger. It’s also very important for these skills to be passed on to future generations and not die out.

We have learnt so much in Bolgatanga and have felt very much part of the community.

Thank you to all of you at home in the UK for your good wishes and prayers. We’re looking forward to sharing more with you on our return.

Patrick, and the gappers : )

Amy, Emma and Christine about to meet the crocs

On Saturday afternoon, we went to watch local children play football on a full size pitch outside Bolgatanga Cathedral. The crowd of children were quite nervous speaking to us at first, but once they got used to our presence, there was no stopping the conversation flowing!

What we did learn was that football really unites the children of Bolgatanga. Elizabeth, who cooks for the Sisters, arranged for her son to take us to the match. Amos, 13, loves attending the football to support his 9 year old brother Pius, who is a key player in the team.

The girls surrounded by the local footballers

On Sunday morning, we were up bright and early and in Church by 6am waiting for Mass to begin. The wait was definitely worth it when in walked a huge Gospel Choir!

There were over a thousand people at Mass. The Priest had 20 altar servers with him! What made our morning though, was when one of the young altar servers, Gabriel, recognised us from watching the football the previous day and ran up to us to greet us.

Mass was a wonderful experience with singing and dancing for 2 whole hours. At the end of Mass, Father invited Sister Eunice and the four of us to come up to the sanctuary and introduce ourselves to the whole congregation…that’s 1,000 people staring at us! It was daunting, but we got a wonderful Bolgatanga welcome from everyone. It’s amazing how just knowing a little of the local language is so well received!

After mass with Brother Joe and Sr Eunice

Once Mass had finished, we were invited to attend and participate in Sunday school with Sister Angela. The children don’t go to Mass with the adults, they have their own separate service, and over 300 children attended.

We got a warm welcome from the children who were fascinated to see us celebrating the service with them. The children gathered around us at the end and just wanted to chat with us forever, which we all loved.

The Sunday school with Sr Angela

After a hectic morning, we were lucky enough to have an afternoon off and spend time with Sister Eunice. It was a brilliant afternoon.

She showed us the culture of Ghana. She drove us to Paga where there is a lake of crocodiles. The crocodiles are sacred to the area, as tradition has it that they once showed a Chief where there was available water during a dry season. Don’t worry though…the crocodiles were used to humans, so none of us were bitten!

We went onto Pikworo, a former Slave Camp, where Aaron our guide, told us the history of slavery in the area. It was quite a moving experience, when you think that Ghana’s historical path started at these slave camps.

At one of the slave watch towers

We popped in, on our way home, to visit the Presentation Brothers, Edwin and Valerus, who are friends of the SHCJs. They welcomed us with a cup of tea and some biscuits. This was a lovely end to our first week in Ghana.

Here we are with Sr Eunice and the Presentation Brothers at Nevrongo: Bros Valerus & Edwin

Lots of love

Emma and crew (Patters, Chris & Amen) xxxxxxxxxxxx

Emma's tommy k!!

Children and staff put together a Nativity play and collected money for CAFOD and Brian House (a local hospice that cares for terminally ill children). Before breaking up for Christmas the whole school donated money to wear their own clothes for the day.

The Head teacher Mr O’Hare said: “I am very proud of the children and all the money they have raised.” The whole school community enjoyed fundraising and everyone was excited about helping the charities.

Mr Lord accepts a cheque for CAFOD from the headboy, Jack, and the headgirl Cassidy

An amazing £745 was raised in total and the money was split between the two charities, both of which are very dear to St Bernadette’s.

The children would like to thank their families for their generosity.

Written by Year 4 pupils at St Bernadette’s

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Mr Lord is a student teacher at St Bernadette’s and he accepted the cheque on behalf of CAFOD.  Some of you will recognise Mr Lord from last year as he spent a year working with CAFOD on the Step into the Gap Programme, so he really knows how amazing this amount of money is and what a difference it will make overseas.

Mr Lord worked with the Year 4 pupils to produce this news story.  He speaks about them here:

The children at St Bernadette’s have been very busy!

I have posted a cheque to the CAFOD office from the school from fundraising before Christmas. In our Literacy lessons with Year 4 we wrote this news story about the fundraising.

Two of our Year 4 children interviewed Mr O’Hare in his office and the rest of the class watched the interview over the interactive whiteboard in the classroom and made notes for the news story. Each child then wrote a news story about it and we selected bits from each story to put it together.

They really enjoyed this.

The picture is of the Head Boy and Girl at St Bernadette’s presenting the cheque to me in a whole school assembly – what a privilege!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To the children of St Bernadette’s – here at CAFOD we’re thrilled to hear your story and so grateful for your brilliant fundraising.  Well done to you all!!  No wonder Mr O’Hare is so very proud of you all.  It’s very special to us when children here do something positive for families living overseas who don’t have as much as we do, through no fault of their own.  You have bigs hearts, children.  This is a brilliant way to show you really care.  You’re making Jesus’ message real and alive.  Thank you so much.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Are you ready to Step into the Gap?

If you’re inspired by our gappers and want to know more visit us at cafod.org.uk/stepintothegap. Applications are now open for 2012! Sign up for an unforgettable journey today.

We write this from the SHCJ convent in Bolgatanga. We have been here now for just over 24 hours and have been warmly welcomed by Sister Eunice SHCJ and Sister Angela SHCJ.

We travelled from Accra to Tamale by plane, then from Tamale to Bolgatanga by road with Mark, our designated driver.

Whilst talking to Mark on the 3 hour journey, we discovered that his “claim to fame” is that he played opposite Michael Essien (from Chelsea FC) in an interschool football match when they were teenagers!

Christine, Mark our driver, Amy

This morning, we have been up bright and early to attend 6.15am Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a couple of minutes walk from the convent. After breakfast, Emma and Christine went to visit St John’s Junior High School with Sister Eunice, while Amy and Patrick visited a different school with Sister Angela.

St. Clement’s Junior High school is where Sister Angela works. We were welcomed with open arms to the school and were told that the gates were always open for us to come and visit.

The school pupils were so intuitive with their questions – they could not find out enough about England! They found it very funny that we thought it was hot in Bolgatanga when in fact they find it very cold at the moment!

Students at St Clement's Junior High School

It was so interesting to find out about Ghanaian schooling. The pupils were telling us that they begin their school day at 6am. At this time, they come into school and clean their classrooms before the day officially begins at 8am. They then have lessons until 2.30pm.

The teachers at St. Clement’s found it fascinating that pupils in the UK do not come to school before 9am to help clean the classrooms. The pupils love being at school. They seem to really value their education.

Patrick & Amy chat with children from St Clement's Primary School

At St. Clement’s, there is a combination of Primary and Junior High students, which goes up to the age of 14 before they go onto Senior High. They have no computers at St. Clement’s, even though they have an I.C.T. teacher, Madame Agnes, teaching them I.C.T. without a computer.

St. Clement Staff (left to right) Agnes (I.C.T.), Ajara (English), Patience (Science), David (English), Daniel (Maths), Sister Angela (R.E. and Moral Studies), Amy

We will be working with Sister Eunice and Sister Angela for the next 8 days in Bolgatanga before heading back down south to Accra, Cape Coast and Takaradi.

We are being well looked after, and are looking forward to being enriched by Ghanaian culture in St. Clement’s and St. John’s school.

Until next time,

Amy and the Gappers x

Thirsty for change, we’ll  focus on global water poverty and offer ways in which we can respond positively through action, prayer and giving.

Workshops on:

• the Thirst for Change Campaign, led by Katy Harris from CAFOD’s Campaign Team
• Lent Fast Day, led by Bernadette McIntosh from CAFOD’s Volunteer Support Officer - including new resources for prayer and reflection, and news of the unique UK Match Funding opportunity from the UK Government
• Young CAFOD, led by Vicky Ahmed from CAFOD’s Community Fundraising Team – for young people and those who work with them.

At the New Waterton Hall, Warwick Square, Carlisle: 10.30am – 2.30pm

Refreshments provided, but please bring a packed lunch.

For a poster click  here  and for letter with more information including a timetable, click here .

All are welcome.

To book your place, contact CAFOD Lancaster, tel no 01772 733310 or email lancaster@cafod.org.uk

Well here we are after an intense couple of days’ travel!

Amy, Emma, Patrick and Christine started their epic Step Into the Gap trip at 8am at London City Airport last Monday.

Patrick, Emma, Amy and Christine at London City Airport

After a quick touch down in Amsterdam, we arrived at the Society of the Holy Child Jesus Convent in Accra, our home for the next two days, after 11pm that evening.

But all that travel was definitely worth it!

The Holy Child sisters welcomed us warmly and have put us up in style. We’ve had a couple of days of fun, friendship and food and are feeling really at home here.

Today, we went to the memorial for Kwame Nkruma, the man who announced the independence of the Republic of Ghana in 1959 and went on to become Ghana’s first ever Prime Minister!

Amy, Emma, Sr Ngozi, Sr Meggie, Christine and Kofi at Kwame Nkruma's memorial

We were driven around Accra by our wonderful driver, Kofi.

Sr Ngozi, Patrick, Kofi, Emma, Amy and Christine

And tomorrow we move on! We are leaving at 5am (!!!) to fly to Tamale, followed by a 3 hour drive to Bolgatanga to meet a whole new community. We’ll be doing some teaching, sharing in prayer and (hopefully) having the time of our lives!

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Are you ready to Step into the Gap?

If you’re inspired by our gappers and want to know more visit us at cafod.org.uk/stepintothegap. Applications are now open for 2012! Sign up for an unforgettable journey today.

Patrick 'Indiana Jones' will be accompanying the girls ;D

They take with them so many warm wishes from literally hundreds of people for an amazing trip ahead.  They’re not the only ones who are excited!  Watch this space for more news………

All of the 2012 gappers with Fr Christopher Jamison OSB, at the Pope Paul VI Memorial Lecture in London last November

Here are her thoughts……

It’s just days until we, the Step into the Gap-pers, head off to far, far warmer lands in search of fun, new friends and adventure, and I’m more than a little bit excited! The four of us, Patrick, Amy, Emma and I, are off to Ghana for four weeks to share expereinces between schools here and there, to teach some lessons and to experience life in West Africa.

Emma practises with the Flipcam, with Amy by her side

Am I ready? Perhaps. Half a dozen lessons are half- planned, I have half- sorted piles of sun cream and t-shirts lying around my room waiting for the rucksack that should (hopefully!) be arriving in the post, and I have half a mind on the week ahead! There’s nothing like an imminent trip to another continent to shake you out of the post- Christmas lull!

Christine (and Emma and Amy) were in Ghanaian company sampling food from Ghana in Salford this week! Here, Christine is pictured with Cleophas

Our trip is also chance for us to exchange news and share experiences. I’m taking out postcards, letters, videos and collages from the primary schools I work with here in Blackpool and also from St Mary’s Catholic College. We hope to create something with the children in Ghana to bring back and share here in England.  I am really fortunate to be representing a whole community and not just myself when we go out.   Don’t worry- I’ll remember to say “hi” from everyone!

GHANA, HERE WE COME!

” At 6 o’clock in the morning seeing Santa and his reindeer sat round my kitchen table drinking tea and eating cereal was a sight to behold!” shared Helen, Jon’s mum, who kindly opened her home to Santa  so that he and his reindeer could make a prompt start on the walk.

The five Year 11 boys from Our Lady’s Catholic High School in Preston decided to walk the 6 miles to school on the cold wintry morning in festive dress for CAFOD.

“Last year we did a sponsored walk for CAFOD and raised £1000.  This time we decided we’d do it again and try to beat that target.” said Jonathan Bisby, one of the lads.

They’d researched that in parts of Uganda young people walked an average of 6 miles to go to school, so they thought they’d try it – in festive style, to raise awareness of thousands of children around the globe do on a daily basis to complete their education.

They told the whole school about their plan and visited every form in the school.  They made a guest appearance in the staffroom during the staff briefing to appeal for support and they spoke at their parish churches during Mass to rally support.

A little peckish on the way to school, the reindeers and Santa stopped for a bacon butty along the way and were given donations by complete strangers, even a couple of policemen put their hands in their pockets, not for hand cuffs, but for a little cash to donate to the boys!

Inspired by their total madness and strong determination, younger pupils at Our Lady’s in Year 7 decided to donate their fundraising to support the boys in their challenge.

“I’m so impressed with these boys: Jonathan, George, Matthew, Sam and John.  They’ve made quite an impact in the school.  Here’s young leadership in action  – and they’ve done it really well.” said Rosa Trelfa from CAFOD Lancaster,  ”Not only have they raised awareness of real hardship overseas, but they’ve demonstrated solidarity with young people across the planet AND they’ve inspired others to work for a better, fairer world.  Thank you.  Proud of you!”

A big thank you to Mr Gormally, their Learning Manager, who walked with them and to their fantastic parents for their encouragement and to all those who supported them.

Completely mad, but completely awesome : )

We share some lunch after the prayer – so please bring some food – just a little is plenty!

We hope you can join us.

To download a poster click here

St William’s Catholic Primary School in Pilling may be small in numbers – only 37 pupils in the whole school, but MASSIVE in its enthusiasm and generosity!

The 4 House Captains with Rosa, from CAFOD, at the start of the week holding their boxes containing their £25

A mama from the Samburu tribe and her beautiful baby

Is that Mr Parkinson in a babygrow???

“Wow, I can’t believe how much we have raised!”

Huge thanks to all the children of St William’s Catholic Primary School for being so brilliant, to their families for being so supportive and generous and to the staff going with the children’s ideas.

We think you’ve all got the WOW Factor!