Into Africa – A Sexagenarian in Ghana
Taking time out isn’t just for anyone under the age of 25. It’s for the young at heart too – something sixty-something David Howells is more than happy to affirm. But don’t take it from us, hear it from him…
“In June and July 2004, I went to Accra, Ghana to do volunteer work in the school project. Looking back it has been astonishing that I ever arrived there. On the other hand, I took yet another of life’s intriguing stepping stones. At 66 years of age, I was content being a member of RSVP’s school project in Swansea where I attended school to teach primary school children to read in English and Welsh. In addition, I took holidays abroad – another great hobby of mine.
In February 2004, a friend told me about i-to-i which would allow me to do both, providing I passed the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course. Fortunately I did. In April I had decided to go to a country which I had not previously visited, and so it was that I chose Ghana – and for no other reason! What a truly fortuitous move I made. I am too old to have challenges – I prefer to have exploratory adventures, which is what my time at Rick’s School turned out to be.
My eight weeks at the school gave me experiences which have undoubtedly changed me for the better. Essentially I was expected to teach the lovely children of the school, but both they and the staff taught me so many lessons regarding the fundamental basics of day-to-day living.
Since coming back to Wales in August I have embarked on a series of schemes to raise money for the school. Mr Nunoo, the proprietor of the school "had a dream" that one day he would build a library for the children. Having organised a concert, given a series of talks, persuaded two nephews to run in a 10km sponsored race, and received many donations for friends and well-wishers, I have collected £3,500.
I am told by members of the staff, who keep in regular touch with me, that the money which I have sent out has enabled Mr Nunoo to have brought the building close to completion. So ‘life’s little stepping stones’ have also brought me in contact with a great number of very generous people. As if this accomplishment hasn’t been enjoyable enough for me, it seems that the library is to be named after me! This gesture reflects greatly the Ghanaian nature. They gratefully accept and quickly recognise the generosity of others. By this I mean that I am representative of the collective gifting of all those who supported me.
In May 2005 I will visit the school again to see all my newly acquired friends and also to see the library. This adventure has proved to have been enjoyable, exciting and profoundly stimulating.
At the school
When I arrived at Rick’s School, Accra, I was the fourth volunteer from i-to-i – the three previous ones were aged 19-21. When Mr Nunoo, the proprietor welcomed me to the school, he asked me if I had walked the three quarters of a mile journey from the hotel, to which I answered "yes". "So we will not need the invalid chair" he said!
This remark came from the fact that earlier volunteers had been so much younger. When he received details of my application, the date of birth correctly showed 03/03/38. He assumed that 38 was a misprint and that it should read 83 – which would have made me 21 – I wish! The office confirmed that my date of birth was correct, so Mr Nunoo was concerned that the new volunteer – me – was a very old man. Unfortunately a 66-year-old man living in Ghana would have had a much harder life, hence his fear that I would need assistance – well, not yet!
Incidentally, because they had my date of birth, they were able to determine from their records that I was born on a Thursday. In Ghana all children are given an additional name, dependent on which day of the week they were born. Because I was born on a Thursday, I was given the name YAW, so in Rick’s School I am known as Uncle David Yaw – And I am very proud of it!
