Update from Kathy

February 23, 2012

Today's work at Street Girls Aid with the leadership team was on messaging, mission and passion. We started the day with this question - "Please tell us about someone who made a difference in your life and what they did that made the difference" It was so moving that I would like to ask this same question to those who are reading this - and as you think about that person share the story with someone as a way of honoring that person. Thanks we are all just working to embrace humanity one person at a time!

Tonight PDG Cathy Smith and PP Kay Bliss and myself, PP Kathy Stutzman celebrated Rotary's 107th Birthday in true African Rotarian style complete with a 5 Club meeting that was planned to be 30 and had people flowing out the door at over 100, champagne, colorful African Rotary clothing - each year the District Governor designs a fabric based upon the theme for the year and Rotarians have clothing ...made of the District fabric - so it is very colorful and of course there was a birthday cake, fines for everything and some kind of raffle but I am not exactly sure what we were purchasing - our raffle ticket stated it was for a washing machine and dated 2008 - it was a good thing we didn't win, can't quite figure out how to get a washing machine into the overhead compartment. I was fined for taking pictures. We exchanged banners, laughed and of course, at the beginning of the evening the electricty went out. Really a great Rotary night.

Rotarians Gather to Talk About Engaging vs. Fixing

Accra area Rotarians were invited to a meeting hosted by the team to talk about a shift in a paradigm, a move from a " fix it" mentality to one of "engagement".  Several clubs were represented.  Some good information, meaningful discussion, and a wonderful response to Kay's solar lamps made for a great night overall.

Street Aid Leadership Developing a Plan

Street Aid staff in leadership spent several days working with Kay, Kathy and Cathy dreaming, believing and developing a plan for the organization.  

Facilitator Training for Street Aid Staff

Here are a few pictures of Kathy, Cathy and Kay in action. Selected staff were trained to be facilitators.

In the streets...

Here are a few pictures from the day (2/21).  These were taking on the trip described by Kathy.

February 21th - a blog post from Kathy

Today the sights and sounds of Ghana come to you from the girls working and living on the streets of Accra. We weaved our way through narrow alleys, through laundry, trash, shower houses, food cooking on porches in the rain and mud fighting against the river human traffic of the morning, animals and trotro drivers...interviewing teenaged mothers who work and live near the railway station in a city... of nearly 3 million people. We met several of them at the local movie house - a small dark room with no windows filled with wood benches seating close to 45 people where girls will pay up to 20% of their daily wages to get out of the rain - they pay extra to bring their babies with them. Movies and TV play all day long offering an escape - Ghanaian soap operas were playing when we entered. Here is what some of the girls told us when asked about what they dream, "I am happy because I get to eat each day - but yesterday when the rain fell it would have been nice to have a place for me and my baby to sleep out of the rain", "I want to learn a skill so that I can provide for my child" and "I want to learn a trade so that I can achieve something and become someone." It was an honor to bear witness to these dreams.

February 17th - a blog post from Kathy

Today we finished up a week of working with Street Girls Aid in Accra Ghana. The staff are impressive and inspiring and their dreams are moreso - I am in awe of what they accomplished this week. Kirsten spent time with the girls and it was great to hear them laughing and dreaming with their babies in tow - we are all learning so much. After a full day of work the sights and sounds of Ghana turned ...to congestion, traffic, the ocean, and Teshie where we saw full sized coffins in the shape of okra, a coca-cola bottle and a new one which the crafters were working on in the shape of the King's Seat. We went to the market and were mobbed by vendors selling their wares and Kirsten had a drum lesson which accompanied her new drum. Tomorrow we will leave the city for the a tour of Elmina Castle where the movie Amistad originated and hopefully Kakum Nature Park where there is a rainforest canopy walk that will have us suspended in the air 40 meters. Cathy and I were a great team this week facilitating, creating, innovating and training and the energy when we finished each day was electric which might explain why we are all having trouble sleeping. I wore my African clothing today and was greeted and treated like a princess - can't wait to try the outfit at home and see if I get the same reaction! Alright all - early day tomorrow.