A Most Unusual Shopping Trip and a Visit to Rotary

Market Day in Bolga.

Sunday we finished up most of the buying. Much of the really hard work has been going on behind the scenes and Jan and I only saw the slim surface while we were in the market. We went looking for grinding mill teeth, which have gone up in price so limited how many we could get; we hope that when all the spending is done we can get two more sets because these are crucial to the operation of the mill and it really cuts into profits when GROW has to purchase them. One of the things we like to do is to provide operational support for the mill using GROW money now and then because it gives our NGO (GROW is, by the way, a formal NGO) a chance to get ahead and make some real profits. We also purchased 2 drums of deisel for the mills. Again, we hoped to get at least 3 drums, but oil prices are another area where costs have risen; up almost 30% . If you think the rising price of oil hurts our luxurious lifestyle in North America, imagine what happens here for something so basic as running a grinding mill. This cost is also transferred to anything shipped north, so oil prices have big impact in the developing world. Again, we hope to watch the spending and if there is anything left over at the end of the day, another drum of deisel will be purchased.

Market day is unbelievable; pandemonium, and the most action I have seen in Bolga and Bolga is a very active town! I went back to my cell phone guy from whom I purchase my minutes. He had invited me back on market day to see how many phones he charges; it was breathtaking! People come into town from surrounding villages that don't have power and they drop phones off with him, and with numerous others who provide the service. I have no doubt there are lots of them too...given the number of cell phones. He has powerbars everywhere, phones lined up all along the walls and shelves and on every surface. The next question, or course, is how the heck does he keep track?

So I watched; a farmer came in, dropped his phone off, was given a little square of wood with a number on it. Then my cell phone friend, Abubakari, puts the corresponding number on a little sticky tag and voila, we have a simple system that works for everyone. Good thing because the flow of people was steady and had been so all day. Abubakari was a barber until 2009; he says this is much better. Makes sense, Ghanian men need less hair cuts than they need phone charging!

After the market, we took some time out in the afternoon to relax and read, and then it was off to a meeting with the local Rotary. This is a new club that has been established for about a year. What an inspiring and passionate group they were. One woman had just won the 'teacher of the year' award, The Rotary here has some partnerships with other Rotaries, one in New York and one in Virginia. Through these partnerships, they have established 24 pump wells in the last year, distibuted countless mosquito nets, and provided school furniture for a couple of schools.

Thanks to Elaine Crebo, a UBC staff member and a Rotarian with Ogopogo Rotary, we have had Rotary interest in Project GROW and last year, this local Rotary provided the concrete floor for the grinding mill, along with a donkey cart. This year they are interested in perhaps becoming involved with the development of the community centre which will begin with an adult education centre and built in phases to include a medical clinic vocational school and, close to Jan's heart, a LIBRARY! The first phase will be a room that can provide meeting space, and more importantly, adult education. We met with the local Rotary because it is important to create links with other Rotaries on the ground. Cynthia is a Rotarian in her own region so she was able to connect with the group. The local Rotary was very receptive, wanted to know what to do to help and is very happy to establish links and provide any contacts or follow-up as this moves forward. Rotary International prefers to work with other Rotary clubs where possible so this was an important step. I also told them about the One Laptop Per Child and they got VERY excited; they'd heard of it and felt it was just so necessary. So, lots of interest around the laptop. And thanks to Elaine...your support has been wonderful.

Speaking of Laptops, I have heard also from the One Laptop Per Child company and we'll try and arrange a phone conference while I am in Ghana. (That cell phone piece again folks!). More about that after the phone call, but I am feeling encouraged...

It is hard to believe I am on the last 3 days in Bolgatanga and I know both of us are feeling sad about leaving. It has been such a great trip, although I can't think of a time (except perhaps that first week of classes in September) where I have ever been this busy!

Best to everyone and we'll have a post tomorrow after the first presentation. Please note, modem works well most of the time, but occasionally it fails, and that is frustrating on this end. However, for the most part, can't complain...a decade ago this kind of communication would not have been possible!

Stay tuned...