Dear Readers,
When I was home for the holidays, some people I talked to expressed interest in helping me financially, if I were to do a large project during my second year of service. With that, I am officially asking for your help, if you would be so willing.
I live next door to the middle school principal and the geography teacher. They have been more than kind to me during my time in village, have given me meals, included me in local customs and holidays, and answered all of what they probably considered to be my dumb questions. The teachers in my village work hard and their school is in need of some work. The roof is there and qlso some of the floors have been laid. But it is incomplete. Year after year the village tries to add little finishes here and there as it can afford it. The walls are made of cheap palm branches which rot and must be replaced every year (the backside of the school doesn't even have walls), some classrooms flood with water during heavy rains, the teachers meeting "room" is a just a straw roof on stilts.
Beginning in April I plan on pledging some of my volunteer salary, depending on how much I am able to save, to buying cement, hiring masons, laying floors and building walls. I want to paint the drab cement walls (and depending, paint an educational mural or map on one side of the school).
I want to landscape around the school planting trees and teaching about the environment. Also depending, and if necessary, I may purchase new blackboards, desks, and other supplies for the teachers and students. There is literally no end to the things we could do with the money, which is why the professors and I are currently prioritizing everything into a list.
There is no target goal for the amount of money I want to raise for the school. The teachers and the village have not asked me for anything, they don't expect to get it all and are very grateful for the opportunity to improve their school. I want to do this for them because I believe education is the cornerstone of development, and the proper facilities can make a difference.
When I first told my neighbors about my desire to give them a "cadeau" (gift) my friend the professor said, "If you give us enough for one desk, we will build a desk. If you give us enough for desks and walls and floors, we will do that too. Everything will be good."
That is why I am excited and optimistic about doing this, they were very receptive to my ideas and are motivated to get things done. While many volunteers are skeptical to do large projects like this, I will be working with two teachers I trust completely, and I know that no money would go to waste.
My deadline for collecting money will APRIL 1, if you are interesting in giving a little (5, 10, 20 dollars, or whatever you want, you will find that a little can go a long way over here) contact my parents at the following email:
ronterrhodes@comcast.netOr, if you already know them; just give them a call. They will be collecting the money and sending it to me in one lump sum after April 1. There are safe and efficient ways to send money here in Togo.
And I am sorry I can not offer the proper piece of paper for you in order to claim it as a charitable donation on your taxes.
I was planning on posting photos today of the school but the internet cafe is not cooperating, but when I go to the capital in April I will post before photos and then after photos so you can see what you have created.
Lastly, I understand that the American economy is not exactly doing great right now and that many people choose to support charitable causes closer to home (which is outstanding and commendable). I certainly don't expect much from you, the reader, except to read, enjoy and laugh at my blog; that's why I created this. So just this one time, I humbly request your assistance.
Regards,
Grant Rhodes
I come back from the states and manage to catch a stiltwalking festival in my regional capital. Enjoy the photos.
Some neighbor kids. This looks out into the courtyard in front of my house. Chicken coop and small lumber pile on left, clothes line for laundry on the right. and a typical mud brick home straight ahead in the background. A typical picture of a compound in Togo.
A spider I found in my shower. The biggest I have ever seen, notice it compared to the other spiders to the left of the pencil. Enormous (leg span about the size of my hand)! This sits directly above my head while I bathe myself, which is a comforting thought.
My village market on a non-market day. Every Tuesday, this is filled with hundreds of people selling goods out of the little grass huts.
A child wanders through the empty market.
The village mosque. While predominantly Christian, there is a good size Muslim population in my village, mostly people who come from Northern Togo, where most of the Muslim people of Togo live.
Village dispensary/medical clinic. Where villagers go for minor medical problems. For serious medical problems, one must go to a city hospital which is a few hours drive from my village. Unfortunately, some people can't afford the city hospitals or the travel away from home.
My next door neighbors, Mathias and Marie-Claire. A school teacher and a seamstress. The coolest Togolese people I know and I eat most of my meals with them.
The dog, Suru. My neighbors bought her a few months ago. (This one isn't for eating, this is for petting)
Felix, the man in the middle, and his family. A man I work with in village and helps me out a lot. His daughter Marina, the one holding the radio, is one of my favorite kids in village. Very adorable.
The Catholic church. Probably the nicest building in village, it was built by Italian missionaries a number of years ago.
The inside of the church.
My neighbor Grace. She is terrified of me.
I'm getting a little closer, she's getting a little nervous.
I get to close and she freaks out and cries.
Some kids at a village funeral. Funerals here are not somber affairs, but rather weekend long celebrations with music and dancing.
An old man banging the drums at the funeral.
Some old women at the funeral who were ecstatic to have their pictures taken, despite their solemn expressions. The fact that they can see the little picture in the camera just moments after I take it blows their minds.
A Presentation in a neighboring village on Moringa Trees. Moringa is called a miracle tree by volunteers. Its very healthy to eat the leaves, can be easily planted and cared for, and improve the soil. But most people don't know about them so we try to plant many and educate the community as much as possible.
A little rasta kid coming to see our Moringa presentation. Everyone with dread locks in Togo is called a Rasta.
Creating a tree nursery for Moringa
A pretty good turn-out at this presentation
My buddy James on his birthday with a bunch of kids in his village. Like me, James must deal with kids constantly coming into his yard looking through his screen door and windows. I was changing clothes one time in the front room of his house and as buttoned my pants I look over to see a little boy curiously looking through the bars of James window. "Uh James, I think your little neighbor just saw me naked." Lesson Learned.
Some women on their way to the market.
On a hike through the Akebou mountains
A dirty creek, one of many you find out in the bush. Most of the time their are stepping stones or a small plank of wood to cross, sometimes you just gotta get wet and hope the snail fever stays away.
