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So, if you haven't already seen on Facebook, guess what...? I'M GOING BACK TO GHANA! It was a spur-of-the-moment kind of decision that I made upon finding out the price I would have to pay to send donations over via courier. As there was only about £100 difference between that & the cost of a flight over there (& the added concern that Ghana's post system is pretty corrupt), I decided to go for it! It means that I'm indebted to my dad for a while, but it will all be worth it now that I can go back over there in September (more than a year earlier than I'd previously thought), especially as I now know what needs to be done.
For those of you who haven't seen or heard me raving about how brilliant it was, going to Ghana was the best thing I have ever done in my life.. It probably always will be. I have always been a home-bird, never really caring whether I went away on holiday or not as I just loved being in England, but Ghana changed that. From the moment I arrived at Blessed Bright Future Orphanage, I never wanted to leave. However far-fetched it may sound, I felt like I was doing what I was put here on earth to do. Helping the children, helping the adults, meeting new people, making new friends & building new futures (I'm on the brink of tears just thinking about it).. all of that is what I want to do, forever. There were moments where I seriously considered dropping out of university to help out permanently. However, after further thought, I decided it would be better if I finished university, got my degree, got a job & made money so that I can help out long-term (with as many visits in between as I can afford).
So, I'm pleading with you all again. I really could not have been more grateful for the money that was donated in the lead up to my trip in August - if you could have seen the faces of the children when they received something as small & menial as a pair of knickers, you would understand - & I want to ask if you could show the same generosity again. So little money can buy so much over there - in the one week after I got back, our group of volunteers managed to raise $750, which was enough to buy the children a 1000l water tank (they previously only had 250l) that ensured they would have enough to drink/bathe/cook with for a whole week. 15cedi (about £4/£5) took me the 2.5 hour journey from the orphanage to the airport. Approx 250cedi (about £80) can buy enough food for the 60-odd children & adults at the orphanage - FOR ONE MONTH - ... really makes you wonder how your supermarket bill can be so high every week, eh?
When I go over, I am going to set up a PO Box for the orphanage so that they can finally receive their own mail/donations, but there are many other things they need money for & I will also be bringing clothes & as much other stuff as I can fit in my suitcases. Money can be used for school equipment, food, goat pen (to generate money via farming), medicine, Charity's surgery.. & most importantly, approx £80,000 to build a proper orphanage/volunteer house/staff house/school. This new building would ensure that children didn't have to sleep on the floor, that the 'school' would be more than a tin roof on poles, & that the children could have actual bedrooms where they could be protected by nets from mosquitoes (and, therefore, malaria).
If you want to donate & have a preference as to what your money should go to, please do let me know & I will do my best to make it happen.
I know I seem like I am always asking for money, but please try not to think of it as me asking - this is money that could save lives.. lives of people I have really come to care about. Anything you can do to help would be appreciated.
For those of you who have found this campaign through Facebook, feel free to browse through my photos & ask me any questions. For those of you joining me from St. Mark's, feel free to contact me via my email & I'll send them to you.
Han xxx
PS. I have to say a HUGE 'thank you' to St. Mark's. My old primary school will always remain a big part of my life for many reasons, but most recently, because of the talks they let me give to Years 2 & Year 5 on Ghana. The interest & enthusiasm shown by the pupils (and the teachers) was beyond what I expected, & the fact that they now want to continue to help means more than could be known... thank you x
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