World Joy Celebration–Dedication

The celebration for the new World Joy school was today. It was great! When we arrived chairs were still being brought in and tents were being put up.

 

 

 

The speaking and actual program went on a bit long.

 

The speakers (the kind amplifying the sound, not the speaker as in person) were SO loud and distorted. I actually got a headache from them. Stephen Abu was the man in charge and conducted the entire thing. After he was finished recognizing all the dignitaries as well as the Miche group for their contributions and efforts, he took the time to recognize the four of us. I am not sure why he did but it felt really nice. Blow is Corbin Church who is the CEO of Miche. He gave a brief and heartfelt speech to the people. I learned he will be one of the speakers at USU this Fall for the lecture series.

 

 

 

Members of the Miche group during the presentation.

 

On the left is Corbin Church, then Stephen Abu. Just behind Stephen is a lady who is the major of Abomosu. Nate had an opportunity to meet her earlier and he pitched his idea about being the next president of Ghana. As the mayor was walking around shaking hands she addressed Nate as “Mr. President.” Next to her I believe is the minister of education for the district. And the guy on the right is the Roman Catholic leader representing the Catholic church (the school being built is Roman Catholic).

 

 

This is the Queen Mother. She is a highly respected individual in the village and a very sweet woman. I am not entirely sure the cultural implication and what position as Queen Mother entails, but I will find out. To her right is a guy named Michael. He is one of our students who rarely makes it to class.

 

 

This little guy is playing with an Iphone for the first time during the presentation.

 

 

Throughout the speeches given kids would perform cultural dances. This is the group. Unfortunately the videos of the dances are too large to load onto the blog.

 

 

Maddie, Sammy, Chloee, and Dennis. Sammy and Dennis are teachers at the Roman school. Chloee and Maddie have spent a lot of time volunteering as teachers and these are their mentors.

 

 

Benedict is another teacher at the school. Maddie and Nate have a hilarious story about him riding in a canoe for the first time and walking through the rain.

 

 

After the speeches and the dance performances a ribbon cutting was held and then people could tour the new school. There was a lot of support from people in the village as you can see in the photos below.

 

Corbin Church and Ike with World Joy cutting the ribbon.

 

 

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Some of the local school children.

 

One of the new classrooms with all the new desks. Kids from the Miche group put up all the motivational signs but due to the humidity even duct tape would not keep them up on the walls.

 

Touring the new school.

 

Office (I painted this room). As you can see the sign is falling down.

 

 

After the tours everyone starting dancing. My favorite was dancing with the old ladies. They have got moves!

 

 

This is Tyler from the Miche group. He was awesome with all the kids and quite the dancer himself!

 

 

 

 

Dancing with some of the kids.

 

President Twum. He is the branch president in Abomosu. He is also the DJ in charge of the music (which he did from a loan from previous interns). He also worked as a contractor on the new school. We love him!

 

 

Miche getting a group photo in front of the school.

 

 

Stephen (dad) and Margaret (mom) are having a ton of fun dancing in the middle.

 

I decided I had to join them.

 

Me dancing with the old ladies.

 

During all the dancing two of the Miche folks (Gavin and his wife) were carried away on peoples shoulders. They were made the honorary king and queen of the celebration decked with traditional garb and all.

 

 

Celebration coming to an end.