Journey for Change, Ghana Blog – Day 6

Journey for Change, Ghana Blog – Day 6

Benjamin Goode, Age 13

 

It is our second to last day in Ghana and this blog is about my experiences in Ghana.  

This trip has been very cultural and emotional. My emotions were very complex and mixed with joy, sadness. Journey for Change mission trip to Ghana would give us an opportunity to talk about child slavery and work with Touch A Life Foundation Staff who are involved in rescuing slave children who work for their masters in the fishing industry here Kete-Krachi on Lake Volta. Our first couple of days in Ghana was fun; we had a chance to meet our partners from Touch A Life Foundation for the first time. We saw and met other children in Tema house who were rescued just like our partners; we renamed this village “Village of Love”.   We also played basketball with the children in the village of Hope. Then on Sunday, we went to church at The Salvation Army in Accra; we praised and worshiped God the Ghanaian’s way; it was uplifted. I was blessed. The same day we went to T.K. Beads factory where we learned how to make beads. That was very interesting to see the different stage that go into making beads; everything was made by hand; even the glass had to be crushed in a wood container.

 Finally, we went to Elmina Castle where we learned and see how our ancestors had to go through so much from the time they were captured or sold as slave to the point they would be ready to be shipped to the Americas and other parts of the world. We saw where the slaves where beaten, raped, unfed and the door of no return where they would say goodbye before they board the boat to be shipped.

The next day after going to Elmina Castle we went on an 8 hour bus ride and a ferry ride to Kete-Krachi. Once there the sadness began to settle in as the bus pulled in Village of Life and into the house where we would stay for the next 4 days. This village has 200 kids who were all rescued from slavery. Also, this is where we really get to spend time with and know our Touch A Life rescued child slave partners. It was as if they were our brothers and sisters and no matter what happened, if we argued or yelled at each other we still will have love for each other.  My partner was Ezra and we became friend very fast and bonded well. When we first met he was quiet; and before you know it he opened up; he is fun to talk to because he always makes you laugh and smile.  In Kete-Krachi other JFC participants such as Sydney, Jasmine, Latoya, Joshua and I, and the Journey for Change and Touch A Life staff were going back and forth on Lake Volta to different islands where there are lots of children who are slave. Our Touch A Life partners who used to be slave themselves lived on these islands before they were trafficked as child slave.  On one such a trip to an island we saw a small fishing boat with four people on board: one adult man with two teenagers and a 6 year old child working; our boat came very close to that boat and Touch A Life staff started to beg the man to free the younger child and handed him over to us. He refused, but agreed for meet us late on before releasing the child. I was very glad that day we left the island with 2 children. This made everyone fell great knowing that Journey for Change and Touch A Life came to Ghana to free children who are in slavery. It feels good to know that we’ve achieved our goals.

After visiting several of the islands it was time to leave Kete-Krachi and go back to Accra. We had a nice farewell dinner with the kids and a nice soothing African dance.  Then the next morning we left. 

Once we arrived in Accra, we only had a couple of hours before we would get ready for our farewell dinner at a beautiful resort hotel by the beach.  We had a very emotional meeting before dinner; almost of us shed tears; it was so emotional; I can’t even explain it. Each one of the Journey for Change participants read a poem we wrote as part of our writing assignments during this trip.  By 10:00pm we were back at the hotel getting ready to leave Ghana on such a rewarding trip to empower and rescue slave children and return to New York tomorrow.

To view photos of the mission to Ghana, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/photos/default.asp?fol=809

Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work.  More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.

Journey for Change, Q&A with a Touch A Life Rescued Child Slave

Journey for Change Ambassador Benjamin Goode, Age 13

Q&A with Touch A Life Rescued Child Slave Ezra, Age 13

 

 Q.     How does it feel to know to get to know and hang out with an American boy?

A.     I feel happy.  And also it is good that we  have some things in common like joking a lot, laughing together, and dancing. 

 

Q.     What are some of the emotions you feel when you think of your past?

 A.     I feel sad.  I feel like I never want to go back to the lake again.   I feel like my master is a bad and wicked man. 

 

Q.     What were some of your duties on the lake?

 A.     I had to paddle the boat and dive underneath the water when the net got caught under the boat.  But when I woke up in the morning, I had to sweep the compound before going to the lake.  It was scary to dive because there are crocodiles and snakes in the water.  I also felt like I was going to drown because I could not come up before I untangled the nets.

 Q.  How does it feel to know that you were probably sold by someone you love?

 A.   Actually, my parents did not know I was going to be sold into slavery.  They thought I was being taken to go to school and have a better life.  So it makes me feel good that my parents wanted a better life for me even if it did not turn out that way.

 

Q.     How does it feel to be rescued and now live freely like you deserve?

 A.     I am very proud of myself and I am happy to be helped by some people.  I also know that by the grace of God, I am going to be a better person in the future.  I feel like I can also accomplish all of the dreams that I have for myself too.

 Benjamin and Ezra were partnered together for “From Captivity to Capitol Hill,” a partnership between Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service and Touch A Life Foundation to raise awareness and advocate for the eradication of child slavery with a particular focus on child slavery on Lake Volta.

To view photos of the mission to Ghana, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/photos/default.asp?fol=809

Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work.  More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.

Journey for Change, Ghana Haiku

By

Benjamin Goode—13 years old

What do you like doing?/Playing basketball. That’s it?/Don’t fear, step out.

How can I stop you?/I’m not the one selling you/Be mad at your master.

Do you know how to/ride that big bike? Here, I’ll help/Help to take away fright.

To view photos of the mission to Ghana, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/photos/default.asp?fol=809

Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work.  More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.

Child Slave and his owner in Ghana

Sadness Overflowing

Sadness Overflowing

A poem by Benjamin Goode, Age 13

There is sadness that fills my

body when I am told you have been beat.

I get on my feet sadness overflowed

with anger now I am furious, thinking

of that whip slapped to your skin

and through to your flesh, I can

hear you yelling, makes me feel

uncomfortable, but guess what

help is on the way, you feel it in your

gut, guess who it is, your knight

in shining armor, can you see,

it’s me?

To view photos of the mission to Ghana, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/photos/default.asp?fol=809

Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work. More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.

Benjamin and 4 JFC participants at Elmina Castle in Ghana

Journey for Change Rescue Mission in Ghana

Benjamin Goode—13 years old

It’s day two and I woke up at 6:57am to get ready for church.  It was a short ride to The Salvation Army – Ghana OSU church in Accra.  Church was amazing!  Just watching how not only Americans can feel the spirit of God, but the spirit can be felt all over the world.  In church, I even felt the rhythm of God in the music by watching the drummer drum, the pianist play, the guitarists strum, the trumpet players blow and the male and female singers sing.

 After the service was over, my favorite part came—lunch!  We went upstairs in the church and were greeted by the sight and smell of baked chicken, rice, vegetables and a lot of drinks that were prepared for us.  After lunch we took a picture with all of the JFC participants and our partners from The Touch of Life Foundation.  Then from there we were off to T.K. Beads!

 There we were shown how to make powdered black beads and glass beads.  After that, we went to their bead showroom where we purchased some of the beads.  Then we loaded up in the van and headed to Tema, a city in Ghana, to Touch a Life Foundation’s  Tema House.  Touch of Life Foundation is a foundation that is out to stop child trafficking and child labor, not only in Ghana, but in Vietnam and Cambodia too.

 When we got there we were greeted by a bunch of kids.  The kids were so welcoming and loving that it made me feel at home.  After a while we were showed a dance from the kids and our fellow mate on the trip Godfrey.  It was so nice and it amazed me to see all these little kids dancing for their heritage and doing it well.  After this warming dance, it was time to eat.

We were fed beef kabobs (which is a shish kebab just with beef), rice with vegetables and spaghetti.  After dinner we helped the staff wash the dishes.  Washing these dishes was the same way its done in the US, but only outside.  After dishes we gave a toy car, a paint set, crayons and bubbles to the kids living at what is now called The Village of Love!  We also gave them books to put in their library.  After giving out the books and having this wonderful day we were on the bus and headed back to our hotel. 

To view photos of the mission to Ghana, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/photos/default.asp?fol=809

Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work.  More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.

My First Impressions of Ghana

Benjamin Goode, Age 13

I am a Journey for Change Global Ambassador from Brooklyn, NY and I am now in Ghana.  I came here with Journey for Change with people from Touch A Life Foundation to meet rescued and current child slaves who are forced to work in the fishing industry.  My day was so fun. I landed at the airport around 7:45 am in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.  From there we checked into a nice hotel that is a U.S. chain about one mile away from the airport. This hotel has a pool and internet access in every room.  After we rested, we went to Village of Hope. The Village of Hope is an orphanage in Ketteh, Ghana and over 200 kids with no parents live there.  The Touch A Life Foundation supports 22 children that they rescued from slavery who now live at Village of Hope.  Being able to go to the Village of Hope and play with the kids and meet my partner was fun. My partner was rescued from slavery and he will hang out with me for a week.  I even played basketball with some of them. Then to end it off we ate a nice dinner. We had rice, potatoes, mixed vegetables, baked chicken and plantains. It felt amazing to meet my partner and the other kids at Village of Hope.  The place is amazing with what they do for the kids.  I love the fact that a child can go there and be fed, taken care of and get the right medical attention that they need.  I loved it.  Now all I want to do is go back to the hotel and get in the pool.  It feels great to be in Accra. I mean, at first it was months, then weeks, then days and now I’m here.  

To view photos of the mission to Ghana, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/photos/default.asp?fol=809

Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work.  More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.