From Tom Miles:
"Anyone fancy a job on a tropical beach? I am looking for manager www.greenturtlelodge.com, Ghana from mid May. Please pass on message to anyone you think might be interested and ask to email tom.miles77@ymail.com (2 photos)"
Ghana Guide Site Pages
April 25, 2013
A Job at Green Turtle Lodge in Ghana
May 10, 2012
Art Exhibition in Accra 16th May Alliance Francaise
This Art Exhibition in Accra will be held at Alliance Francaise on next Wednesday, 16th May at 6.30 pm. We met Rebecca last year during a workshop in Accra at Trashy Bags head office and shop. She is an inspiration and her artwork is original and refreshing. Definitely worth viewing first-hand.
The artist is Rebecca Tilley. Be sure to put this in your calendar, iPhone and visit the exhibition next Wednesday evening.
The artist is Rebecca Tilley. Be sure to put this in your calendar, iPhone and visit the exhibition next Wednesday evening.
February 10, 2012
2 Week Sale on New Recycled Products
To celebrate the release of new products, we are holding a 2 week online sale for these gorgeous products. Where? At Recycled Bolga Baskets.
For those in Ghana, you can buy G-lish Baskets at Trashy Bags in Accra and Village Exchange Center in Ho, Volta Region.
For new readers, here is a little about G-lish and the basket/bag/mat/pot producing process.
Most Ghanaians do not have access to clean drinking water other than in “pure water” plastic sachets. As such, water sachet rubbish is a massive problem in Ghana. Millions of sachets are discarded daily and end up polluting rivers and soil since there are virtually no rubbish collection services.
G-lish turned problem into opportunity with recycled baskets when they married the urgent need for income generation in rural communities with the skills of traditional Bolga basket weavers and a need to re-use waste plastic sachets and scrap cloth.
Each product uses 250-300 pure water plastic bags, and about 1/2 kg of scrap fabric. One basket takes 5 full days to produce and is made by the hands of at least 5 different producers—a truly community effort:
1 person cuts the waste plastic water bags into strips,
1 person twists the plastic water bags into twine,
1 person cuts the scrap cloth, another person twists the scrap cloth into twine.
The final step: a skilled basket maker weaves the plastic and cloth twine using traditional basket making techniques for which Bolga, in Ghana, is world-famous.
G-lish pays fair trade prices to the producers throughout the supply chain involved in producing G-lish baskets.
When you buy a basket you are providing at least 5 days of work to impoverished, rural Ghanaians and fair wages that make a difference. Thank you!
G-lish won an award sponsored by the UNEP and SEED Init in 2010 for its unique, creative and sustainable processes.
As of February 2012, G-lish has consumed over 120,000 pure water plastic bags in production. The official G-lish Foundation website...and a post with more gorgeous recycled Bolga basket photos here.
For those in Ghana, you can buy G-lish Baskets at Trashy Bags in Accra and Village Exchange Center in Ho, Volta Region.
For new readers, here is a little about G-lish and the basket/bag/mat/pot producing process.
Most Ghanaians do not have access to clean drinking water other than in “pure water” plastic sachets. As such, water sachet rubbish is a massive problem in Ghana. Millions of sachets are discarded daily and end up polluting rivers and soil since there are virtually no rubbish collection services.
G-lish turned problem into opportunity with recycled baskets when they married the urgent need for income generation in rural communities with the skills of traditional Bolga basket weavers and a need to re-use waste plastic sachets and scrap cloth.
Each product uses 250-300 pure water plastic bags, and about 1/2 kg of scrap fabric. One basket takes 5 full days to produce and is made by the hands of at least 5 different producers—a truly community effort:
1 person cuts the waste plastic water bags into strips,
1 person twists the plastic water bags into twine,
1 person cuts the scrap cloth, another person twists the scrap cloth into twine.
The final step: a skilled basket maker weaves the plastic and cloth twine using traditional basket making techniques for which Bolga, in Ghana, is world-famous.
G-lish pays fair trade prices to the producers throughout the supply chain involved in producing G-lish baskets.
When you buy a basket you are providing at least 5 days of work to impoverished, rural Ghanaians and fair wages that make a difference. Thank you!
G-lish won an award sponsored by the UNEP and SEED Init in 2010 for its unique, creative and sustainable processes.
As of February 2012, G-lish has consumed over 120,000 pure water plastic bags in production. The official G-lish Foundation website...and a post with more gorgeous recycled Bolga basket photos here.
January 4, 2012
Help Fundraise for Quadriplegic in Ghana
Dear friends, visitors, readers,
We know many of you support worthy causes, especially if you are connected with Ghana already. However, we're hoping you may be able to help out supporting our brother (literally).
Our younger brother, Joshua, became quadriplegic—paralysed from the neck down—after sustaining severe spinal cord injuries when he fell from a tree he was climbing in September, something that could have happened to any one of us. Your donation will help cover Jo’s ongoing medical costs and purchase devices to help prevent pressure sores and improve mobility.
Thank you in advance. If you would like to share this with other supporters, we would appreciate it.
We know many of you support worthy causes, especially if you are connected with Ghana already. However, we're hoping you may be able to help out supporting our brother (literally).
Our younger brother, Joshua, became quadriplegic—paralysed from the neck down—after sustaining severe spinal cord injuries when he fell from a tree he was climbing in September, something that could have happened to any one of us. Your donation will help cover Jo’s ongoing medical costs and purchase devices to help prevent pressure sores and improve mobility.
Thank you in advance. If you would like to share this with other supporters, we would appreciate it.
A 1 minute film showing the story
Link to our simple fundraising site:
November 2, 2011
Spinal Injury/Neuro Specialist Needed in Ghana
I'm hoping the blog-reading Ghanaian community may be able to jump in and help with this. A relative in Ghana (brother-in-law: 11 years old) incurred a spinal cord injury just before the doctor's strike almost 4 weeks ago. He also broke his leg and arm. He fell from a tree he was climbing, as kids do. Something that could have happened to any of us growing up.
He was moved from Bawku/Bolga/Tamale to Konfo Anokye just in time to be admitted before the strike and have scans. C4 burst fracture. Significant damage. He's now paralysed from the neck down. Other complications happened during the strike (which doctors refused to treat) but he recovered, just.
Challenge: We cannot get any meaningful information from the neurosurgeon team at Konfo Anokye, even after the resumption of work. (There was almost no treatment for the 3 weeks of the doctor's strike).
There is no phone directory or online directory for spinal specialists in Ghana as we're seeking a second opinion. We would greatly appreciate it if anyone can recommend a spinal specialist in the south of Ghana, private or public facility, it doesn't matter. The trauma and neuro unit now want to discharge him and send him back to Bolga saying they can't do anything. Before he makes that journey, we would like to try and get him in to another facility, but we just don't know where to start.
We've combed Google search, of course, and located many (yet to be completed) spinal hospitals, but simply cannot find any one clinic where private individuals can enter for their own checks and treatment.
Any help with names, hospitals, personal contacts to surgeons, would be much appreciated. You can contact me at gaylepescud@gmail.com or godwin@g-lish.org with any info.
He was moved from Bawku/Bolga/Tamale to Konfo Anokye just in time to be admitted before the strike and have scans. C4 burst fracture. Significant damage. He's now paralysed from the neck down. Other complications happened during the strike (which doctors refused to treat) but he recovered, just.
Challenge: We cannot get any meaningful information from the neurosurgeon team at Konfo Anokye, even after the resumption of work. (There was almost no treatment for the 3 weeks of the doctor's strike).
There is no phone directory or online directory for spinal specialists in Ghana as we're seeking a second opinion. We would greatly appreciate it if anyone can recommend a spinal specialist in the south of Ghana, private or public facility, it doesn't matter. The trauma and neuro unit now want to discharge him and send him back to Bolga saying they can't do anything. Before he makes that journey, we would like to try and get him in to another facility, but we just don't know where to start.
We've combed Google search, of course, and located many (yet to be completed) spinal hospitals, but simply cannot find any one clinic where private individuals can enter for their own checks and treatment.
Any help with names, hospitals, personal contacts to surgeons, would be much appreciated. You can contact me at gaylepescud@gmail.com or godwin@g-lish.org with any info.
October 31, 2011
Volunteer in Africa with G-lish Foundation Ghana
I wrote an article about how to volunteer in Africa for creative types under Volunteer in Africa for Artists, Designers and Photographers at G-lish Foundation, the NGO I co-founded in Ghana.
Volunteer Photographers in Ghana
One of the great things about volunteering as a photographer in Africa (see our volunteer brochure for more) is the opportunity to get outside the office and meet families and individuals at home in rural villages where life is lived with the volume turned up.
Photography can be a sensitive issue in some cultures so it’s important to check and find out what is acceptable and not before heading out on assignment. G-lish Foundation provides volunteer photographers with briefings on how to approach photography on the ground in rural villages in Ghana so as to meet cultural expectations and invite the community be part of the experience. There are some taboos with photography in Ghana and we explain these in our briefings, as well as what might make families and communities happy—they like to be consulted first and we work with our communities to ensure there is an understanding about the purpose and that everyone is comfortable.
We have an extensive range of G-lish photos on Flickr if you would like to see what Ghana looks like and our work on the ground in rural Ghana. We mainly focus on activities that fit within the definition of sustainable social entrepreneurship.
We also touched on volunteer opportunities for artists and designers. Many creative NGOs like ours can always use creative or technical inputs from skilled and passionate volunteers. There is sometimes the possibility of developing new ranges of products, or experimenting with existing ranges, and working side-by-side with artisans and craft-makers to learn and teach new skills.
Many volunteers often remark that they feel they were more rewarded by the volunteer experience than what they felt they contributed. This is most likely because the communities you work with on the ground are likely to make you feel very welcome and show gratitude for the contribution that you make while spending time passing your skills and experience on to communities in Africa.
Our experience is that volunteering is a mutually rewarding experience. Volunteers benefit and feel a great sense of personal achievement and fulfilment. Communities benefit and feel a deeper sense of hope, opportunities and connection with the rest of the world.
Volunteer Photographers in GhanaPhotography can be a sensitive issue in some cultures so it’s important to check and find out what is acceptable and not before heading out on assignment. G-lish Foundation provides volunteer photographers with briefings on how to approach photography on the ground in rural villages in Ghana so as to meet cultural expectations and invite the community be part of the experience. There are some taboos with photography in Ghana and we explain these in our briefings, as well as what might make families and communities happy—they like to be consulted first and we work with our communities to ensure there is an understanding about the purpose and that everyone is comfortable.
We have an extensive range of G-lish photos on Flickr if you would like to see what Ghana looks like and our work on the ground in rural Ghana. We mainly focus on activities that fit within the definition of sustainable social entrepreneurship.
Volunteer Artists and Designers in Ghana
Many volunteers often remark that they feel they were more rewarded by the volunteer experience than what they felt they contributed. This is most likely because the communities you work with on the ground are likely to make you feel very welcome and show gratitude for the contribution that you make while spending time passing your skills and experience on to communities in Africa.
Our experience is that volunteering is a mutually rewarding experience. Volunteers benefit and feel a great sense of personal achievement and fulfilment. Communities benefit and feel a deeper sense of hope, opportunities and connection with the rest of the world.
October 25, 2011
Ghana: Income Generation and Volunteering
Images of basket makers at work for G-lish Foundation in Bolgatanga, Ghana.
 |
| Cloth Cutting as part of the recycled Bolga basket process in Ghana photo by G-lish Foundation on Flickr. |
 | ||
| Twisting recycled pure water plastic into twine to make recycled Bolga baskets |
 |
| A group of basket makers at work in the shade in Bolgatanga, Ghana |
G-lish Foundation is about to launch its international volunteer program
in which volunteers will help G-lish carry out its core projects in
Bolgatanga and new locations in Ghana. You can see more about what we do
at G-lish Foundation. You can also catch up on Twitter. Watch the YouTube video for more idea about what we do.
September 19, 2011
Asanti Dance Theatre in Australia
Asanti Dance Theatre from Ghana are now actively dancing and teaching in Melbourne, Australia, and traveling to concerts around the country.
They also do dance workshops and African drumming.
The latest poster for what's on.
They also do dance workshops and African drumming.
Workshops with Asanti Dance Theatre are a great way of bringing your community closer together and expressing yourself through music and dance. Classes are conducted in safe, supportive environments and each workshop is tailored made to make sure you get the most out of your African drum and dance experience. Whether you are born with rhythm or you have two left feet, you can be sure that workshops with Asanti Dance Theatre are fun, invigorating and challenging for people at all levels.
Workshops are offered in drumming, dance, village activities, song and storytelling and cultural activities. They are facilitated by the senior members of the company who are all experienced, talented professionals in their area of expertise. Workshops can be conducted for a one off event or you can come along to one of our regular classes.
The latest poster for what's on.
May 3, 2011
Around the World with 40 Bloggers
It’s launch day for a brilliant project: a free (yes, no cost) and stunning E-Book by the Lonely Planet bloggers from the Blogsherpa programme. Blogsherpies, as they affectionately call themselves, with generous support from LP in the design and editorial process, made this happen.
“Managing 40 bloggers perpetually traveling in and out of jungles, cafes, monuments and ruins, and internet free zones (gasp!) was not an easy task” says Todd Wassel of Todd's Wanderings, the blogger who headed up the project.
"Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers" takes readers on a world tour featuring almost 70 countries, and introduces the world of professional travel blogging. Within it, each blogger, hand picked by Lonely Planet, shares a collection of stunning photos that capture the essence of their travel.
Gail Walter from Uncommon Travel and Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil of The Planet D also contributed, along with 37 others (including me!) and both these blogs are well worth a click through. In fact, each bloggers' profile and links are included in their entry in the eBook so you can take a virtual tour of top travel bloggers sites and see how they do it.
An accomplished group, the BlogSherpas have reached beyond their own blogs, having been published in the likes of National Geographic Traveler, Huffington Post, Travel + Leisure, AFAR and more.
Image above from Museum Chick
Unfortunately, the first photo (p36) for my entry is without reference, but many here will recognise it as the central part of Elmina Castle located in the Central Region of Ghana. I took this photo way back in 2005 during my first visit to Elmina Castle and Ghana, then, as it were. You can read more about that journey here at Ghana Guide and Blog. I also co-founded an organisation called G-lish Foundation last year in the north of Ghana and you can read more about that too. What a journey. I'm sure many of the blogsherpies have similar stories of life-changing travel and adventure so be sure to download your copy of Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers here. Because it's free, share it with the whole world!
Image above from No Hurry Curry
Read the full story about Around the World with 40 Bloggers at Lonely Planet's site.
March 31, 2011
Top Travel Articles for Ghana
For travellers to Ghana, a summary of some of the more popular travel advice articles that will hopefully help you prepare a little better for travel in Ghana. Click on the link for whichever article you're interested in. Articles relating to money or costs written more than a year ago should have 10-20% added to any costs quoted to keep up with increases to goods and services in Ghana. Let us know if you have any tips, updates or advice--click comments below the article. Happy travels.
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