THIS MANGO IS A LINK TO FOOD SECURITY

In the Northern Region of Ghana, the mango tree is very important. The tree provides shade. I stand accused that whenever I am out I have my eye out for the nearest mango tree. Also the fruit provides food and income for many. Mangos like this grow all over the place. This mango I did eat today, it grew directly in front of the house I am living in located in the village of Jisonayeilli! A funny story, today I was speaking with Mr. Alhasan, my neighbor. He said that the children were picking the mangos before they were ripe (next month). He hung a cow horn on the tree and told them that if they pick the mangos before they are ripened that something would happen to them. The children are not picking the mangos now! Next month they will be totally ripened for everyone to enjoy!

CHECK OUT ARTICLE ON OUR EFFORTS

A new news article has just been released on our efforts of Project FOOD. It is a must read. Many thanks and much appreciation to the author, Ms. Lynn Pinder. Lynn you did a fabulous job. See the link below:

http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-savannah/from-africa-to-savannah-and-back-again

These are Dgomba men sitting in the Sanerigu circle at a community event. I have been interacting with all of them during this project! Go Sanerigu!!!

NAWUN DEIN SUHUGU (God bless you)

This is in the language, "Dagbani." It is such a beautiful language. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to a funeral of a local Dagbani chief close to the village where I am learning. It was such a beautiful event. I learned that each group of people who attend from the varying villages make an entrance with their entourage/group. The groups include the chief, his family, various village residents, the gon gon players and the gogi players along with the historians. At the end of the procession are the warriors, I tried to capture some in this photo.

DAWA DAWA

In Dagboni tradition, every woman has a dawa dawa. When there is not enough food to eat they go and get their dawa dawa and prepare it for food to eat. Check out this dawa dawa tree with its fruit ripe and ready!

One Student Surveyor Injured

Today, after we completed our time interviewing, one of the students was leaving to go home and had a motorcycle accident. Somehow he lost control and hurt his leg. He actually crashed into a truck. Right in front of our eyes. It was scary, however, we found some alcohol and helped him to clean his wounds. One of the village mechanics came immediately and took the motorcycle and fixed the drastically bent gear on the motorcycle. It was interesting how it all happened. I paid 2 cedis almost $2.00 US for the repairs. Meanwhile we ate bambara beans and fried yam while we waited for the repairs and all the students were happy about the food, so tomorrow I will make sure I feed them, especially Hashim! (smile)

First Day of Household Inteviews

Can you believe that today was the first day of household interviews. Wow what an adventure surveying a community with no system of household numbering. We had to actually spin the pencil to determine which directions to go into. Thanks for all the well wishes and good thoughts!

Training The Interviewers

Today I engaged 6 students from the University of Development Studies to conduct face to face interviews of women in the village of Sanerigu, in Tamale norther region Ghana. They all speak Dagbani the language of the village which i am working with. They are all studying community nutrition at the master's level.

No Illness 1 Injury

Usually I get some type of illness when I travel internationally, I have not had any illnesses so far. My feet swelled up really big the first week and that's about it. Yesterday, I smashed myself below my eye with a door. It swelled up a little and I had a bad ache in the area and in the back of my head for some reason. All is better today!

Going Forward

The community in Sanerigu definitely want to be connected to others globally. They have offered many prayers and well wishes for the study I am conducting. They are happy to discussion their thoughts about food and their challenges and openly have welcomed me. Thank you, village of Sanerigu. I am now going on the part 2 of this study -- the household survey.

A Dgomba Village

Getting around the Dgomba village is interesting. It is a community with order. Although it does not seem like it is big, it does take some time getting used to the terrain. Sharing a little bit of the community which I am working in.

NEEM OIL

Today I finished the last focus group discussion with 6 different women's associations in the village I am working in, Sanerigu. The women had so much to say. One of the things I found was that Dgbani women work very hard. They are producers and produce many things. One of the products I saw being produced was Neem Oil. One of the products I received from the Health food store to help repell mosquitos was neem oil. It is very expensive. Well the women here process the neem seed and make the oil.

Dgomba Protocol

You must greet elders in a certain way or you will never be able to do any type of work in a Dgomba village. Whenever an elder passes, you must stop and greet.

Dasooba good morning, Anteerie Good afternoon or Anoolah good evening. If you do not do this, the gate will not open for you.

I did meet and greet the gatekeeper for the Sanerigu village today. the response will be Na or Alafia! See you soon!

I Made It To Tamale

What an experience to get to the Northern Region of Ghana. No it has not been easy, it has been filled with experiences. I am meeting and interacting with some great people who are all about connecting with the global universe. Today I went to the village I will work in Sanerigu home of the Dgomba people. I met the leader of one of the women's group whom I will work with starting tomorrow, can you believe it. I saw how they make the shea butter soap and the process of preparing rice for consumption. More later. Sorry no photo today hopefully tomorrow when I am more settled in where I will stay.

Independence Day in Ghana

Today is Sunday, my mother's birthday and Independence day in Ghana. We are reminded of something that Kwame Nkrumah said, "Forward Ever Backward Never!"

Independence Day in Ghana

Trying to get to know the contextual reality of Ghana. Today was independence day. 54 years ago Ghana took their freedom from colonization. Today the President dedicated independence day to honor the youth. He told them that displine and hard work will get them ready to take over and lead the nation!

Boti Water Falls

On Saturday I travelled with a group of educators from Florida to the Eastern Region of Ghana to visit a place called the Boti Water Falls. It was a beautiful experience in the mountains with the water falls and people from all over who come to visit the falls.

Gratitude to the Mayor's Office of Tallahassee

We are so grateful to Rick Minor, Chief of Staff for the Office of Mayor John Marks, City of Tallahassee and Ramon Alexander who both are instrumental in joining the Mayor's Office, the city of Tallahassee and this global initiative as partners.

They were successful in providing letters that introduce us as good will ambassadors for the City of Tallahassee. These letters will be given to the various leaders that we connect with from the city of Tallahassee and unites people across borders regarding food and neighborhood food environment issues.

Yea! Mayor's Office for understanding that the health of one is directed impacted by the health of others!

Day 1 in Ghana

We have made it to Ghana, Edna is with me a member of Talk With The Women. We are in Accra and preparing our next moves. The weather is good, hot, and the sights and scenes are exciting. We were greeted warmly by the people where we stayed last night in Tema, a city outside of Accra. Will post some pic soon.

Survey

I am working on finding a way to copy the survey I will use. Let's see how the day unfolds! Any ideas out there?

New Partners

There is so much energy and support being forwarded to this project/mission in Ghana West Africa. Much gratitude to all of you, and you know who you are, who are so generous in many creative ways to be a part of this project.

1 More Day!

What a journey! Allowing things to unfold brings daily phenomonal happenings. Every day something significant has happened sending messages that this project is paqrt of some divine destiny.