Journey for Change, Ghana Blog – Day 6

Journey for Change, Ghana Blog – Day 6

Joshua Hall, 16 years old.

It’s almost time to go home, as today is the last day at the village of life. With our bags packed we headed on the bus ready to go to Accra. After the multi-hour drive we finally got to our hotel in Accra. After a short rest we were back on the road headed to a restaurant where we celebrated our journey so far.  Before we ate, there were a few presentations that were done. Of those, I read a few poems. But then my partner, Donald, had a presentation along with the other five children. During this, they gave my peers and I gifts and letters thanking us for being there and caring for them. They told us how much they would miss us when we leave, and the feeling is mutual. 

This experience has been a great one for me.  I now truly understand the seriousness of trafficking children into child slavery.  I am even more willing to help end it.  I really wanted to get a lot out of this trip and I’m glad I did.  Knowing that my ancestry can be traced back to Ghana, this amazing trip has definitely broadened my horizon.  It has also given me a better understanding of the world’s cultures, ideas, geographic features, etc. 

Before we went on this journey one of the things I looked forward to was meeting our partners.  It was great to meet all of the kids especially my partner Donald. I will never forget the days in Kete Krachi at The Village of Life.  At night before we slept all the boys would just sit up and talk about anything.  We would sometimes talk about favtorite sports, food, music, cultures and so much more.  I will miss all five Touch a Life kids though.

Of the many magnificent things we have done over the course of this trip, I would say that the best two days of them all would when we went to Tema House and when we rescued Christian and Jacob from their masters on the lake.  Going to the Tema House was great.  As soon as the doors opened they charged us with smiles on their faces. It was great to be able to put those smiles on their faces.  On this trip one of my goals was to rescue at least one child slave.  To know that we saved more than just one made me very happy and proud of myself and my peers.  All in all, this was a magnificent experience and I would love to do it again if I had the chance.

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 Joshua Hall Age 16

Q&A with Touch A Life Rescued Child Slave Donald, Age 14

 

Q.   What do you want to be when you grow up?

 A.     I would like to be a footballer or an accountant.

 

Q.     What was the best time of your life?

 A.     When I first heard that I would travel with you, I was so happy.  Also, when I think about my past and someone notices that I’m upset and comes to cheer me up—that makes me really happy.

 Q.     How do you feel about this experience and what have you gotten out of it?

 A.     I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.  Because of this trip with you I have been able to do things I’ve never done before.  I’ve been to Kakum Park and Elmina Castle.  I got to stay in a hotel and swim in a pool.  Swimming in a pool is safe and I got to have fun and didn’t have to work.

 Q.     What was your life like when you were enslaved?

A.     We would only eat two times a day and that would make me sad.  We would have to eat so fast that we weren’t even allowed to pray over our food.  The master would say “if you pray, you are wasting your time!”  I had to work two jobs which kept me working from the early morning into the night.  At midnight I would go out to cast the nets until 6am.  Then I would have to go into the town and sell donuts until 5 or 6pm.  If I was late, I would be tied to a tree and beaten by my master.  Then I would rest for 4-5 hours and go back to the lake again.  The worst thing was when it was raining.  We would have to run very fast to take shelter in the master’s house.  But there were 50 children or more trying to get in.  Some of us would not be able to fit, so we would have to run to the shore and turn the boats over for shelter.  Saturdays were the best day because we wouldn’t have to go out on the lake or go sell, we could just play.  But then on Sunday, we would have to go back to the same thing.

 

Q.     How would say life is for you now?

 A.     It is good.  Very good.  When I came here I didn’t know how to speak English.  Now I can speak English.  I’m going to school and I can do things on my own without someone commanding me to do it.  Sometimes my master will call me and ask me for credits for his cell phone.  Sometimes I will even send them to him, because the bible says you should pay good for bad and good will come back to you.

Joshua and Donald 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.

Joshua and a Touch A Life Rescued Child Slave

Journey for Change, Ghana Haiku

Journey for Change, Ghana Haiku

By Joshua Hall, 16 Years Old

Empower to lead/Lead and others will follow/Follow only God.

The chains can block them/They conceal them and lock them/Only you stop them.

Step-out, overcome/the problems of yesterday/enter the present

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.

Elmina Castle

ElminaCastle

Joshua Hall—16 years old

To learn more on the life of a slave.

To imagine 50-100 people locked in a small, dark cell.

To feel the overpowering heat.

You can’t move and can barely breathe.

To think of the torture our ancestors endured.

Some things you can’t conceive.

To smell the terrible stench of death and those dying of disease

And the person who urinates on himself for there is no restroom

To go to if you please.

Some are terrified.

Some choose to be brave.

Some rebel and dig themselves an early grave.

They are beaten and battered if they misbehave.

And that is but a snippet in the life of a slave. 

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.

JFC Ghana Blogs-Day 2

Today was a great day. After an excellent breakfast, I stepped outside to grab some fresh air. In anticipation of feeling yesterday’s good weather and cool breezes, I was shocked to face the 90 degree weather and intense humidity. Pressing my way through the sweltering heat, my colleagues and I went to The Salvation Army – Ghana OSU church to join them in their church service. I especially liked the sounds of the music.

Following a great meal we went to the T.K. Bead Factory. To me the concept of molding and shaping glass was so interesting. There so many steps and tons of precision needed to be able to do this type of work. After watching the actual process of crushing, melting and molding the glass, I understand that you have to be a very skilled craftsman to make shapes and designs out of recycled glass.

We then went to Tema House, which today took the name “The Village of Love”. The Village of Love is a house for previously trafficked children. Going there was definitely the most joyful part of my day. As soon as we came through the gates, we were nearly knocked over by a stampede of children ready to play and have fun. So we went to the backyard to do just that. I became a bike and toy driver thanks to the new bikes the children had just received. Many of the children knew how to ride a bike, but some did not. I had over 12 customers! There wasn’t a face there without a smile.

After that, we were treated to a dance performance, followed by a delicious meal. All in all, I would say that the most touching part of the day was when we had to leave The Village of Love. We gave out gifts to all of the children. We gave paint sets, crayons and many other goodies. Seeing the smiles and a feeling a few hugs of appreciation made my heart melt. But sadly we had to leave. I felt bad leaving them. Once child even tried to stop me and said “Please don’t go yet.” I would definitely regret leaving Ghana and doing nothing to help these children. I will surely miss them and with that note that today was excellent.

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.

Joshua Hall—16 years old

My First Day in Ghana

Joshua Hall Age: 16

I am a Journey for Change Global Ambassador from The Salvation Army Bushwick in Brooklyn, NY and I am now in Ghana. I came here with Journey for Change and people from Touch A Life Foundation to meet rescued and current child slaves who are forced to work in the fishing industry. Today was pretty hectic! It started with the plane ride. As soon as we arrived in Ghana, you could sense the difference. You could see the mountainous background to dwell urban area. You could even smell the sweet scent of nature. When you step outside, you can feel the intense heat and humidity followed by a cool refreshing breeze. Additionally, knowing that I am of Ghanaian descent makes it all the better. The first thing we did was go to the 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. That is where I met my partner for the trip, Donald, who was rescued from slavery by Touch A Life Foundation. Although we didn’t get to talk much, I learned quite a bit. Donald is a happy 15 years old who likes to play sports, specifically soccer.

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