Saturday 19th Nurse Berthilda and ‘her’ boys.
Nurse Berthilda is a big woman with a very big heart. We met her last year at the Presbyterian Clinic in the Namolgo Village. She introduced Rachel and me to Victor, a teenage boy Rachel’s age (then 16) and to three little boys and their blind grandmother. All four boys were in need of sponsorship so they could attend school.
Rachel and her family are sponsoring Victor, including the purchase of a bicycle to ride from his village into Bolgatanga, four miles away. The town school is better quality than the village school for a youth of Victor’s age and capability. Last year I had a hard time reading him and thought he might not really be interested in attending school. Today there was no doubt in my mind … he does want to continue with his education and is very appreciative of the sponsorship.
After meeting with Victor, we continued on our way down the very rutted, dirt roads … let’s hear it for Gafaru. These are roads that would be tough on a 4-wheel drive vehicle and Gafaru’s taxi is just a regular old beat up station wagon.
Berthilda introduced me to the ‘Landlord’ of the three little boys. I now know that term is used to mean the most senior member of the extended family or compound. The man is the great uncle of the three boys, the brother of the boys’ deceased grandfather. [The boys’ father is dead and their mother disappeared years ago.] Berthilda explained that even though the boys and their grandmother live in a family compound, each unit is expected to be independent financially. The boys are not supported by the rest of the family. The great uncle expressed his appreciation (in English) that we have interest in the boys and are willing to offer sponsorship for them. He went on to explain the obvious … that he is no longer able to farm and provide for the boys and their grandmother.
We were led though the compound to the boys’ ‘home’. I am so glad I video clipped this journey and took photos of their home. Tomorrow I am sure I will think I was imagining the whole thing. Their home is a small room with no window or ventilation … just a small, low entrance opening. It was stifling hot; it must have been 20 degrees hotter in the room than outside. The dirt floor was swept clean and everything was neatly put away.
The boys themselves were not so neat and clean (as was the case with the other children in the compound). Gafaru told me later that Berthilda told the boys, in FraFra, that if they were not clean the next time they had visitors, she would ‘beat’ them. In Ghana, ‘beating’ is the same as our spanking and is used more as a threat than as the real thing.
After a short conversation with the boys and their grandmother, we went outside, in the shade of a tree … whew!! … and the boys drew pictures with the pencils and crayons that we bought them as a form of thank you letter. Knowing money was coming, Berthilda returned them to school, but they have missed so much since their father died. Even eleven year old John had to have ‘thank you’ spelled for him. Hopefully the educational advantage we are providing will help them improve their life situation.
Back inside their home, Berthilda had each boy say his name for my video clip. John is the eldest, is the ‘man’ of the house and does all the cooking. Peter who is 8 brings in the water and helps John. Joseph is the youngest, is very shy, and gathers firewood. The boys were delighted with the huge bag of millet we brought and gladly posed as if they were trying to pick up this 2-ton object.
We have promised 8 months support for the boys. I was told it was important for them to know that there was no promise of continued support after that. What I did not tell even Berthilda is that I am reasonably sure we have enough to do the whole year. Berthilda uses the Internet occasionally and says she will send me updates on the boys now and then. It is Berthilda who will be visiting them every weekend to take groceries to them; it is she who will purchase material and have a tailor make them new school uniforms. Even though they started school already, the uniforms they have are ill fitting and are rather worn. She will also buy their school books. All this she will be doing while attending a two year program of mid-wifery training. She’s a great lady.
Well, my computer is overheating, my hair is almost dry from an early shower to wash off the road dust, and I am tired, so time to bid you all goodnight. Tomorrow is another day and I will be off early to the bus headed for Kumasi and Bright’s family.
Grandma Judy
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