JHS Science Resource Center: Axim, Ghana, September 2011

I'm back from my Ghana adventure and I hope I can give you a taste of what I experienced during the almost 4 weeks I was there.  The trip over was long and tedious. First the five-hour flight from Seattle to Atlanta and then an eleven-hour flight from Atlanta to Accra.

A little warning: I wanted to include quite a few photos, so this account may come up a bit slowly on your screen---please be patient!

I was met by one of my old students, Addison, and spent the first night in a hotel in Accra. The next morning Addison took me to the bus station where I boarded a wonderful new bus to Takoradi.

At the Bus Station

Addison called me and said to leave the bus at a junction near Sekondi. I did so and there I met his wife's driver and his son, Cobbinah-Tim. We then went to meet  his wife, Elizabeth, who is headmistress for a school for the mentally disabled.

Aftera short visit she had her driver along with her son take me all the way to Axim in her fine air-conditioned car. That was a real break. We arrived at Western Heritage Home (WHH) and there was Barbara to greet me with open arms. I moved in to the very comfortable guestroom in the bottom level "Volunteer Quarters." Barbara took very good care of me in the two weeks I was there.

Elisha and Wife, Gifty

The next morning being Sunday I went to Mass at the Catholic Church taken by my faithful taxidriver, Elisha. He is a very good driver, reliable and I depended upon him all the time that I was in Axim.His daughter (as well as his taxi) is named Elishalina!

This is the storeroom with its empty shelves and trays. The green suitcase contained materials I had left behind when I was there in 2009. The red one I brought with me, and Maryanne brought over the black one earlier in 2011.

All told, the suitcases contained about 150 lbs of materials, plus 18 postal boxes I had shipped. Plus, we made or acquired some of the materials in Ghana. The boxes were not in good shape---looked like they'd been dragged behind a truck! Box #4 had been opened, and the lead pendulum bobs had found their freedom!

The tables had arrived for the classroom. The bottoms were done beautifully, but the tops were not solid wood, as I had specified and they will not last very long. But they can be replaced without too much difficulty.

After one afternoon of work, I got the trays labeled and color-coordinated according to their unit.

Eric,  the supervisor for the Science Resource Center, arrived the next day with three of his students to unpack and sort out the equipment.

So, after a hard day's work, this is what it looked like.

After a few more days, we got some extra shelves put in and everything straightened up and sorted out. The trays held the equipment for one or more experiments or a single item, such as thermometers, that would be used in many different experiments.

Some of the materials were made locally. Here Eric is making some cement weights that will be used in a number of different experiments. I made the form and brought it over with me.

The classroom is now ready to go. The new stools are beautiful and very sturdy.

For one of the experiments, I needed to get some bamboo poles. I asked the receptionist at Ankobra Beach Hotel if she could get a laborer with a machete to help me. To my surprise, she came down herself and did a wonderful job!

Naturally, I had to revive my drooping energy level with a cold Star beer! This particular table was my favorite loafing spot when I was at Ankobra.

To replace the missing lead pendulum bobs, Isaac Bentil, Manager of WHH, got some lead fishing weights for me. With my trusty stubby hammer, an old machete blade, and some cup hooks I brought with me....

...we now have some lead pendulum bobs (and a good example of resourcefulness using local materials for the science teachers).

The first week was devoted to getting the storeroom and classroom in order. The second week was set aside to instruct the science teachers in the use of the equipment. I set up the instructor's table with all the materials needed for the first 25 experiments with the idea of demonstrating how they were to be used. It didn't quite work out that way.

They wanted to do "hands on", so that is what we did. We got through about 5 or 6 experiments instead of my hoped for 25. But they got involved and excited about what they were doing and after three sessions with them, I felt they were on board and ready to run with the program.

The teachers are doing an experiment outside, laying out the solar system using flags made from the bamboo poles from Ankobra beach.

Here are the happy warriors who completed three days of instruction (who is that bedraggled old geezer in the back?).

This was the weekend of the annual Kundum celebration. Here is Chief Awulae Attibruskusu III on his palanquin. There was a big parade from his palace to the parade grounds.

Another chief

Drumming

Dancing

...and lots of speeches!

I got to see my namesake, Jerome Kwaku Kwofie.

I had been staying at the Western Heritage Home, but on Sunday, Sept 18th, after Mass, I moved to Ankobrah Beach Hotel. It has about two miles of beach and there were only four other guests. It was glorious!

Palm trees

magnificent sunsets...

...and then a good snooze in my air-conditioned chalet. Sometimes life can be really tough!!

And finally! what this project is all about. The kids come and begin to get some hands-on experience.

Some were really getting into it. It was a thrill to see the students here in Axim actually doing the experiments that came out of my head while sitting at my computer in Mount Vernon.

Eric did an excellent job guiding the students in the use of the equipment.

Of course, I had to get my two cents in!

For a bit of adventure, Bentil arranged for me to go out on a fishing canoe for the day. The wooden seat by the outboard is where I sat for six hours.

We went out crashing on the waves in the open ocean until the land was but a faint smudge on the horizon.

The two men aboard put out about a half mile of net, waited about a half hour, and then pulled in the catch. They put the fish (all about six inches long except for the eels which were about 15") into that yellow bucket and filled it about 8 times. He told me they get about the equivalent of $15 per bucket. An awful lot of work for so little return.

Then it was back to shore...

...and being pulled up the bank.

 All good things come to an end. This is the closing ceremony with Mrs. Quansah, the Chief Education Office, speaking. Sitting next to her is Mr. Cobbinah, the Municipal Chief Executive (sort of a mayor) of Axim, and in the white shirt is Bentil, my good friend and head of Western Heritage Home.

With Eric at my side, they gave me this shirt...

...and this citation, in which they note my contributions to education in Ghana and in Axim in particular. As a sign of appreciation, they are naming this facility the Jerome Chandler Science Resource Center. I feel honored.

From the time I left my chalet at the Ankobra Beach Hotel until I arrived at this familiar chalet in Mount Vernon, a wearisome 36 hours had elapsed. It took me a couple of days to attain relative normalcy.

I'm grateful to Eric Jim, the new Science Resource Center Supervisor, for his enthusiasm for teaching, skill, and hard work. Mr. Sarfo Hayford, Science Coordinator for Nzema East-Axim Education Service suggested this project to our Ghana Together Board, which agreed to make it happen and asked me to be the Project Lead.

Nzema East-Axim Education Director Marian Quansah gave her wholehearted support, and assigned staff to work with me. She has enthusiastically incorporated the Center into the regular JHS science curriculum. The WHH Board, led by Mr. James Kainyiah and Mr. Isaac Bentil, caught the vision and made their WHH facility available to house the Science Resource Center. The elected District Assembly under Mr. Cobbinah's leadership has agreed to pick up a percentage of utility costs. Awulae Attibrukusu III, Paramount Chief of Axim Traditional Council, offered his hospitality and overall support.

And, especially, I want to give a special word of thanks to all who gave of your time, your encouragement, and your fortunes to make this project a success.

Jerome Chandler