Osu Children’s Library Fund is such a big part of Minnie, my grandma’s, life. She dedicates so much time and energy to this project. I had heard many stories about her work and she wanted me to experience it first-hand. This past April I went with her to Ghana for 4 weeks where I spent time with her going to visit all her libraries in Accra and the fishing villages of Goi and Kablevu. I met individuals who made up the stories I have heard over the years and who are important people in my grandmother’s life.
Throughout our travels, I met many of the wonderful library volunteers and staff. At past fundraising dinners you may have met some of these librarians – Joana, Abigail and Vivian. They were so kind and welcomed me to their libraries and pulled me into their activities such as weekly bingo, board games, reading to children and even limbo (which I won!). We stayed at the Korle Gonno Library, which has a small guesthouse on the 4th floor where Joana lives and Minnie joins her there on her twice-yearly visits. At the library I bonded with many children and participated in a few programs.
Korle Gonno has wonderful dance classes. Kids of all ages are welcomed and learn and participate in cultural and modern dances, all choreographed by the dance teacher, Ebenezer. A few days after we arrived I was sitting watching a dance class and Ebenezer encouraged me to join. This dance group is committed. They practice 2 hours each weekday and about 4 hours on Saturdays!
In the dance troupe, I met some of my closest friends on the trip. There were two siblings named Magdalene (11) and Jerry (7). They were at the library the first evening we arrived and I saw them most days. They were also part of the dance program among many other children who became my friends including Chantal, Grace, Rachel, Clara, Anita, Abigail, Fati and Fatih.
There is also a professional dance troupe, which practices after library hours. The entire dance troupe puts on monthly performances where they showcase their many dances and costumes. I was lucky to be part of one of these a few days before we left Ghana. I performed in 3 dances – 2 cultural and 1 modern. We wore colourful and fun traditional costumes. After the performance, we all hung out together and hand-washed the costumes so they could be used again.
This library also has music program where volunteers from a German group called Musicians without Borders teach children a different instruments including guitar, keyboard, cello, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, violin and the French horn. They come after school where the volunteers meet them and they practice on a balcony of a school next to the library. I brought my violin and taught music with some Canadian fiddle tunes that I know well. Minnie and I taught together. One of the librarians named Philomena also joined. She hopes to learn to play the violin well and to assist new music students.
Before this adventure, I never knew how many children this organization impacts and how large it has become. In total, there are 9 large libraries and a few mini-libraries that meet weekly under trees or in small buildings near Goi. Multiple libraries have food programs. There are many dance and theatre programs, which offer creative expression and teach new skills and build confidence.
It was really incredible to meet some adults who had attended the library as children and were impacted hugely by the support they received. We met Talata, who grew up in Nima and attended the library as a child and later taught adult literacy classes. She is now a physician’s assistant and was recently accepted into medical school.
I would like to thank my grandmother Minnie for providing me with this once-in-a-lifetime experience and showing me the amazing things her organization has done in the past and continues to do to empower individuals and communities in Ghana. I also feel very lucky to have been able to spend this time together with her.