We scheduled an 8:30 am Ekorso Durbar where we received a beautiful blessing from a Chief. The blessing was realized when we went to schools in Ekoroso, Akwadum and Akwaduuso. We had such fun observing the SWEs practice their teaching skills and following up on school health clubs at each school. The excitement peaked when the team accompanied SWEs and volunteers into the community to put the classroom training into practice. The team enjoyed...
The BWF team was honored today to have the author of the BWF Cell Phone Survey Application, Sam Hammond, come explain and take feedback on the app. The app allows SWEs to record basic survey information, water test results and educational activities day-to-day. The U.S. team met with all the experienced SWEs who were essential in helping the new recruits download and begin using the app. All met the challenge - even with spotty internet...
Fulfillment, Love and Happiness Celebrating the Sabbath has never been so exciting. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting was first, with beautiful talks in Twi that were kindly interspersed with English translation. "Stay Focused on Christ; correct your path; and he will give you rest." We were warmly welcomed with love, fist bumps and smiles. Our path then brought us to the Apostolic church with our blessed Pastor Dennis...
Today we cleaned and prepared what was for nearly ten years the World Joy Learning Center, for a new life. The World Joy constructed facility, located in Abomosu, will be used as a training center and as a storage location for the BWF expanding list of materials. Stephanie is also asking community members about other potential educational uses. In continuing training sessions, the new SWEs demonstrated how adept they are at creating four new...
Another new development for Bright Water Foundation (BWF) is access to a lovely building previously used as a Library/Learning Center for World Joy activities in Abomosu. BWF Program growth in Atiwa West District has merited a place for staff training and a secure location for providing products to safe water educators, community volunteers and chlorine tablet sales vendors as part of the safe water initiative. The Expedition team currently in...
Does Wading through the mud after a torrential rain count as true dedication? That is exactly what our newest group of safe water educators and volunteers did to attend the first sessions of training. We are profoundly grateful for our Ghanaian team's determination to learn and support the BWF safe water program in their local communities. Thanks to the great training provided by Natalie Dalley, Martin Mortensen and Dennis Agyekum (Project...
We have arrived in Ghana!! Once we cleared Customs, went shopping for food, found our lovely quarters at the Accra LDS Tempe Patron Housing, and ate dinner, we literally dropped into bed!
It was such a long plane trip to Ghana, but the airports hold the gold. At LAX we kept running into a very nice lady with a huge smile. Amazingly she ended up being my seat mate to JFK. Where was she from??? Ghana - nonstop cultural introduction and laughter. She kept telling me how loving the GHANAIAN people are. What was her name? Grace!!! JFK held more golden moments. Here two ladies (Lawore and Felicia) from Ghana helped me practice Twi, and...
Since 2008, Global Handwashing Day has been celebrated annually on October 15 to promote handwashing with soap and water as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent disease and save lives. Studies have shown that handwashing with soap practiced at key moments, such as after using the toilet or before eating, will dramatically reduce the risk of diarrhea and pneumonia, which can and does cause serious illness and death. Two million...
As a retired civil engineer, where most of my career has been in the water and wastewater services, my involvement with BWF has provided an opportunity to be part of a collaborative effort to demonstrate how safe drinking water can be a reality in the households of rural communities in Ghana. The concept of the BWF program is to develop safe drinking water at the household level. It has gotten approval from the local government, tribal chiefs,...
