community matters host the
olympic team london 2012
“There will be a real Ghanaian atmosphere at the University’s Community Open House and later on The Hoe,” said Elaine Budd who for the past two years has run Plymouth Ghana Week in July. “We’ll have Ghanaian games, drumming and even Fair Trade chocolate made in Ghana.”
After the Olympics up to twelve Ghanaian Paralympic competitors will also be in the UK – another chance for Plymouth to support.
Plymouth has had a link with Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana for the past nine years – linking is the word generally used for the relationship with low-income countries, in contrast to twinning, which is often with other cities in Europe.
School and college students, medical personnel and sports enthusiasts have travelled to Ghana as part of their studies since 2003.
The aspect of the Link which has had most impact has been the visits of the Operation Hernia teams of doctors and nurses.
“This really is the jewel in the crown of what the Link has achieved,” said Peter Reid, secretary of the Link. “Other towns and cities in the UK have partners in low-income countries, but few have had so many people travelling in both directions, and none can point to such excellent medical work”.
Since hernia teams started travelling to Ghana six years ago led by Prof Andrew
Kingsnorth, professor of surgery at Derriford, over 3,000 people, mainly poor farmers and fishermen, have benefitted from their work.
“It is truly life-changing,” said Dr Chris Oppong, consultant general surgeon at Derriford. Chris was born in Ghana and attended school in Takoradi – and now he is the Ghana co-ordinator for Operation Hernia and regularly spends three weeks of his holiday time there working in operating theatres.
Plymouth High School for Girls has been partnered for nine years with Ahantaman School and over 50 students with their teachers have spent time in Ghana, staying in the dormitories of the large and very successful girls school.
“It was the best eleven days of my life,” said Mikaela Cumbers, a former pupil who was there in 2008.
“The Plymouth Ghana Link hopes the visit of the Olympic team will draw many more to consider being involved,” said Arnet Donkin, chair of the Link.
“We’d like people to home-host Ghanaians including those who live in the UK and would like to visit Plymouth and meet their country’s team members,” added Arnet.
“And there will be opportunities to day-host as well for those who cannot spare space in their homes – to take our Ghanaian friends and show them the delights of Plymouth and the countryside around.
“There’s even ‘Extreme Volunteering’, for young people in particular who would like to give time to an African country and share their skills.
“We guarantee six months volunteering in Ghana will change you for ever and be the best ‘gap’ experience you could imagine.”
Details on
www.plymouthghanalink.org.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64