Madeline Wright with Emmanuel Abaaja in the Akuapem Hills

Back In February this year UK staff members Harry Kent and Andrew Fryer attended the British Safety Council health and safety course in London, on the day they met with Madeleine Wright who was due to jet off to Ghana on a care and community placement with Projects Abroad at the end of the month.

Madeleine was very keen on what the course had to offer and was really motivated that she could use what she had learned on her care & community project out in Ghana.

Since a recent visit to Ghana by Andrew Fryer (International Development Officer) we have updates on how Madeleine is getting on.

Madeleine has been working at Voice preparatory school and care home in Koforidua in the eastern Region of Ghana, during a meeting with Andrew she explained what she has been up to.

“The Health and Safety course has been very successful at the school I’m currently at.  The headmistress is very positive about it - There was a gap in the timetable so it was added as a lesson which has meant I’ve been able to do something different each week.  She also wants the children to have a big parade around the estate where the school is to promote health and safety! The kids really love it as well because it’s something different for them than their usual lessons.” 

On the course we learned about safety at work and how we could educate children around the world on health and safety issues affecting them. The idea was to provide educational materials and interactive workshops that would make learning about health and safety issues both fun and informative. Madeleine tells us how she has been doing this.

“I designed a workbook for the lessons, and different posters for them to write on and colour in and we put them up on the walls and they really love them! We did a hazard spotting exercise around the school as well which they were pretty excited about!  The children have designed fire safety posters, drawn hazards, made rules to help keep each other safe. I managed to teach a Healthy Living module in their science lessons as well which I have been able to link with health and safety”

Projects Abroad have linked up with the British Safety who are offering free health and safety courses to volunteers travelling to the developing world. This really is a great opportunity to improve your knowledge of health and safety, as well as following in Madeleine’s footsteps by being instrumental in educating children that can really benefit from this additional education.

To find out more about joining the next BSC Health and Safety course keep you eye on the blog for more information.

By Stuart Timson, Conservation Director - Peru

With the wet season finally drawing to a close and the river starting to drop it was time for a bit of damage control at Taricaya as we headed out onto our extensive trail system to assess the condition of our more distant trails that had been hard to reach previously. There was a secondary aim also as we search for a suitable pre-release site for our spider monkeys as construction may begin now that the heavy storms have passed. Our first task was to perform what we call the “Big Loop” which involves an all day hike around the perimeter of the reserve. This is always an adventure and more so at this time of year as we must cross many temporary swamps, often swimming from tree to tree! Considering the extent of the storms this year the trails were in good shape and we had to negotiate just a few fallen trees and despite being caught in a torrential downpour halfway around the circuit a good time was had by all. The walk culminated with the capture of a beautiful 3.5m snake. The Yellow-tailed Crebo (Drymarchon corais) was slithering off the trail in front of me and after a hectic chase through the undergrowth and some help from the other staff members present we were able to corner it and take some important biometric data (length, weight etc..).

At this stage I was content that the disruption to our trails was minimal and a few days clearing would see us reopen all the routes again. But later the same week as we headed out to search for an old trail we have not used for a couple of years I saw perhaps the worst case of storm damage I have ever come across. Passing the canopy and heading straight into the heart of the reserve we were heading for the main swamp and our old mammal colpa when we came across an area of maybe 3 or 4 hectares that had been completely levelled by the weather. Lightening damage is common in the rainforest and fallen trees are essential in maintaining the dynamism of the forest ecosystem as light reaches the ground and permits the continual plant succession that prevents any group of trees from out-competing others and thus reducing diversity. That said I have never seen such a huge natural clearing and the sheet lightening that struck must have been incredibly powerful. It left a lateral scar maybe a kilometre long crossing many of our trails with trees ripped apart halfway up and the falling giants had taken much of the surrounding vegetation down with them. After the initial shock had worn off it was time to get stuck in and reopen the trails that had been affected and with the routes now passable again it will be a case of time as the forest will regenerate and eventually swallow up the gaping hole.

Volunteers on a trail walk during the rainy season

At Taricaya we always take advantage of any situation and the huge clearing will give us a golden opportunity to hunt for new species of orchids and epiphytes (plants that live in the tops of other trees) that would normally be inaccessible in the high canopy. The area is also a perfect candidate for some reforestation studies in a natural environment and later this year we shall make the most of the site to perform some new studies based away from the pilot farm.

The White-winged Shrike Tanager

Every month I also keep you updated on our wildlife inventories and April gave us a few great sightings as I have come to expect. First in the mist netting as we continue our study of the mid-canopy we caught a bird that we had only heard around the reserve before. The White-winged Shrike Tanager (Lanio versicolor) is a truly spectacular species usually found in mixed species flocks which makes picking them out difficult and it was a fine catch as we moved our nets along the edge of the creek. One would expect birds to be the only captures during the day but early one afternoon we had a real surprise when we found a bat entangled in the net. The fact that it was active during the day aside; it was a rare species of which we had only previously captured a female. This fine male was the largest of the White-lined Sac-winged bats (Saccopteryx bilineata) and whilst most actively hunting small airborne insects around dusk it was still very early for it to be out of its roost. It must have been very hungry or equally confused!

Elsewhere on our long trail hikes we came across many different animal tracks in the fresh mud. Having scrambled across the swamp on a recently fallen tree we were greeted by tapir (Tapirus terrestris) tracks on all sides. The reason soon became apparent as we started to clear the abandoned trail and stumbled on an open area under a dead log. This favoured sleeping place was freshly cleared and so the tapir must have been close by. Thus we made as little noise as possible and diverted the trail to avoid disturbing it as these animals, the largest land mammals in South America, are becoming increasingly rare as they are prized for their meat. I did not want to force the individual, probably female due the size of its tracks, to leave the safety of the reserve where it would be at risk. On the same walk we were able to identify the tracks of a red brocket deer (Manzana americana), white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari), collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) and many of the terrestrial rodents such as agoutis and pacas. These findings really are encouraging as an indicator that the mammal populations are returning to their levels of many decades ago before hunters entered the area. The reserve has not reached its carrying capacity yet but animal confidence is on the rise and further justifies our efforts and the confidence placed in us by the Peruvian government.

Next month will see us complete the butterfly house as we work to collect and transplant the right species of plant for the caterpillars of our chosen study species, we shall be even more active around the reserve as we approach our capacity at the centre and our long standing projects will continue to operate as normal as we manage our ever growing rescue centre and press on with our wildlife inventories…..

Projects Abroad would like to congratulate Ciprian and Corina on the birth of Eric Octavian Radu who is sporting the world’s only Projects Abroad diapers! Warm wishes to the new parents and hopefully Eric will be a volunteer with Projects Abroad in 2027!

By Dr. Peter Slowe, Founder and Director of Projects Abroad

I just spent a couple of weeks in Ghana and Togo touring around various placements and meeting with my many colleagues there.

When you see what our volunteers do in Ghana and Togo, you can understand why West Africa is so popular with volunteers. They really work at things, whether it’s building new schools, coaching soccer, helping kids in orphanages or in the classroom, working in hospitals or working on human rights. They make a big impact.

On the other hand, I would like volunteers to learn more about the historic culture of West Africa. This is a land, despoiled for centuries by European empires, which still retains the essence of the Malinke and Ashanti kingdoms, and the African Socialism of Kwame Nkrumah.

Peter Slowe and James Betteridge

Adisadel Urban Health Centre, opened by Nkrumah himself in 1964, was a highlight. The photo shows me with James Betteridge, a medical elective volunteer who saw dozens of patients every day there. In the photo, you can see him fiddling with the camera he uses to record interesting cases. He has kindly shared these photographs with Grant Appiah of Projects Abroad, Cape Coast, Ghana, and he’s going to put them in our Photo Gallery.

I also visited Togo. I really like Togo, and I think it should be a much more popular destination. I suppose one of the problems is that no one has ever heard of it. Even the post office send parcels to Tonga instead. Certainly the country is very small and poor.

Going round the table from Peter Slowe is Claire Quenum - Human Rights specialist Togo, Jeff Hurst, Melodie Michaud, Jutta Zierke, Edward Osei-Darkwa , Sam Adzakpa, Kwame Adzakpa - Director for Togo

The best woman in Togo is Claire Quenum, who is in the picture sitting next to me. She does great grass-roots work on women’s and children’s rights in particular. In the poorer areas of Lome, she’s specialising in sexual abuse of girls in secondary schools. She is an inspirational woman and she really needs some volunteers to help her out.

Ian and volunteers in India during the summer of 1999

Although his birthday was yesterday, everyone at Projects Abroad would like to wish a wonderful and happy birthday to Ian Birbeck, the Recruitment Director in the UK and official historian of Projects Abroad. Ian was one of the first volunteers to go overseas with Projects Abroad which was then called Teaching Abroad to Moldova in the early 1990s. Subsequently he has worked for Projects Abroad in different roles in Peru, India and the UK, and seems to have a funny tale from all of the countries we work in. I say you would be hard pressed to find a volunteer, alumni or colleague who has not been touched by Ian’s kindness, joy of life (and cricket!), and humor. Happy Birthday Ian!

Projects Abroad’s Team Jamaica

Mention Jamaica to anyone and you will usually receive a response which covers one of the islands famous 3 R’s – Reggee, Rastas and Rum. However, as I discovered on my recent visit there is more to Jamaica than meets the eye. Despite the immediate and immense natural beauty, it’s not just the physical aspect that makes the country so appealing to visitors and volunteers. The island resonates a personality which is distinct and dynamic. Yes, Jamaica has a strong national and cultural identity – small population, close communities, unique music, food, language can all be absorbed in easy, laid back manner.

From the moment I touched down in Kingston I was met with a pleasant climate and a friendly face in Andrew, our Projects Officer. I was actually just happy to have landed as my window seat led me to believe we were landing on water until a milli-second before hitting the runway! (The landing strip is on a thin stretch of land called the Palisadoes). From Kingston we were heading to Mandeville in the parish of Manchester, where Projects Abroad are based. Over the next 10 days this would be my home.

My job was to visit as many placements as possible and the ever organized Bridgette’s itinerary did not disappoint. The first reaction I had when I visited McIntosh Primary School was one of amazement. How did 30 staff teach 954 students? After meeting Mrs Anderson, a project supervisor, I could tell the students and volunteers were in safe hands. It seems volunteers are a great resource for the school under challenging circumstances and limited materials. The highlight of the visit was definitely a song by a Grade 1 class called ‘Heron, Heron’.

I found there are a number of projects which are unique to Jamaica and, in my opinion, some of the most worthwhile projects. For example, seeing the recorded progress (albeit painstaking slow) of Akeem, a child on the Parenting Project where staff and volunteer emphasise the importance of education, play and social aspects, was truly uplifting. Another illustration is the Reading, Attendance, Punctuality and Discipline (RAPD) programme for children with slight learning difficulties where a more detailed and individual approach to education is required.

There is also a number of various social activities on offer in Jamaica. Each volunteer receives a timetable of events to highlight what is happening and when. Of all the social activities my favourite has to be Patois Class, if not only for Stacy and Cherricha’s (Team Jamaica staff) Oscar-level performance in the “Guess what we are saying” role play.

Scott’s ode to Laurens at Dunn’s River Falls

Each volunteer I asked seemed to have a different recommendation of where was the best place to visit on a weekend excursion. My guide book didn’t really narrow down the options either. Activities range from relaxing on Treasure Beach, taking in sunsets in Negril, rafting on the Rio Granade, horse riding, hiking in the Blue Mountain….I could go on and on. A special mention must also go to Dunn’s River Falls - a spectacular series of waterfalls which can be climbed from beach level to the top. I was advised to go by my colleague Laurens Vos, who you may remember from a previous model shoot blog post. In Laurens’ honour I tried to recreate his famous pose. Sadly, I lack the conviction – it’s all in the eyes. I think I need tips from the maestro!

Having been a volunteer with Projects Abroad myself, I remember the days after the first couple of weeks when the fun is really just beginning and you become immersed within the culture. If only I had 3 more months here….

Program Advisor, Scott McQuarrie, in Nepal

Do you like to travel? Enthusiastic about international volunteering? Curious about the world? If so, you might be interested in working for Projects Abroad. We are currently looking for a Program Advisor to work in our office in New York City and to promote all of our different programs. Please check out the following link for more information about the position and how to apply:

http://www.projects-abroad.org/about-us/jobs-with-projects-abroad/

Projects Abroad are offering a new and worthwhile opportunity working in the township of Mfuleni in South Africa.

Mfuleni is a relatively new township 40 kilometres from Cape Town. The majority of the community was moved there in the late 1990s following flooding and fires in different townships across the Western Cape.

This is a very poor township with a number of pressing problems, however, despite this the people of Mfuleni have stayed and worked together to try and uplift their community and make it a better place for all.

Within the village and surrounding areas many families live in inadequate accommodation. This project enables volunteers to play a key role in the building of new better quality homes, overall making Mfuleni a more comfortable and safe place to live.

Volunteers will join the team alongside the local villagers to help with the construction of simple cinder block homes for families within the community who require assistance.

This is project is in real need of volunteers help, and with it we can eradicate many problems caused by poverty in the area.

Reasonably fit? Physically active? Love the outdoors?

If the answers yes this could be the perfect project for you.

To learn more about the Building program check out the website
http://www.projects-abroad.co.uk/projects/culture-and-community/south-africa-community-building-project/

Since volunteering on a care & community project in the summer of 2007, Kristina Johansson has been constantly working on new ways to fundraise for her old placement Royal Seed orphanage.

Royal Seed orphanage houses over 100 orphans, and over the year has seen many Projects Abroad volunteers, it truly is a placement in real need of volunteer help.

Kristina returned with family and friends to Royal Seed last summer, here she decided that she wanted to raise further money for a more lasting donation to the orphanage.

Andrew Fryer (International Development Officer) met up with her last summer to discuss the most useful ways to put her raised money to use. After his recent trip Andy explained,

“Royal Seed is an orphanage an hour to the west of Accra that has for a number of years had a strong partnership with Projects Abroad and our volunteers.
 
Last summer I met Kristina at Royal Seed orphanage and she discussed with me her wish to make a lasting donation that would be able to help with the long term future of Royal Seed Orphanage. Her idea to build a small barn providing a sustainable source of food and therefore cutting costs, this was most welcomed by the orphanage and highlighted that Kristina had thought carefully about how best to spend the money she intended to raise. Last week, a year after I first spoke to Kristina, I returned to Royal Seed and was really impressed to see the end result - with a completed barn containing chickens, goats and rabbits. The rising cost for the Director of the Orphanage Naomi to feed 120 children means that this donation will help go someway to alleviate the issue of food costs.
 
Naomi was extremely grateful for the support for what she called “the zoo”. She informed me that the chickens have now started to lay the first eggs and this had provided a welcome addition to the children’s menu.”

It is so good to hear that ex volunteers spend so much of their time and effort to raise money for such worthwhile causes such as this, and for that we would love to thank the Johansson Family as well as all of the other donations given to Royal Seed orphanage over the years.

Click here to learn more about our Care program in Ghana