Omnipresent influence of Mom

Today is "Mother's Day" and I was hoping to use this entry to tie in some significant "motherly" event and honor both my mom and those around the world.  This is, after all, a blog about my time with Global Mamas.  But in thinking of my experiences here and the events happening around me, nothing was popping out.  No WOW that's incredible, crazy, interesting!

But then I realized, that's the point, isn't it.  It's not about noticing what mom does, it's about noticing the things people do that mom has empowered them to do.  Motherhood isn't a single event, it's about every moment of every day of our lives.  And then I started to look closer at the small details and think about the subtleties of motherhood.

Kente example ("borrowed" photo)

Let me preface this with, I am no expert on motherhood, I am not even a mother myself.  But it is an important, integral part of our society.  Enabling and empowering the women of these small villages as Global Mamas does improves their lives which allows them to improve the lives of their children which improves the whole community.  The reason I am here is because I believe in this process.  We all know, when the oxygen mask drops, you have to put your own mask on before your child's.  If a mother wants to help her child, she must stay in a position to be able to help.

If you start to look at motherhood as the woven pieces of Kente cloth ("type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan people of Ghana", Wikipedia), you realize you have to look at things differently to have a real perspective.

So what am I seeing?  Well, in addition to women carrying a lot of heavy things on their head, there is a lot of carrying of children on the back.  It doesn't get more symbolic than than.  But clearly it's more.  Using the observations of Renae (who runs the Ghana side of Global Mamas) with her newly adopted son, it is the suble confidence-building, gentle guideance, and constant reassuance that he is doing well, is safe, and taken care of.

Happy Mother's Day! Thank you, mom, for all you have done for me and along with dad, setting excellent life examples to live by.

-Charlotte 

Breakfast Beads and Butterflies

It's still hot, it's still humid, and I'm still enjoying myself in Ghana.  I often think of my sister while walking around in these conditions - she is the only other person I know who enjoys hot humid weather...including a midday run in it.  She would love it!  And probably more than I do.

Bead Market

I traveled to Odumase Krobo this past week.  It's a big bead district in Ghana so Global Mamas has an office there where they make all their jewelry.  On Wed we went to the market which includes a HUGE bead market (I also purchased 2 yards of material as my new towel/sheet/wrap and a few packets of some coffee-like stuff).  The market was interesting as usual with just about everything from rice to used clothing to random  electronic power cables, and of course beads.

They have "old beads" and "new beads" which I'm not going to pretend to really know what that means but I did discover the price difference was huge and I found myself gravitating to the "old beads" (yes, the expensive ones).  The bead design and creating is truly an amazing art.

The Global Mamas operations there have grown significantly and they now employ a dozen+ jewelry makers, buy beads from several of local bead makers, and positively impact dozens more in the community.  I'm not one to talk to strangers about their private lives but I do hear stories on the fringes - they are about women who now have health care, or can send their children to school, or even open a savings account.  It was really great to see these positive impacts on a micro level.

Breakfast=egg sandwich & bag of coffee

While in Krobo, I also had my first coffee-in-a-bag experience.  It might help to understand that almost all food and beverages come in a bag here (yes, really, beverages).  I've learned to bite off the end of any bag and drink from it without spilling, but I wasn't prepared for the coffee.  It was a little tight in the bag and still very hot and well, I ended with coffee on the floor and burnt finger tips.  I'll have to work on that yet.

Last weekend I found a nice little get-away in Accra (a rare find).  I went with some friends to the Legon Botanical Gardens.  It is a bit outside Accra but the closest I know where you can sit and relax in relative peace and quiet amongst trees, flowers and butterflies.  It must be butterfly season because I've encountered quite a few lately.  If I could get my act together, I would schedule a bird or butterfly watching adventure - I believe Ghana has some great places for this.

I am still working on my volunteer projects in between all this travel.  The Access DB is coming along....(snore)....but I can see I will start to feel the pressures of a project deadline as my departure date approaches. :O

-Charlotte

Full Circle

Thought I'd finally get around to telling you what I'm doing to help Global Mamas. I'm quite excited about it because I think it just might add value to the organization after all. I had hoped to use my IT skills to help them out (I doubtfully have other skills that would be useful), but secretly I suspected that it might be hard to really implement something meaningful – me showing up out of the blue for a few months with no background of how they work and what they might need.

However, it was clear within the first week that not only could I help them with things they were desperately needing, I could help them with things they didn't even know they needed. Isn't that just the IT way - “you don't know it yet, but what you really need is...”.

They had a laundry list of things for me but after evaluating all of them, the assignments I ended up taking were: a) work on an application to track orders and inventory and such; b) set up a self-service reporting environment (that was my little addition).

So I dove in and got to work and have been moving forward with it every since. What didn't strike me until I took a moment to reflect on my work was that I managed to quit my job and go thousands of miles in search of something new and different....and found myself doing almost exactly what I was doing before. Well, not completely, but close enough.

After this enlightening moment, I still might question whether I'm really doing something Global Mamas needs, but I certainly don't have to question whether I have chosen the right field of work. Clearly, I gravitate towards it like flies to a large cold bottle of Star beer (that would be the Ghanaian beer in my diet).

In the end I suspect I will give them a little something that helps the business, but they will give me a whole lot of something that I can carry with me forever – a unique perspective on business in the global market for a group of challenged yet dedicated women in one small corner of the world.

-Charlotte

Ghana Google

A few blogs back I was lamenting about the lack of my access to Google and how was I going to get anything done. Well, that problem isn't solved, but I have discovered Ghana Google which I can see already I'm going to miss when I leave. How do people elsewhere get by without Ghana Google?

Are you scratching your head yet? Just what is Ghana Google? It's how you get around and find EVERYTHING here. It's much better than Google because you don't have to weed through tons of results – it is simple and direct information. It is generally step by step with a constant feedback loop. And it is sometimes so intuitive, it gives you information you want without even asking.

Here's how it works. Let's say, you want an egg sandwich for lunch. Just walk out the door and say to the first person you see, "Egg sandwich?"  They will point you in a direction and you can just start walking. After about 50 yards, you ask another person who will keep you on the right path. This continues until you are at the egg sandwich lady's stall.

It also works for traveling, and I've even discovered if I LOOK slightly confused, someone will present themselves to ask what I'm trying to do and offer guidance. It's quite reassuring, really, knowing you can go anywhere and look for anything...smart-phone or not.

This previously unappreciated tool became most apparent one day when some friends and I were going to a German heritage party nearby. I Googled the Goethe-Institut where this was being held and drew a small map for us to follow. When we arrived at the supposed destination, it was nowhere to be found. So then we reverted to Ghana Google...”Go down there and turn left.” [at the left turn] “Keep going that way and turn right, then down and go left – you will see it” [at next turn] “Yes go left there – you will see it.”...and on until voila! We arrived, albeit a bit hot, tired and thirsty.

Hmmm, I think there could be an opportunity to model a new search engine tool.

-Charlotte

PS - I REALLY wanted to post some Ghana pics with this blog but I just could not upload them...even after reducing them to <500kb.  Aaarrrggghhh!!!!

Gorillas in the Midst

This blog is a small diversion from Global Mamas and my volunteer program, and, yes, an absolutely painful play on words (I couldn't help myself).

While on the African continent, I thought I should take advantage of being there...not knowing when I would have the opportunity to return. So a friend and I took a short trip to see the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda.

The gorillas were spectacular, of course, but what impressed upon me the most during the trip is what an absolutely amazing country Rwanda is. Immediately after leaving the airport in Kigali, I noticed how clean and green and fresh and new everything looked. This was not the post-genocide Rwanda I expected. I wasn't expecting to feel in danger or that I walked into the middle of a country with severe social and political strife. But I also did not expect to walk into a country that seemed so at peace, friendly, and most notably, devoid of trash. There were visible signs of progress being made everywhere – new roads and buildings, people working on various upgrades to the villages, etc.

Why no trash? I found out that Rwanda has done two amazing things: outlawed plastic bags, and; instituted clean-up day once a month (stores close down and everyone is required to clean their immediate area). Simple things with little to no impact on a person's life, but a HUGE impact on the environment and beauty of the country.

How could a country be at peace so soon after the genocide atrocities committed? I don't know. And after touring the Genocide Museum, I REALLY don't know because I hadn't previously understood the extent of what happened. I can only imagine it is the amazing ability for the people of Rwanda to forgive and move forward that has allowed Rwanda to be the country I experienced.

OK, on to the gorillas! You're probably familiar with the Mountain Gorillas and don't even know it. Remember Dian Fossey? Gorillas in the Mist movie? Well, there are several gorilla families living in the mountains that include borders between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo. National parks have been established to try to save the gorillas from extinction. This means making the keeping of the gorillas more profitable than the poaching of them. So the license/ticket to do a gorilla trek is quite pricey but hopefully saving these beautiful, gentle beings.

The trek included 8 tourists and a myriad of guides, trackers, and security patrol. We found a family within 2 hours and were able to observe for an hour before returning. The encounter was thrilling for me, but the gorillas were oddly disinterested in us. We observed them eating, playing, and relaxing, and often I would think – wow that just looks like a human in a fur suit (but I guess they almost are). Anyway, some photos included (after 8 hours of uploading :)...

Towards the end of my trip a driver asked what I thought of his country and I answered, “It is one of the most impressive countries I have ever seen.” I meant it.

-Charlotte

Stickin' it to the little guy

What you're about to read is based on a true story.  I would happily tell you the true story, which is probably even more dramatic, but I'm sure I'd get some details wrong.  That being said, I assure you the stories intent and meaning will come through.

Fur friend
gifty?

As we all know, the US has a lot of requirements for how products are categorized, labelled, disclaimered, packaged, etc.  I'd like to believe that in general, this is a good thing for consumers - how could we possibly research on our own the content and origins of all the products we buy.

So in order to sell products such as shea butter in the US, Global Mamas has to ensure all the product labeling meets current standards.  Paperwork is filed with the FDA and reviewed, and reviewed again, and so on.  Then upon approval, many label stickers are printed (trying to get a bulk rate), products are wrapped, labels stuck on and shipped to the US...

...where they subsequently sit awaiting approval...again.

You see, apparently the FDA decided to change its rules.  Not so surprising really.  However, they are applying the new rule to the product label that was previously approved and has already been stickered and shipped.  What this now means I can't imagine - returned, relabelled and reshipped?  That is quite an expense for a small business to absorb, and really unnecessary could we use common sense in these situations.

Christmas stocking
stuffer?

On one hand, you have businesses trying to lie to consumers, put minimal effort into their products and contents, and squeeze every penny out of sales with no consideration for the consumer (you know, lead in toothpaste, "filler" in tacos, pesticides in organic food).  On the other hand you have a litigious consumer trying to sue for happiness (the fast track version of pursuing happiness).  So one can see the need for good regulation.  However, there is a group of people trying to be good businessmen and good consumers, and this group gets mired down in the greed-fed bureaucracy of the rest.

Wouldn't it be great if we could trust our officials enough to make a good judgement call in the case of the shea butter stickers?  Yes, you're nodding, I know, everyone knows, this is not news.

I debated blogging this because it is so common and not a challenge specific to Global Mamas.  It's just that even the shared challenges are BIGGER challenges here.  Shipping, for example, can be a monumental feat so to have to consider reshipping anything would be like, I don't know, asking people to hand deliver their Facebook wall posts to everyone they want it seen by.

On a happier note, the people I've been working with are just determined enough to do it (not the FB thing).  They will work through the problems and get done what needs to get done because it is important enough to them to do so.  Glad I am on the same team.

Cheers,
Charlotte

The little things

Prior to my trip to Ghana, I solicited more than just monetary donations for Women In Progress...I was told Global Mamas was in need of general computer equipment such as laptops, routers, keyboards, mice, etc.  I would collect these donations and personally bring them to Ghana because if you try to ship items, they, well, thin out along the way.

I had hardly put the word on the street and I was receiving these items from friends.  Four routers.  What on earth will they do with four routers?  Well, turns out they will happily use all four routers...and the keyboards, and mice.  You see, it is quite hot and humid in Ghana and computer equipment takes quite a beating.  Replacing items here is costly and hit-or-miss on quality.

It's these little things we often take for granted that can have a huge impact on a business's ability to function.  For example, if the router goes kaput at the production site, internet connectivity is lost and it is not possible to receive orders via email.  Business can essentially come to a halt.

You have to keep in mind that an internet connection itself is already light and spotty here and an "always up" secured connection between offices is not viable.  Just imagine how much more challenging work would be at your company under these conditions.

Fishing boats in Prampram

Life in the slow lane

I took a quick trip to Prampram shortly after arriving.  It is one of the locations for production, that is, batiking and sewing garments, bags, baskets (they make really cool collapsible baskets), etc.  I'm doing some database design work for them to help track orders and other information, so don't really need access to internet.  However, I realized just how dependent I've become on the internet as a frequent resource for information - how was I going to code this or that without looking it up on the internet?  I want my Google!

Well, the process to get my little web fix was to borrow (essentially) an air card from someone there.  This meant they were not on the internet while I was asking Google how to do my job.  I had to be brief, but the connection was slow.  It was only a few days into my trip and I was feeling completely handicapped by the whole technology situation.

So, to circle back around, I want to again thank those who donated items and assure you they are being put to good use!

-Charlotte

Local Challenges in a Global Market

A seemingly common and mundane, but really very interesting thing happened on my first day of volunteering.  I thought it said a lot about the challenges these woman face trying to run a business in a global market, and I immediately knew it was the first thing I wanted to share on my blog with regards to this volunteer program.

I was sent along with a member of the Global Mamas team to pick up calico (one of the first things I learned about batiking - calico is cotton cloth that has been bleached and ready for them to use).  They had ordered several rolls of calico and were able to pick up some the week before, but the whole order wasn't there so we went back to pick up the rest.  By luck we did get the rest but were informed the price went up...again (it had also gone up the week before).  There is a world cotton crisis which is not only driving up prices but potentially making the calico unavailable altogether.

If this were to happen, the batikers' business would be in serious jeopardy.  These women have small businesses with no financial means to float a few months waiting for calico.  However, with an organization like Global Mamas behind them, their prospects are better.  The funds raised with the help of many of you can help organizations like this provide infrastructure, micro-lending, or buying power to assist getting over these hurdles.

Fast forward a couple weeks, a lot of calico has been secured to ensure the women can continue batiking and earning a living for the next few months.  I think you can connect the dots and see the cycle that has just been completed with the help of many.

...More to come soon on the great things happening here!

-Charlotte

Hot and Spicy

Heat!  That's the first thing I felt arriving in Accra, Ghana.  Not unexpected of course, just something you know what feels like but still surprises you every time.

I landed at night so my first vision of the city was of its lights.  They weren't super bright and there wasn't streams of freeways packed with cars, but the expanse of the city was more than I imagined.  Immigration, baggage claim, and customs all went smoothly and I was able to exchange money at a Forex before leaving the airport (the ATM was for Visa credit/debit cards only).


I was met by a member of Global Mamas and she drove me to their office/home which can best be described as a small secured complex.  It is all walled in with barbed wire atop the wall and a 24hr security guard.  It houses volunteers, employees, a family, several pets, and serves as a main office for operations.  The place has a great atmosphere and the people are friendly with interesting stories to share.  It is also a great location for local shopping or getting around Accra.

For my dog-lover friends

Spicy!  Yes I unexpectedly (and happily) discovered the food can be quite spicy if that's what you're looking for.  A simple bowl of rice with chicken came with a nice dollop of very spicy sauce.  Apparently, spicy is not hard to find everywhere, so I guess I won't need the Cholula or cayenne pepper I brought.


If I had to pick one place Accra most reminded me of, I'd have to say Belize.  It has an easy going feel even though there is all sorts of hustle and bustle; the dirt streets are filled with life, vendors, and trash; people approach you everywhere to be your "friend"; and it's hot.


These were just a few of my first impressions of Accra (yes, I'm behind on my blogging).  Oh, did I mention it is HOT?


-Charlotte

A Volunteer Adventure

Yesterday was my first day volunteering for Women in Progress in Ghana.  The coordination began last September, but really it began several years ago.

Those of you under 40 may think of the following, "Um, what?"  Those much older may think "Whatever (get over it)."  Those of you like me, in the middle, might say, "Well, you're making a pretty big deal of it."  That is, turning 40 and entering the age I now call a Mid-life Adventure.

It was the typical turning 40, reflecting on your life wondering "Have I achieved what I expected? Am I where I thought I would be?  Are there things left undone that my knees won't handle in a few years?  Why do we only get 3 weeks of vacation in the United States?"

You ask these questions and then you pick something to do that gets you through the crisis and around the bend.  So after a few fits and starts (trying different things to satisfy my itch for change), I quit my job, rented my house, stored what I didn't give away, and headed off on an adventure that will surely change my life forever...if in no other way than to leave me completely broke.

I gave myself a year to do several things a person can't do with a full-time job and only a few weeks of vacation, though this time period may stretch a bit...or several months.  They are in summary: do nothing; hang out in Europe; hike in Nepal; utilize my skills volunteering for an organization helping women become self-sufficient.  Oh and one other thing which I FAILED so that just gets plucked from the list.

34c = 93f if you're wondering

So I now find myself on the last item - I am currently in Accra, Ghana, volunteering for Women in Progress (WIP).  They are an organization that does business under Global Mamas and they work with local women to build sustainable businesses so they can become financially independent which also helps the community as a whole.  Check out the links above if you're interested.

In the next several posts, I hope to document my time here and the progress made.  I hope to show all the wonderfully generous people who sponsored my project and WIP efforts what great things are happening because of their support, and maybe inspire others to jump off the cliff with me :)

-Charlotte