Pace is picking up or at least the drive time

Monday

We had a morning meeting at the PCG General Assembly Office (HQ) with some of the PCG and EPCG (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) leaders to talk about how we all can improve what LWW is doing in Ghana.  We shared with the group LWW's vision to have not only sustainable sites (operating partners), but to also have sustainable networks like the LWW Ghana Network (go to LWW website to understand what a LWW Network is).

PCG new office - long over due.  The old office was 80 years old and when I say they had 18 pounds of rocks in a 10 pound bag - it was probably more like 30 pounds of rocks...the old facility was "full".

We talked about some of the history, issues, & opportunities that are "out there" with the Ghana Network and specifically we spent a bit of time on training.  In simple terms the LWW model is a "train the trainer" model, in other words groups (mainly from the US) are trained by LWW to then go out and train teams (operating partners - installation sites) to install water systems and practice/teach health & hygiene.  The challenge with Ghana is that it's been very difficult to get Ghanians into the US for trainng by LWW AND its been a challenge to get groups out of the US interested in Ghana (distance and expense to travel).

The plan is to bring LWW Clean Water U to Ghana to train the Ghanians at the same level that groups in the US get trained.  This will enable groups like the PCG to be more active at the beginning of a potential installtion site, i.e. with project management / planning and allow them to be engaged more post installation, i.e. follow up & sustainability.  The PCG, as one would imagine, has great resources available - especially people and its important to continue to follow the LWW model - this seems like a good approach to take what LWW (and Idlewild) are doing in Ghana to the next level.  It's a long term plan.

Nsaba

After the meeting in Accra, we trekked to the east and up into the hills a bit to Nsaba (read '13 & '14 blogs).  Much of the same issues, low water volumes and some "politics" between leaders - these two go hand-in-hand!

We met with the director of the training center, the district minister, and the head of the water committee for the school.  We heard much of what we have heard before - but with a little twist in that the director and water committee chair both admit there are "politics"/personalities issues between the training center and school.  Surprise!  This system is getting uses - just not near the potential it could be. 

The new variables in this equation are Rev Assante (New PCG Director of Development & Social Services and Charles Korantange, our part time LWW in-country coordinator).  Rev Assante gave the group some ideas as to how to "break down" the barriers between the groups on behalf of the recipients of the water.  Charles is a bit more tactical and knows the problem manly lies with the headmaster of the school (who could not attend due to another "commitment") - so after the meeting Charles ran down to the school met with the headmaster (showed him a smaller bottle solution for the kids to carry).  Charles came back and told me "I don't need these people to be friends, I just need them to "share" the water!".

From Nsaba - don't ask questions here - but we trekked and trekked and trekked (and I am being conservative here) from Nsaba, back through Accra, and then north to Abitify where we rolled into the Presbytery Office facility at 11:00 p.m. to bed down.  The Presby Office left the light on for us - I think the guy that runs the quarters for the Presby Office did a stint at Motel 6!