Comments on: The Hidden Story Part One http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/ ...the change you want to see. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:31:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: jonathan http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-5061 jonathan Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:21:30 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-5061 hi laura i understand your point. everybody's experience is different. i found it hard to talk about some of the things i encountered and what i tried to do about it. one day i found one of my students tied to a crucifix, face down on the floor, being beaten senseless by some students and another teacher. i expected to have to deal with corporal punishment but this was more like torture of a 14 year old disabled kid. nobody cared, not the italian school oweners, my colleagues or VSO. i could give you many more stories just like that one but i haven't really felt like writing them down. a previous VSO volunteer went on the same placement as me and raised similar complaints. She event went to the trouble of taking it to VSO to make sure nobody else went to the school until things were resolved. VSO did nothing about it except wait a year then fill the placement again, with me. I went into my VSO placement with a very postive attititude and i tried with both VSO and my employers to improve things but i was powerless to do so. it's also very difficult to ignore abuse and think positive for months on end. i could go on but ill just say sorry that you have that interpretation. i never expected in such an honest blog that there would be so much i couldn't say. hi laura

i understand your point. everybody’s experience is different. i found it hard to talk about some of the things i encountered and what i tried to do about it.

one day i found one of my students tied to a crucifix, face down on the floor, being beaten senseless by some students and another teacher.

i expected to have to deal with corporal punishment but this was more like torture of a 14 year old disabled kid. nobody cared, not the italian school oweners, my colleagues or VSO.

i could give you many more stories just like that one but i haven’t really felt like writing them down.

a previous VSO volunteer went on the same placement as me and raised similar complaints. She event went to the trouble of taking it to VSO to make sure nobody else went to the school until things were resolved. VSO did nothing about it except wait a year then fill the placement again, with me.

I went into my VSO placement with a very postive attititude and i tried with both VSO and my employers to improve things but i was powerless to do so. it’s also very difficult to ignore abuse and think positive for months on end.

i could go on but ill just say sorry that you have that interpretation. i never expected in such an honest blog that there would be so much i couldn’t say.

]]> By: Laura http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-5060 Laura Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:02:30 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-5060 I was quite shocked to read your blog - not necessary because of what you experienced, rather your attitude to what you experienced. I'm not quite sure what your expectations were - you also don't really mention what you did to try and make the situation better for yourself other than ranting. I am a returned volunteer from Ghana. My experience of the staff at VSO Ghana was incredibly positive - lots of support and enthusiasm, who built good relationships with volunteers. Yes, there were frustrations and things didn't run smoothly. What I gradually learnt however was a lot of the frustrations and challenges were indeed the realities of living in a developing country and out of my control. These challenges are experienced by Ghanaians daily. VSO doesn't guarntee the volunteer experience - it is what you make of it. Many volunteers overcome challenges by adopting a positive attitude and throwing themselves into the small but valuable impacts they can make...... I was quite shocked to read your blog - not necessary because of what you experienced, rather your attitude to what you experienced.
I’m not quite sure what your expectations were - you also don’t really mention what you did to try and make the situation better for yourself other than ranting.
I am a returned volunteer from Ghana. My experience of the staff at VSO Ghana was incredibly positive - lots of support and enthusiasm, who built good relationships with volunteers. Yes, there were frustrations and things didn’t run smoothly. What I gradually learnt however was a lot of the frustrations and challenges were indeed the realities of living in a developing country and out of my control. These challenges are experienced by Ghanaians daily.
VSO doesn’t guarntee the volunteer experience - it is what you make of it. Many volunteers overcome challenges by adopting a positive attitude and throwing themselves into the small but valuable impacts they can make……

]]> By: Jon http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4760 Jon Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:53:04 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4760 Hey guys sorry for not replying - i have a had a slight medical issue which put me off typing! Julia, Hagan is doing great at Uni, more to come about him soon! Hey guys sorry for not replying - i have a had a slight medical issue which put me off typing!

Julia, Hagan is doing great at Uni, more to come about him soon!

]]> By: Lyndsay Gale http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4746 Lyndsay Gale Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:11:05 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4746 Hi, I'm so sorry that such a major thing in your life ended up this way. I think its a sad reality that much charity work ends up this way. When is part two? Lyndsay (jay's fiancee) Hi,

I’m so sorry that such a major thing in your life ended up this way. I think its a sad reality that much charity work ends up this way. When is part two?

Lyndsay (jay’s fiancee)

]]> By: Julia http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4714 Julia Tue, 25 Sep 2007 05:21:02 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4714 Yevu, Yevu.... Abor must seem so far away, I know it does for me. Looks like you are starting to collect your thoughts and are on your way to writing that tell-all book about our favourite institution in the Volta Region! I saw H right before I left. He had the same beautiful smile on his face and was getting really excited about school. He told me M was leaving the same day he went to Accra. I guess things will be pretty different over at St-T's. I guess you are going through all the stages of return culture shock..I know I am. Hope life in Dorset is nice and peaceful, but not as quiet as Abor. Keep in touch. Yevu, Yevu….
Abor must seem so far away, I know it does for me. Looks like you are starting to collect your thoughts and are on your way to writing that tell-all book about our favourite institution in the Volta Region!
I saw H right before I left. He had the same beautiful smile on his face and was getting really excited about school. He told me M was leaving the same day he went to Accra. I guess things will be pretty different over at St-T’s.
I guess you are going through all the stages of return culture shock..I know I am. Hope life in Dorset is nice and peaceful, but not as quiet as Abor.
Keep in touch.

]]> By: Dave http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4702 Dave Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:12:05 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4702 Jon, I have worked here (in Ghana) for 5 years doing a well paid job with a UK based building contractor. From my experience in country I can only confirm that most of the NGO’s, and VSO itself, only exist in this country for the benefit of the locally based staff. I have spoken in the past to another VSO worker who had exactly the same problems as you, i.e. zero support and no interest from the Accra office. I offer no solutions and can only confirm that the charity and NGO business here is a complete con. Generally the overseas organisations have been doing the same things since WW2 and to date achieved precisely nothing. Good luck for the future, unfortunately you can only chalk it down to experience. Regards, David Jon,
I have worked here (in Ghana) for 5 years doing a well paid job with a UK based building contractor. From my experience in country I can only confirm that most of the NGO’s, and VSO itself, only exist in this country for the benefit of the locally based staff. I have spoken in the past to another VSO worker who had exactly the same problems as you, i.e. zero support and no interest from the Accra office.

I offer no solutions and can only confirm that the charity and NGO business here is a complete con. Generally the overseas organisations have been doing the same things since WW2 and to date achieved precisely nothing.

Good luck for the future, unfortunately you can only chalk it down to experience.
Regards, David

]]> By: Jay Honosutomo http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4696 Jay Honosutomo Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:33:36 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4696 This all makes me quite angry. As you know Jon, Lyndsay (my fiancee) works for a charity , too - and on her various trips to Africa there have been numerous times when I've been staggered by their lack of organisation and support. Good for you, though - stories like this need to be told and these 'organisations' (I've always thought that word to often be misleading) need to listen. Could you imagine how much good would be done if promises were kept and people were half organised? Jay This all makes me quite angry. As you know Jon, Lyndsay (my fiancee) works for a charity , too - and on her various trips to Africa there have been numerous times when I’ve been staggered by their lack of organisation and support.

Good for you, though - stories like this need to be told and these ‘organisations’ (I’ve always thought that word to often be misleading) need to listen.

Could you imagine how much good would be done if promises were kept and people were half organised?

Jay

]]> By: Tim Little http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4695 Tim Little Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:48:07 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4695 Jon, Thank you for your honesty and openness in this blog. I've been following it since February when I did my PfC course, and it has been an interesting counter balance to the generally positive feedback I've been getting. On Sunday I'll be flying out to Accra before heading to Tamale and will be bearing in mind some of your experiences. All the best, Tim Jon,
Thank you for your honesty and openness in this blog. I’ve been following it since February when I did my PfC course, and it has been an interesting counter balance to the generally positive feedback I’ve been getting. On Sunday I’ll be flying out to Accra before heading to Tamale and will be bearing in mind some of your experiences.

All the best,

Tim

]]> By: Hoov http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4685 Hoov Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:05:22 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4685 I couldn't believe what I just read, mate. Shocked doesn't even come close... I'm just so very sorry for both you and your students out in Ghana. From what you've said and the pics I've seen from time-to-time, it looks like you were a hit with them, which is a good thing and no surprise to people that know you. This is where magic wands would just be perfect, eh? You could simply wave all the idiocy and tragedy away in one foul swoop... But then hey, this thing about Yin/Yang and opposing fates, etc, might just have some credence after all. I'm just so sorry you ended up seeing so much of the bad side. Keep your chin up, JB and try to remember all the good you surely did for those students. :) Jim I couldn’t believe what I just read, mate. Shocked doesn’t even come close…

I’m just so very sorry for both you and your students out in Ghana. From what you’ve said and the pics I’ve seen from time-to-time, it looks like you were a hit with them, which is a good thing and no surprise to people that know you.

This is where magic wands would just be perfect, eh? You could simply wave all the idiocy and tragedy away in one foul swoop… But then hey, this thing about Yin/Yang and opposing fates, etc, might just have some credence after all.

I’m just so sorry you ended up seeing so much of the bad side.

Keep your chin up, JB and try to remember all the good you surely did for those students.

:)

Jim

]]> By: Shane http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4684 Shane Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:10:51 +0000 http://lastchancetobe.com/2007/09/03/the-hidden-story-part-one/#comment-4684 Wow. Frustration upon frustration, and we haven't even touched on how the students were treated. My daughter had frustrations in Ghana but even her organization wasn't as bad. Well, they did do some of the same things but not nearly as many. I look forward to reading part two. Glad to hear you are back on your feet (job, house, had a vacation, .....) I hope you are enjoying life more now. Cheers, Shane Wow. Frustration upon frustration, and we haven’t even touched on how the students were treated. My daughter had frustrations in Ghana but even her organization wasn’t as bad. Well, they did do some of the same things but not nearly as many.

I look forward to reading part two.

Glad to hear you are back on your feet (job, house, had a vacation, …..) I hope you are enjoying life more now.

Cheers,
Shane

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