We finished up our training today. It was excellent and a very enjoyable day. It's great to see all the improvements in the program since I was last here. A highlight from today.....an awesome ice breaker that Ernest from CUA led for us! He combined Ghana, Ireland and Canada into a new word = GHANIRECAN
We all had to get up out of our seats, put our hands on our hips and spell out our new word with our hips.....LOL.....it was so funny!! We all laughed and laughed and it was such a good ice breaker! YES we will be trying this out in 'The Hood' when I get back! Hands down best ice breaker ever, feel free to steal this idea.
We're off to BA tomorrow, a full day of travel and a first for me as we now fly on a domestic flight thanks to Scott and Brian who set that standard for all of us in 2012.
I have a new partner, Joan, from Fort St James as we both have a personal connection to the BA Region. Joan has hosted a lady in Canada in the Women's Mentorship Program and I want to return to BA so I can see the completed water hole that Damien and I (my coaching partner from 2011) worked on. We also learned today that we will have the same driver I had in 2011 - Moses - so this trip is really shaping up to be a trip down memory lane for me <BIG HUGE SMILE!>
Yup, another awesome day in Africa :) I can't wait for tomorrow!!
Heidi in Ghana......
Monday, January 20, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
We made it!
We all arrived safely with our luggage intact so things are off to a very good start over here. Excited for our first day in Ghana and to see what has changed since I was last here 3 years ago.
It's around 28 degrees already and I'm sitting here in a nice cool breeze in the court yard at the Paloma Hotel listening to some African music in the background...after a great breakfast of eggs, dry toast and watermelon...ahhhhh....does it get any better than this?!
We're on the move today to the central credit union's training centre where we will be stationed for the next two days while we complete our in country training....bring on the Adventure!! :)
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| Court yard of Paloma Hotel - Accra, Ghana |
We're on the move today to the central credit union's training centre where we will be stationed for the next two days while we complete our in country training....bring on the Adventure!! :)
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Here we go again......
WAHOOOOOEEEEEE!!!!!!!! I was absolutely thrilled to receive word that I am going to Africa again as a last minute fillin coach for CCA. But the moment was bittersweet for me when I realized that I was going in place of a friend who can no longer make it. That was a hard moment for me......
I have ALWAYS wanted to go back to Africa, but WITH my friend not FOR him....but I know if the shoe were on the other foot I would have done the same for him.....I promise to do my best to make him proud of his replacement.
So......it is with great excitement that I announce I am indeed going back to Africa, the Eastern Region of Ghana to be exact and I have been partnered with another Irishman!! Heaven help Liam as my last Irish partner is still in therapy from our trip....or so he likes to tell me every time we talk...hahaha!
So I hope you will follow along as I set out on this new adventure.....
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thank you.....
As I sit here...reflecting back on my time in Africa...I am overcome with emotion......what a journey it truly was!!!!!
To CCA and John Julian for developing such an amazing program that I have seen first hand is making a difference in the lives of others in developing countries by providing them with a hand UP and not a hand OUT....and to Laurie and Sarah for picking me out of dozens of applicants...thank you!
To the incredible Malawian people I was so fortunate to meet...thank you for sharing your beautiful country with me and teaching me all about the "Warm Heart of Africa"...it was a gift I will always cherish...deep in my heart!
Heidi :)
Oh Yeah!
P.S. Cory - I DID end up beating you with more hits on my blog than you! hahahaha.....
and CCA - if you ever need a last minute fillin in the future - I am SO IN!! :)
I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity....that I know others will only ever dream of......
I am so thankful to so many people who have helped me to realize this life long dream....
To CCA and John Julian for developing such an amazing program that I have seen first hand is making a difference in the lives of others in developing countries by providing them with a hand UP and not a hand OUT....and to Laurie and Sarah for picking me out of dozens of applicants...thank you!To my employer, Interior Savings Credit Union, thank you for allowing me to participate in this incredible program and being such great supporters of the credit union movement worldwide...and Barry, thank you for your support, it meant everything to me...I am really going to miss you when you retire! :)
To my co-workers, who are like my second family, who have picked up the slack for me while I have been gone and who will put up with all my millions of stories I am going to be telling and re-telling over and over again...hahaha.....thank you.....I am so fortunate to work with such talented people who are so dedicated to our credit union and our community! I was so proud to represent all of you!
To the incredible Malawian people I was so fortunate to meet...thank you for sharing your beautiful country with me and teaching me all about the "Warm Heart of Africa"...it was a gift I will always cherish...deep in my heart!
To my fellow coaches, from both last year and this year....oh boy where do I even begin.....oh dear....here come the tears.......you are some of the most passionate and talented people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting...it was truly my honour to be in such good company and I was so touched by your friendship, and promise to keep in touch!
And last, but certainly not least...to my family......you have been behind me 100% while I went through this journey....it meant so much to hear you were proud of me...thanks for being my cheerleaders, I love you all so much...especially my boys, Luke and Nick...thank you....for inspiring me to want to be the best Mama ever......and for teaching me so many life lessons and what is really important in life!
Zukomo Kwambini (thank you VERY MUCH!)
Heidi :)
Oh Yeah!
P.S. Cory - I DID end up beating you with more hits on my blog than you! hahahaha.....
and CCA - if you ever need a last minute fillin in the future - I am SO IN!! :)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Experiencing the "Warm Heart of Africa" one last time.....
We had a great day today, our last full day in Malawi before we leave tomorrow.
The MUSCCO staff took us to a tailor here in Lillongwe to have our SACCO cloth made into an outfit before we leave for home. I had done that last year in Ghana and really wanted to have an outfit from Malawi.
We got all measured up and then dropped off our cloth - it was around 10 am and we were told to come back at 2 to pick up our outfits. So while we waited we went back to the hotel and lounged around the pool for a few hours, and oh boy am I burnt! LOL....I can hear the groans now...and the violins playing in the background from my Canadian friends back home as you are in the dead of winter!
We went back to the tailor in the afternoon but the outfits weren't quite ready as they had run out of buttons in the market. While we were waiting a lady selling cloth and beads offered me a seat, beside her, on her bench while she did her beading. It was fascinating, and she was so friendly.....again.....the "Warm Heart of Africa" surfaced......
I purchased a couple of sets of beads from her and then she told me to pick one.....she wanted me to have one, a gift from her.......WOW!!! I can't even begin to tell you how touched I was.....they have so little and yet they are the ones always giving......here was this lady, making a living selling material and beads and she was offering me one...for FREE!! This place truly is amazing, please add it to your bucket list as you just have to experience it to believe it!
When we went to leave I gave her my last Canada pin...she was so thrilled......she said thank you and I love you...hahaha.....I think that just means she was happy to have met me :)
Another amazing day in Malawi.....I wish I could stay another week........
Heidi in Lillongwe :)
P.S. The outfit cost 3500 Malawian Kwatcha to have made which is $15 Cdn!
The MUSCCO staff took us to a tailor here in Lillongwe to have our SACCO cloth made into an outfit before we leave for home. I had done that last year in Ghana and really wanted to have an outfit from Malawi.
We got all measured up and then dropped off our cloth - it was around 10 am and we were told to come back at 2 to pick up our outfits. So while we waited we went back to the hotel and lounged around the pool for a few hours, and oh boy am I burnt! LOL....I can hear the groans now...and the violins playing in the background from my Canadian friends back home as you are in the dead of winter!
We went back to the tailor in the afternoon but the outfits weren't quite ready as they had run out of buttons in the market. While we were waiting a lady selling cloth and beads offered me a seat, beside her, on her bench while she did her beading. It was fascinating, and she was so friendly.....again.....the "Warm Heart of Africa" surfaced......
I purchased a couple of sets of beads from her and then she told me to pick one.....she wanted me to have one, a gift from her.......WOW!!! I can't even begin to tell you how touched I was.....they have so little and yet they are the ones always giving......here was this lady, making a living selling material and beads and she was offering me one...for FREE!! This place truly is amazing, please add it to your bucket list as you just have to experience it to believe it!
When we went to leave I gave her my last Canada pin...she was so thrilled......she said thank you and I love you...hahaha.....I think that just means she was happy to have met me :)
Another amazing day in Malawi.....I wish I could stay another week........
Heidi in Lillongwe :)
P.S. The outfit cost 3500 Malawian Kwatcha to have made which is $15 Cdn!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Back to Lillongwe we go......
We travelled another 6 hours today to get back to Lillongwe. The trip could have been made in a shorter time frame but we stopped to visit with 2 different SACCOS along the way as well as make several stops for some amazing photos!
One stop we made was in the "exotic forest", they have a pine tree plantation here and I felt like I was back home in British Columbia! They have hundreds of trees and for every tree they harvest they have to plant a new one. I'm not sure what species of pine they are but they sure grow quickly! The reach maturity in about 10 years....wow!
We made it to Lillongwe this afternoon and met up with Lennie and Roccio another CCA coaching team. Lennie and I are friends from our trip to Ghana together last year and I've never received a warmer welcome.....it was awesome! Lennie came running at full speed and gave me a great big hug! :)
We went to Mama Mia's for dinner and exchanged stories about our week, it was great! Then a storm rolled in and we had to make our way back to our hotel, which was a few blocks away.....in a downpour...and I mean a downpour...hahaha......the gutters which are about 1 foot deep were overflowing! When we got back to our hotel looking like drowned rats, the staff came running out with umbrellas even though we were already soaked to the core and said "oh, so sorry".
They are so polite here they even apologize for us having to get wet in the rain.....love Malawi, and love these amazing people!
Heidi in Lillongwe
One stop we made was in the "exotic forest", they have a pine tree plantation here and I felt like I was back home in British Columbia! They have hundreds of trees and for every tree they harvest they have to plant a new one. I'm not sure what species of pine they are but they sure grow quickly! The reach maturity in about 10 years....wow!
We made it to Lillongwe this afternoon and met up with Lennie and Roccio another CCA coaching team. Lennie and I are friends from our trip to Ghana together last year and I've never received a warmer welcome.....it was awesome! Lennie came running at full speed and gave me a great big hug! :)
We went to Mama Mia's for dinner and exchanged stories about our week, it was great! Then a storm rolled in and we had to make our way back to our hotel, which was a few blocks away.....in a downpour...and I mean a downpour...hahaha......the gutters which are about 1 foot deep were overflowing! When we got back to our hotel looking like drowned rats, the staff came running out with umbrellas even though we were already soaked to the core and said "oh, so sorry".
They are so polite here they even apologize for us having to get wet in the rain.....love Malawi, and love these amazing people!
Heidi in Lillongwe
Monday, January 30, 2012
Madame Hide and Mr. Garth....
We finished off our last SACCO visit today in Rumpi, we are now referred to as "Madame Hide" and "Mr. Garth" over here, hahahaha. We worked hard to give them our best suggestions ....they were very appreciative and especially liked the Canadian pins that we handed out before we left! I was really proud with the info we were able to come up with in such a short period of time.
This SACCO, Phindu Community has faced some real hardships in the last few years......the majority of their members are farmers with tobacco crops...years ago they were very profitable but now with the price and demand for tobacco way down it has drastically affected them. But the board is so committed to this community and this SACCO....so much so they that have elected to give up all of their director's pay except for out of pocket expenses until they are more profitable, now that's what I call passion and commitment!
As we were driving back to Muzuzu...it kind of hit me.....that was the last credit union I will be working with here in Africa.....I most likely will never return to this beautiful country and experience these amazing people....I started to get a little teary about it......
I have so loved my time here, and in Ghana last year, it is so humbling and fulfilling all at the same time....
I sent my boys a text back home to let them know I was finished my "official" work over here, and I received the following back from my 11 year old son.....he said "I love u and know u probably helped lots of people with this so u should be proud of yourself"
Oh boy! Then the tears came.....
I am just so grateful to so many people who have made this life long dream of mine a reality....and thanks to all of you for coming along for the ride!
More travel tomorrow as it's back to Lillongwe to reunite with the rest of our Malawi CCA team.
Madame Hide in Muzuzu :)
This SACCO, Phindu Community has faced some real hardships in the last few years......the majority of their members are farmers with tobacco crops...years ago they were very profitable but now with the price and demand for tobacco way down it has drastically affected them. But the board is so committed to this community and this SACCO....so much so they that have elected to give up all of their director's pay except for out of pocket expenses until they are more profitable, now that's what I call passion and commitment!
As we were driving back to Muzuzu...it kind of hit me.....that was the last credit union I will be working with here in Africa.....I most likely will never return to this beautiful country and experience these amazing people....I started to get a little teary about it......
I have so loved my time here, and in Ghana last year, it is so humbling and fulfilling all at the same time....
I sent my boys a text back home to let them know I was finished my "official" work over here, and I received the following back from my 11 year old son.....he said "I love u and know u probably helped lots of people with this so u should be proud of yourself"
Oh boy! Then the tears came.....
I am just so grateful to so many people who have made this life long dream of mine a reality....and thanks to all of you for coming along for the ride!
More travel tomorrow as it's back to Lillongwe to reunite with the rest of our Malawi CCA team.
Madame Hide in Muzuzu :)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
A day in Chintheche @ Nkhata Bay
We had a day off today from work. In Malawi the SACCO employees work 6 days a week, Sunday is their only day off, wow!
The Regional Manager Ezekiel picked us up from our hotel and along with his wife, Mildred, we headed out to Lake Malawi. We saw some amazing things today.....first we came across a rubber tree plantation, where they are growing rubber trees from seedlings. Ezekiel explained that their President had a vision for Malawi about 30 years ago to have it full of trees, in the North there are so many and it is really beautiful.
Further down the road we came across a mature rubber tree grove. To collect the rubber they slice ino the tree and insert a shunt to have the rubber drip out into a collection pot - much like maple syrup, cool!
Then we arrived at Chintheche at a beautiful private beach area where we spent the day visiting with Ezekiel and Mildred learning many things about Malawians and just life in general. Mildred is a registered dietician and also a chicken expert. She told us to never break apart a chicken wing as it is in this joint where all the steriods and other shots are given to the bird and if you split it apart all of that will seep into the meat you are eating...yikes...who knew?!
On the way home we stopped at a road side market area and Ezekiel bartered for us for our treasures in the local dialect, but it was all very respectful and they weren't overcharging us by much, but perhaps that had to do with our company :)
All in all an absolutely wonderful day...I'm a little sun burnt, but hey this is Africa after all.
Oh Yeah! P.S. Ezekiel told Garth and I that our report for Karonga Teachers' SACCO was "good, really, really good", ohhhhh......I was so pleased....I feel so honoured to be able to share my credit union knowledge from back home to make a difference over here.....it made my whole trip worthwhile! Now I've left a little piece of me behind in Malawi! <BIG BIG SMILE!>
Mugone Bwino (good night)
Heidi in Muzuzu
The Regional Manager Ezekiel picked us up from our hotel and along with his wife, Mildred, we headed out to Lake Malawi. We saw some amazing things today.....first we came across a rubber tree plantation, where they are growing rubber trees from seedlings. Ezekiel explained that their President had a vision for Malawi about 30 years ago to have it full of trees, in the North there are so many and it is really beautiful.
Further down the road we came across a mature rubber tree grove. To collect the rubber they slice ino the tree and insert a shunt to have the rubber drip out into a collection pot - much like maple syrup, cool!
Then we arrived at Chintheche at a beautiful private beach area where we spent the day visiting with Ezekiel and Mildred learning many things about Malawians and just life in general. Mildred is a registered dietician and also a chicken expert. She told us to never break apart a chicken wing as it is in this joint where all the steriods and other shots are given to the bird and if you split it apart all of that will seep into the meat you are eating...yikes...who knew?!
On the way home we stopped at a road side market area and Ezekiel bartered for us for our treasures in the local dialect, but it was all very respectful and they weren't overcharging us by much, but perhaps that had to do with our company :)
All in all an absolutely wonderful day...I'm a little sun burnt, but hey this is Africa after all.
Oh Yeah! P.S. Ezekiel told Garth and I that our report for Karonga Teachers' SACCO was "good, really, really good", ohhhhh......I was so pleased....I feel so honoured to be able to share my credit union knowledge from back home to make a difference over here.....it made my whole trip worthwhile! Now I've left a little piece of me behind in Malawi! <BIG BIG SMILE!>
Mugone Bwino (good night)
Heidi in Muzuzu
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
A special memory :)
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