Alberts Corner
The prodigal son
(2nd of February 2012)
A lost son has returned to PCC and just like in the biblical story we all celebrate his return. Yaw Peter is home again!
Some weeks ago we learnt that Yaw Peter had been seen wandering his hometown Nkwabeng uncared-for and often abused. Children threw stones at him, he did not have any (or few) clothes and sometimes – to the diversion of others - he was made drunk or tied up, when he was considered a nuisance to his environment. He was leading a very sad life over there, that’s for sure.
More than ten years ago Yaw Peter worked in the former sheltered workshop here in the Community for a while, soon after his arrival his buddy Zachariah (see AC, December 2011) also came from Nkwabeng to live here. However, Yaw Peter’s grandmother still lived in Nkoranza and he often ran off to her. In the long run PCC gave up bringing him back here and that is why they gradually lost sight of Yaw Peter. And suddenly, many years later we hear the story of his very depressing circumstances in Nkwabeng.
So Jeannette and I decided to travel to Nkwabeng together with our care coordinator Joe Emma and Zachariah.
First, we started looking for Zachariah’s parental home, he had not been in Nkwabeng for ten years. Very soon the house was found, because many people appeared to remember Zachariah still. We heard his name being called out everywhere and many people came walking towards us: Zachariah is back! We had not thought of the possibility beforehand, but it seemed that Zachariah did not want to budge from my side. When I wanted to park the car more correctly he also wanted to get back into it. It seemed that he was afraid of being left here and staying in Nkwabeng was clearly something he just did not want.
We held hands firmly and witnessed a heart-warming scene: everybody was coming to Zachariah’s family home and several sisters or half-sisters greeted him. Zachariah smiled, shook hands cautiously and then quickly returned to us. Everybody thought he looked wonderful and strong and they were very circumstantial about the fact that they were so very happy that Zachariah had such a good life in PCC.
The prodigal son had come home for a while!
After a while we went to Yaw Peter’s family home and Zachariah became more at ease when he understood that he was to come with us. We noticed that Yaw Peter was hurriedly being washed and a pair of trousers was put on as we talked to some relatives. His grandmother had passed away and his provider had a stroke the year before and was now lying on a piece of cloth on the ground of a nearly bare room. Another woman explained to us that they did not know what to do about Yaw Peter. He did not listen, he had the habit of walking off and sometimes they had to tie him up, because “people” thought him a nuisance, especially at funerals. We could not but conclude from their story and his behaviour that he would not experience much warmth and love in that house again.
After having had a long conversation about all this, Joe Emma, Jeannette and myself discussed matters over with each other outside the house and we decided to give Yaw Peter another chance. We told his relatives to take him to PCC after three days. Yaw Peter did not talk and nodded his head modestly, however, when we asked him whether he would like to return to PCC and if he would not run off again, he nodded like he comprehended the situation.
The future would tell.
And then there he was: three days later he is walking through the entrance of Hand in Hand. Together with a female relative who has borrowed a pair of trousers and a shirt for him, because Yaw Peter does not have any clothes of his own …
He is given a place to sleep in the boys dormitory of the sheltered workshop and we make up an appropriate day programme for him. He is helping Abraham to keep the premises clean and tidy and he is helping Janet in the kitchen with all daily kitchen chores like getting firewood, washing up and so on.
So, Yaw Peter is back in PCC again and he has been showing exemplary behaviour for a week now. He often stands still - smiling quietly, he enjoys being with the other big boys and most of all he seems to realize that he is safe here and that he is being accepted as a human being. What a blessing to him and what joy to us all.
A lost son is back, Yaw Peter is home again!
Jerry Ema enjoys life
(24th January 2012)
Our Community is blessed by a fairly large and energetic group of boys about the age of 10. Together they can easily form a soccer team and one of its members is the lively Jerry Ema. Officially his name is just Ema, however, when he arrived here there were more boys by this name, so he was called after his first caregiver, Jerry, and he has been called Jerry Ema since then.
He was probably born in 2001 and he came to PCC in 2006 after having lived in an orphanage in Tamale, he arrived there after he had been abandoned in the crowded marketplace of Kintampo. The person who had put him there, had done so by leaving him with a plastic bag with two shirts and two pairs of trousers in it, your child must be dressed properly no matter what …….
Jerry Ema cannot talk, although he does have some special sounds, which he uses to say something. His mimicry is very lively and fortunately, with this he can make himself clear. He is not unintelligent and he understands a lot of what has been said to him. Jerry Ema is nearly always cheerful, ready to help, social and very energetic. He lives with the cheerful and caring caregiver Josephine together with his small “brother” John Papa and this seems a fine combination. Jerry Ema takes good care of John Papa, for instance, he takes him by the hand to have a meal, when walking to the pool or to the rock church, all in all, he behaves like a big brother should!
His best friend is Moses and together they can have a lot of fun, but sometimes troubles arise: Jerry Ema can cry heart-rending when Moses gets something he does not or the other way around! The Community seems to be too small for the both of them when this happens and everybody will be a witness of this! Fortunately, it never takes long before something else draws their attention.
Each morning Jerry Ema comes running to me, because he – and at least ten other children with him - likes joining a new morning ritual. First, we greet Mr Robert in his wheelchair and then we run to the kitchen entrance to greet Janet with a loud and long “Goooooooood Mooooorning”, which is also answered by Janet with an enthusiastic “Goooooood Moooorning”. Then Jerry Ema rapidly disappears, because he prefers running around in his own manner to a boring one-hour stroll. His walking often is more like a kind of dance or shuffle, he seems to be hopping around and he always finds or sees something interesting to amuse himself with.
Most of all he likes playing a game of football, just like all other boys of his age do, but he also fully enjoys playing in the pool and all other games which are organized.
He likes going to Shalom Special School and he is also really happy with the extra lessons in the computer room of the Education Centre. Until recently he just wanted to play computer games, but when he was excluded from computer lessons for a few days by way of punishment because of this, he accepted that he is expected to use educational software as well.
Every evening after dinner Jerry Ema regards it his duty to fetch Kofi Asare’s drum so he can accompany that day’s song to say thanks. And since recently he sometimes takes a bowl of “Tom Brown” (a nourishing porridge) from the big kitchen to Jeannette and myself in the morning. Then he is walking very cautiously through all other children, the donkeys, chickens and other obstacles to prevent the porridge from spilling and on arrival to our house he will show – proud as a peacock, that also this time his endeavour has been a complete success! And of course, we will enjoy the porridge even better at this!
Jerry Ema enjoys his life, he is nearly always smiling and he is always looking for new and exciting things to do. Fortunately, in PCC there are many possibilities for Jerry Ema to colour his life and he certainly has a good time here. In return he makes Hand in Hand extra colourful by his presence and all residents benefit by this!
Charity married!!
(13th of January 2012)
Each visitor of PCC must have wondered for the last few years when Charity, our hostess, would get married. Nobody ever doubted that she would eventually, but the question was: when would she and to whom?? Nearly all (former) visitors to our Community cherish warm memories of Charity and their pleasant doings with this charming hostess. She is able to answer our guests’ questions professionally, she prepares delicious food for them and now and then she also sings beautiful songs to them. All in all, she is a great hostess who has been working for our Community since 2003, so she has witnessed a considerable part of the growth of PCC.
There was bound to be a wedding and in December last it (finally) came to pass. On the 2nd and 3rd of December Charity married her lover Godwin Kwesi Sarfo Kantanka – whom she had been acquainted with more than two years ago through a mutual friend - in an wonderful and elegant way.
Godwin is from Akwapim and Prampram, which are in the Eastern and Greater Accra Region, and he works for the Education Service. Godwin and Charity’s interest in other partners disappeared as snow under a hot sun when they met and now, in December 2011, was the moment to transform their relationship into a marriage.
The whole ceremony took three days and it started on Friday 2nd December with the “traditional” wedding in Charity’s hometown, Nkwabeng, which was attended by many relatives on both sides. Of course, everybody knew what was about to happen, but entirely according to tradition Charity’s relatives asked those of Godwin what the exact reason of their visit was. One of Godwin’s uncles answered (very poetically) that “they had come to pick the beautiful flower which was in their house”! Because their relative Godwin would like to take the flower as his wife, they had come to ask Charity’s family permission for this marriage. The answer was that there were many very beautiful flowers in their house to pick! Then Godwin was allowed to enter the room (he had been sitting in a “waiting-room” all the while) and he was asked to make sure which flower was meant. Amongst all female relatives he pointed out Charity! He took the flower she was carrying and showed it to everybody: see, this is the flower I want!
Next, an uncle asked Charity whether it was her sincere wish that her family would accept the gifts which the other family had brought, which would mean that Charity would agree to become Godwin’s wife. After her “Yes, I do.” he asked her a second time and after her second “Yes” he made extra sure by asking the same question for a third time. After this third “Yes” the relatives were finally persuaded to believe that it was her profound wish to marry Godwin. The whole family agreed to the marriage and accepted all presents for Charity, amongst which were the wedding rings, and also the gifts for her parents and relatives.
The next day, on December 3, they got the Church’s blessing in the big and crowded Presbyterian Victory Church of Nkoranza. This was a full day’s programme, which started at 10 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.
First, all relatives, friends and guests came, then Godwin and eventually the bride in her fabulous wedding gown. Charity looked really wonderful and she and Godwin were radiant with joy during the Church service and the wedding ceremony and also during the festive wedding reception afterwards!
A large and beautifully dressed delegation of Hand in Hand had also come to Church to celebrate along with the others and to sing a special and appropriate song to the bride and groom, a song which ended in a three times happy and cheerful “Hip, hip, hurray!” by Ahmed!
And fortunately, Ineke and Bob were also able to congratulate the bridal couple in the afternoon, because they had arrived from Accra earlier that day!
After the traditional wedding on Friday and the wedding service on Saturday, Thanksgiving was celebrated on Sunday the 4th of December. Everybody came to Church to thank for the joy of marriage and to ask for God’s blessing for the young couple again.
After Thanksgiving all wedding ceremonies ended and Charity and Godwin have been living together in a house in Nkoranza since then. During the day Charity still works at the restaurant of PCC, so visitors, who will come soon, will be able to congratulate her personally!
And this is what we also do here: we sincerely hope that God will bless the marriage of Charity and Godwin and that they will live happily and in love for many years.
2012, a very special year for PCC
(3rd January 2012)
All of us are at the beginning of a new year and of course the same applies to the children and workers at PCC.
Here at New Years Eve during the Bonfire all those who gathered shouted “bye bye” to the year 2011 and after that the next day we welcomed the year 2012 in a befitting way by coming together for a swinging PCC party.
It’s a new year and nobody knows what this new year will bring to us. We are grateful for all good things that happened during 2011 and we hope and pray that 2012 will bring more beautiful and good things for all children and workers of our Hand in Hand Community.
The flames of the Bonfire at New Years Eve were blazing up and the children were standing in awe of the fire at an appropriate distance. On the rhythm of the enthusiastic Kofi Asare music group all children were dancing and walking in circles around the fire and at the same time they were warmed by its heat. Here no firework or other noisy crackles during midnight. For our children the old year ended when the flames of the bonfire extinguished and that was around 19.30 at New Years Eve.
After a quiet night the new year started the next morning with a beautiful church service in the rock church. During this happy service many children, amongst them Ayim (see the picture), prayed for many blessings in the year that just started.
That evening the period of party’s and activities around Christmas and the New Year ended with a special New Year Party, a.o. with inspiring performances of the PCC Caregivers Choir and the PCC Junior Choir. As usual many children contributed with a special act to the party, for only in this way it really becomes a PCC party.
For example just look to the beautiful faces of Tettey and Kojo Evans, who (like all others) got a big applause for their special performance.
The next day is the day for major cleaning of the compound, everyone at PCC is busy in helping to remove all the palm leaves with flowers, the many nice Christmas lights, the beautifully made coloured paper decorations and of course the Christmas articles. Uninvited even the donkeys were assisting in the removing process, though their way of removing was a bit different: they just consume part of the decorations!
All other decorations are put in the boxes until the celebration of Christmas in 2012 and that will take some time! Till then a whole year is in front of us and already now we believe it will be a special year, as Hand in Hand is looking forward to its 20th Anniversary in 2012. Yes, indeed!
Twenty years for this Community! Started as a small seed in 1992 it developed over the years into a fully fledged and unique Community for 80 children with an intellectual disability, a Community where the Spirit of PCC can still be seen and felt day after day.
The year 2012 started very well, not only with the New Year party, but also because of the visit of a delegation of a local church, the Fountain Gate Chapel. They made us very happy on the 2nd January with a wonderful gift of some soap, cookies, minerals, toilet paper etc. for our children as well as with a donation of Cedi 200. We hope the year will continue in this way, for us it is very important that the Ghanaian society feels connected to PCC and to the fate of all Ghanaian disabled children!
You can learn all about the ups and downs of our Community by reading this column also this year, so don’t forget to visit our website regularly.
All residents of PCC are very grateful to the loyal readers of Alberts Corner for supporting us and sympathizing with PCC during the past year.
We wish all of you all the best for the new year and if you happen to be around this year: you are most welcome in this special year of Jubilee!