Update from Takoradi -17 June 2005

Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 4:43 PM
Subject: Ghana Update from Takoradi 17 June 2005

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to those of you who responded. It has been difficult to find a fast internet connection so I'm sorry to be so slow in responding. It seems E-quip Africa needs to beg for faster equipment!

I'm in Takoradi, the city where Fr. Francis Tawiah is the cathedral administrator, so I am being treated very well. I came here on Wednesday, June 15 after spending a day at St. Teresa's Minor Seminary in Elmina--it's near Elmina Castle that both Ghana travel groups toured. I know the Bible teacher there, Fr. Ignatious Oyinlolah (yes... Ignatius of Loyola, or just plain Iggy for short). It was peaceful there--a wonderful place for a retreat, really away from the world. The photo above shows Fr. Iggy on the campus of St. Teresa's Minor Seminary.

I have been working in a new computer lab at Star of the Sea (SOTS) school. It is a Macintosh lab, probably one of very few in Ghana. The Macs are great for teaching beginning computing, especially all the tools for paint and draw. Upper elementary students can learn how to save and how to find what they save--all the basics that will transfer to the PC platform later. Those Macs have seen many miles, but they all work--even the oldest, most decrepit Imagewriter printer we could dig up! It was fun to run across Mary's and my old Mac up there--I could show the tech crew some pictures of Minnesota!

E-quip Africa brought a DSL modem and two high speed switches for the internet cafe. This should give them a very competitive speed here in town. I've used several of the cafes and they are OK, but not real impressive. We'll see if the usership rises at SOTS Internet Cafe.

The computer school has been going very well at SOTS with approximately 120 graduates who have improved their computer skills so they can continue in their present job or advance. The only setback was when a group from Takoradi Technical Institute arrived with the intention of "helping" them fix some of their computers. Star of the Sea says that really caused a big loss of time for them because TTI sent students who didn't know what they were doing and the techies at SOTS had to put things back together after they left. The manager was more kind than I would have been by seeing the positive side of things, that the TTI students were able to learn from this! Well, yes, at the expense of Star of the Sea/Willmar Computer School and Internet Cafe's program. In any case, they are over the setback and things should go well with the faster internet connection.

I'll be visiting Takoradi Polytechnic and talking about establishing a computer refurbishing center so our good volunteers like Dick Kasper won't have to spend every waking minute at refurbishing. In addition, it will give Ghana students a chance to learn the process, hopeful in their own classrooms. SOTS has expressed an interest in doing this also and they do have an extra room where it would work out. I would love to see them have a recycling component with it, using methods our Minnesota recyclers use. E-quip Africa could use a lot of help in this area--so my brother Roger, the Recycler, can you do some research. Also we'll need to take a field trip to rural Belgrade to visit Greg Martin's computer recycling business--I wonder if he would like to come to Ghana to do some training?????

I will spend the day with Rotarians tomorrow and on Tuesday. The local club has several projects going, any of which the Willmar Rotary Club could be a part of. They will be of great help in learning how E-quip Africa should proceed in collaboration with Ghana EPA setting up guidelines for safe disposal of e-waste. USAID has responded also and I am hoping to have an audience with them before leaving.

I will try making contact with the AXIM Methodist Primary School (AMPS) on Monday. It looks like the Methodist Conference will not be able to help AMPS rebuild it's school, but there are other ways to get the job done. It is unthinkable to let that school disappear into the jungle! If time I will try to visit the HG of the Methodist Church in Ghana. If the US churches get a plea from Ghana, perhaps they will lend an ear.

It is hot and humid here--today the temps must have been near 90 with 95% humidity. It rains every day and night--there was a torrential downpour last night just after my dear wife called me at 4:00 in the morning. Hey--she misses me, so it was quite OK!

I will be in Kumasi next week--am looking forward to that because two of the techies from SOTS will travel with me to help the schools new to computers plan for their arrival.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Things are great in Ghana!
Doug

Doug Wilkowske
E-quip Africa