Loughton Residents Association

We were pretty much on time as the day drew to a close. One amazing thing had been that all nine of the GES staff had arrived before the 10am start time! Many of the other folk were late but, due to the new agreed Values at the GES, our guys set a really good example. 

It was left to me to do the review of Hopes and Expectations after Eric had finished the Next Steps section.

Then of course the final Evaluation, which I am glad to say was very positive. I do hope that people get together again regularly to share good practice and ideas after I am gone.

All in all a good and inclusive day with masses of SYNERGY! 

Miftaw from RAINS(Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems)  was the first to talk us through his plan for the next six months.

Mohammed Jabah from CAMFED ( Campaign for Female Education) explained their priorities. He had been part of the team who came with me, GES and World Vision to train SMC/ PTAs last month.

Edward from the CFRHP (Catholic Family Reproductive Health Programme) was next to speak. Participants were learning lots of new information from each speaker.

Michael from World Vision was standing in for the Programme Director Andy who had to meet US delegates about the Bawku conflict in the North of Ghana. Andy had given me the Synergy title and was enormously enthusiastic about planning and working together with other organisations.

Jonathan from ISODEC (Integrated Social Development Centre) is one of the lead implementers in the Comic Relief funded TENI project.

Eric, VSO TENI ( Tackling Educational Needs Inclusively) coordinator encourages participants to find a way forward.

After Damien had led the Introductions and Expectations section, I explained the relevance of the Synergy poster and the importance of working together to achieve more.

The District Director  of Education "Cambodia" officially opened the workshop and gave it his full support.

The hopes and expectations for the day were captured.

The groups worked together to write their activiies on post it notes and place them on the timeline.

Damien talks something through with Sirina the Pre-school Advisor at the GES.

Particiants were keen to get involved and see what other NGOs were working on.

On my knees! Preparing the master plan.

These are the NGOs/projects that we were targetting.

Here is Diana, our nextdoor neighbour arriving with a special ghanaian meal of TZ and dried fish soup for us to try.

Fati in her pinny. ( The one I wore for Anna's 1950s funfair 21st birthday party)

Damien is the Regional Gender Support Officer with VSO. He is based with us in Walewale about 40% of his time. He and I were co- facilitating the workshop. Note the puddle from the recent rains.

So, off we set on our bikes.

Here we are passing the house opposite inhabited by about 20 Cote d'Ivoire blokes who are digging the trenches for the vodafone cable which will go all the way from Accra to Bolgatnga. They are always very noisy loading up thier trucks with huge reels of cable at 5.30 am.

At Zasilari, a nearby Agricultural NGO which has a nice building. All prepared and awaiting the participants.

Ready for action!