summer visitor 2013

Ann-Bridgit Gary visited us in July to study the traditional and contemporary pottery scene in Ghana.
This is her first diary entry:

Recycle,recycle, my spirit is a recycled carnival of oddities, eggs on head,the market spirit,the 27 cedis for 6 yards of exquisite batiked fabric,beautiful fish and crabs and pigs innards and so much....plastics!

I find constant care here at Aba House with Aba,Talk True and Ben. Even the boys join in to welcome me in an attempt (failed) to set me up with a modem. Oh well - all things on Ghana time, now or later or even never. Aba takes me to a goldsmith because I liked her charming watch - a long very convoluted route to travel. Down this out of the way place and soda from the rest is as refreshing as the conversation I am having with a Ghanaian man who once lived in Toronto and has returned to be with his family. The stoutly goldsmith gives me designs to pick from and promises to bring them the next day on my Indian bracelet-now I have both India and Africa. Aba tells me what each piece means.

I touch down wondering what lies ahead-will I be picked up? Can I trust anyone? I find my name card - what a relief. But while my luggage is whisked off, I find myself giving a street peddler 2 bucks.

The rumbling car - the world at 11 p.m. I don't know where I am going. I must accept this dark, dreamy place and I can't believe I'm here. I find a soft room, an oh so welcomed bed and breakfast at 8 a.m. A bucket with a shower and in one week, I have come to love the spirit of Africa.

summer in Ghana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFZywRZU1D4

We are off to Ghana for our summer program.
Pretty soon this yard will be full of awesome kids. They compete with each other to see who can be more creative. In September we will share their creative writing with you.
If you're thinking ahead, consider volunteering to work with them in Ghana.
http://www.culturalcollaborative.org

vendor opportunity

We have space for 10 vendors at our fundraiser on October 25 at the Cambridge (Massachusetts) YMCA. Each space costs $50.00.
Last years fundraiser was very successful and we are going for bigger and better this year.

If you're interested in renting a space please send one or two photos of work you sell to aba@culturalcollaborative.org

Why go to Ghana with Cross Cultural Collaborative?

We'll take you to the bead market and then to a workshop to see how the beads are made. Want to make your own beads? Why not....
Besides being beautiful beads have significance. In Ghana recycled glass beads are most associated with the Krobo. From birth to death beads are important in their journey through life. When a Krobo child is born a bead is tied around their wrist. When the child's father cuts the bead he is claiming paternity and then the child is given a name.
A much publicized Krobo ceremony is the Dipo. A ceremony taking girls from childhood to adulthood. After the Dipo they can get married. During Dipo the girls are covered with beads, either from the family collection or rented for the occassion.
Yellow, red and brown beads are considered a sign of maturity.

Even people who claim that they are not shoppers buy a lot of beads when they get to the market. If you don't, you will be the first.

awesome kids

The Aba House kids make paper from sugar cane leaves and then bind journals using the handmade paper. We wanted to make the books "Ghanaian", so we decided to stamp the covers with adinkra symbols. The resulting books are unique and beautiful. We started this project because kids would come and beg for things. We don't give, but they now know that if you work by making paper and books it's a win-win situation. We sell the books and all of the proceeds are used to buy school supplies for the kids.
If you'd like to volunteer to work with us in Ghana and make a difference in the life of an awesome kid,
let us know. We work with whatever skills volunteers have to offer.

Charlie and his students at Aba House

Charlie Michaels and some of his students from the University of Michigan came to Aba House for 3 weeks as part of a service learning program.
This market scene and other photos in the story are by Charlie. If you'd like to read about their trip and see some nice visuals : playgallery.org/stories/ghana
Are you a professor- a student? We can arrange a program for you too.

aba@culturalcollaborative.org

summer in Ghana

We'll be there from July 6 - August 29. We always have several projects and this summer I plan to concentrate on "Books by Girls", a creative writing program with the Aba House girls. Our goal is to encourage creative thinking and by self publishing the stories our girls will also learn computer skills.
Our plans include donating the books to schools in Ghana so that students can read culturally relevant
stories.

                      Here is an excerpt from my book "HARDSHIPS and GOODSHIPS in GHANA"
       There is a rythm to life in Ghana, both literally and metaphorically, and once you get into step, you
        fit right in. It's difficult to explain, but it's something you can feel. The people, the traffic, even the
        fishermen who are sometimes accompanied by drums as they pull in their nets. Weavers hum as  
        they work to keep the rythm ....... it's a slow dance. "No hurry in life". No straight lines. To follow
        the beat it's best to circle around, do a few back steps and slide right in. Then visitors start to
        dance...........

 Like to dance? Think about joining us in Ghana.  aba@culturalcollaborative.org