For those of you who may not know, there are three major anniversaries in Ghana this year. 50 years of independence, 50 of Holy Cross, and 25 years of the Holy Cross Skills Training Centre. So in the midst of celebrating the Golden Jubilee we are celebrating the Silver Jubilee. So as a part of both Jubilees we held a clean-up day at The Damien Center.
The Damien Center is one of the few mental health care facilities in Ghana that is run by the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, they have been unable to do the work that they once did. So until they can begin that work again they allowed their facility to be used as a health clinic of the community of Fijai, where all this is located, very near the Skills Centre in neighboring Anaji.
The place was in dire need of a clean-up. This was a place where people came for healing and it was surrounded by overwhelming grass and weeds, shards of broken glass and concrete, and rubbish all over the place. Now don’t get the idea that the Sisters let the place fall to ruins. You try to run a health clinic in Ghana with a small staff and not enough funding. Then tell me about the problems you face.
So, Skills staff and students to the rescue. We showed up that morning to clean everything up and to enjoy ourselves while doing it. All of the staff form the Skills Centre, most of the students, the pre-novices, Fr. Bob Gilmour, the candidates from St. Joe Hall, and our media/documenter Br. David were all there for the event.
We broke all the boys up into groups and gave them assignments. I wasn’t sure what I should do so I just picked a group of boys and we began working together on clearing away some weeds and broken concrete out of the courtyard of the center.
It was hard work. It was hot. It was early, but we enjoyed ourselves. I could tell the boys were happy that I was working with them, getting dirty with them. We laughed and worked for three hours straight and I can safely say that we accomplished more than most other groups on the site.
I always made sure to positively reinforce them for a job well done. Towards the end of the morning we sat in the shade, drenched with sweat, tired, but satisfied by a job well done, satisfied with each others’ company. We sat sharing our water sachets and laughing until Sr. Iovnna from Poland came out to thank us for all the hard work. She took me into their kitchen where she pulled out some big containers of juice boxes that she wanted to give the boys. So I carried them all out and handed them out to the boys individually. Sister was so pleased at the work we had done…the place really looked so much better. I just watched and smiled at my students.
The Damien Center is one of the few mental health care facilities in Ghana that is run by the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, they have been unable to do the work that they once did. So until they can begin that work again they allowed their facility to be used as a health clinic of the community of Fijai, where all this is located, very near the Skills Centre in neighboring Anaji.
The place was in dire need of a clean-up. This was a place where people came for healing and it was surrounded by overwhelming grass and weeds, shards of broken glass and concrete, and rubbish all over the place. Now don’t get the idea that the Sisters let the place fall to ruins. You try to run a health clinic in Ghana with a small staff and not enough funding. Then tell me about the problems you face.
So, Skills staff and students to the rescue. We showed up that morning to clean everything up and to enjoy ourselves while doing it. All of the staff form the Skills Centre, most of the students, the pre-novices, Fr. Bob Gilmour, the candidates from St. Joe Hall, and our media/documenter Br. David were all there for the event.
We broke all the boys up into groups and gave them assignments. I wasn’t sure what I should do so I just picked a group of boys and we began working together on clearing away some weeds and broken concrete out of the courtyard of the center.
It was hard work. It was hot. It was early, but we enjoyed ourselves. I could tell the boys were happy that I was working with them, getting dirty with them. We laughed and worked for three hours straight and I can safely say that we accomplished more than most other groups on the site.
I always made sure to positively reinforce them for a job well done. Towards the end of the morning we sat in the shade, drenched with sweat, tired, but satisfied by a job well done, satisfied with each others’ company. We sat sharing our water sachets and laughing until Sr. Iovnna from Poland came out to thank us for all the hard work. She took me into their kitchen where she pulled out some big containers of juice boxes that she wanted to give the boys. So I carried them all out and handed them out to the boys individually. Sister was so pleased at the work we had done…the place really looked so much better. I just watched and smiled at my students.
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