'Before we were cheated. People adjusted the scales."
Have you ever wondered where your chocolate has come from? Or are you too busy indulging in the rich taste to care where it's from? Well it's quite likely the cocoa to produce your chocolate was grouwn here, Ghana. Cocoa is Ghana's most important crop as it is the largest earner of foreign revenue for the country. So cocoa makes the world go round, or at least fuels Ghana's economy.
I've been blessed in my life to have encountered some truly remarkable people who have inspired me in so many ways. Today I travelled out to Manso, a cocoa farming area, with some of the group to find out more about fair trade where I encountered a very strong woman called Comfort. Are mission was to find out whether farmer's like Comfort are getting a better deal and does buying fair trade really make a difference? The short answer is YES! I've seen it with my own eyes, the better working conditions, the funded community projects and how a fair trade co-operative empowers there members to have a voice.
The remarkable lady I met was Comfort Kumeah, a 59 year old farmer, mother, widow, grandmother and until very recentally a kindergarten teacher. Today we visited her at her home where we quickly exchanged greetings and were handed a part of wellington boots. 'My farm is very near... just over that hill' she said as quickly marched into the trees. After a bumpy 45 minute walk we arrived at her cocoa farm. Comfort proudly showed us the ripe cocoa pods and started to demonstrate the cocoa process; from nurturing the trees, breaking the pods, scooping the beans, drying the beans and crushing them - by no means easy work! Farming in the developing world is back breaking work with no machines to use.
While she showed us the process we took the opportunity to ask her about being park of Kuapa Kokoo, a fair trade co-operative. Comfort described the difficult days before the co-operative where the scales were fixed and the farmers never got enough for their crops. Since joining the co-operative she receives a fair price for her cocoa and also receives bonuses. Money is also invested into community projects like schools, water pumps and training farmers to use their skills when it is not the cocoa season. Kuapa Kokoo works with over 45, 000 farmers, who have a 45% share in Divine Chocolate (which you can buy in the UK). Comfort is passionate about people knowing where there food has come from and to know that a lot of love and hard work is invested into growing the cocoa used for chocolate.
Although cocoa is Ghana's main crop, chocolate is not part of the ghanaian diet. It is seen as a luxury that many can't afford. Comfort first tasted chocolate in 2002 after farming for over 25years. When we asked her if she had a message for the Uk she said, 'Buy fair trade chocolate because it's papapa for farmers' (papapa means very good).
If you want to find out more about fair trade then please log on to: www.christianaid.org.uk
I've been blessed in my life to have encountered some truly remarkable people who have inspired me in so many ways. Today I travelled out to Manso, a cocoa farming area, with some of the group to find out more about fair trade where I encountered a very strong woman called Comfort. Are mission was to find out whether farmer's like Comfort are getting a better deal and does buying fair trade really make a difference? The short answer is YES! I've seen it with my own eyes, the better working conditions, the funded community projects and how a fair trade co-operative empowers there members to have a voice.
The remarkable lady I met was Comfort Kumeah, a 59 year old farmer, mother, widow, grandmother and until very recentally a kindergarten teacher. Today we visited her at her home where we quickly exchanged greetings and were handed a part of wellington boots. 'My farm is very near... just over that hill' she said as quickly marched into the trees. After a bumpy 45 minute walk we arrived at her cocoa farm. Comfort proudly showed us the ripe cocoa pods and started to demonstrate the cocoa process; from nurturing the trees, breaking the pods, scooping the beans, drying the beans and crushing them - by no means easy work! Farming in the developing world is back breaking work with no machines to use.
While she showed us the process we took the opportunity to ask her about being park of Kuapa Kokoo, a fair trade co-operative. Comfort described the difficult days before the co-operative where the scales were fixed and the farmers never got enough for their crops. Since joining the co-operative she receives a fair price for her cocoa and also receives bonuses. Money is also invested into community projects like schools, water pumps and training farmers to use their skills when it is not the cocoa season. Kuapa Kokoo works with over 45, 000 farmers, who have a 45% share in Divine Chocolate (which you can buy in the UK). Comfort is passionate about people knowing where there food has come from and to know that a lot of love and hard work is invested into growing the cocoa used for chocolate.
Although cocoa is Ghana's main crop, chocolate is not part of the ghanaian diet. It is seen as a luxury that many can't afford. Comfort first tasted chocolate in 2002 after farming for over 25years. When we asked her if she had a message for the Uk she said, 'Buy fair trade chocolate because it's papapa for farmers' (papapa means very good).
If you want to find out more about fair trade then please log on to: www.christianaid.org.uk
‘Forget about making poverty history, climate change will make poverty permanent.’- Nazmul Chowdhury, Practical Action, Christian Aid partner
For those of you who are in touch with the British media, I’m sure you’ve noticed that last week was climate camp. This year the camp took place outside Kingsnorth power station, where E.ON has proposed to build a new coal fired power station. This is one of many coal fired power stations planned by energy companies and supported by our government. So why am I writing about power stations while I’m in Ghana? Good question, I’m concerned because coal is the most carbon intensive way to generate energy and if we are to halt catastrophic climate change we must cut carbon emissions in the UK. The fact is the climate is changing and is already hitting the poorest people first and worst. Yet the people who are on the frontline; the farmers who can’t grow their crops or the families displaced by floods are the people who have emitted the least.
People here don’t live carbon intensive lifestyles. My African home is comfortable but simple; we have an outside small stove where we prepare meals and a drop toilet – to save water! Yes we have electricity but day to day life can still carry on when the electricity is off (which frequently happens). The fact is the whole of Ghana emits less carbon emissions than the planned power station for Kingsnorth! (WDM fact). Yet it is the people of Ghana who are already feeling the consequences of climate change. Ghana’s main source of electricity is Akosmobo Dam which is currently at a record low, which many believe is due the higher temperatures that they are experiencing here.
So what can we do? We all have power and we can all make change happen. We must hold are government accountable and make sure that real carbon cuts are made in the UK. Are changing climate is a global injustice and a global solution is needed. We need to join together and fight for Climate Justice, join the campaign today at: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
Fovorite climate camp story: twelve naked climate campaigners superglue themselves to the sancitioning body (BERR) for Kingsnorth - http://climatecamp.org.uk/node/441
People here don’t live carbon intensive lifestyles. My African home is comfortable but simple; we have an outside small stove where we prepare meals and a drop toilet – to save water! Yes we have electricity but day to day life can still carry on when the electricity is off (which frequently happens). The fact is the whole of Ghana emits less carbon emissions than the planned power station for Kingsnorth! (WDM fact). Yet it is the people of Ghana who are already feeling the consequences of climate change. Ghana’s main source of electricity is Akosmobo Dam which is currently at a record low, which many believe is due the higher temperatures that they are experiencing here.
So what can we do? We all have power and we can all make change happen. We must hold are government accountable and make sure that real carbon cuts are made in the UK. Are changing climate is a global injustice and a global solution is needed. We need to join together and fight for Climate Justice, join the campaign today at: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
Fovorite climate camp story: twelve naked climate campaigners superglue themselves to the sancitioning body (BERR) for Kingsnorth - http://climatecamp.org.uk/node/441
On Safari
Wow what a weekend. I’ll start with the bad news first, for the last 24hours I have been projectile vomiting and it has not been pretty! Yesterday we travelled from 3.30am until 6pm on 2 very rickety busses. While waiting for the bus at the station, I began to feel dizzy and then started vomitting over the side of the pavement. I decided to still travel on the bus and continued to vomit out of the window several times. I felt sorry for the people sitting around me, as I emptied my stomach. I’m feeling a bit better now and am hoping it was just food poisoning.
Nevertheless I did have a brilliant weekend. We travelled to the Northern Region to Tamale which was a refreshing change. A predominately Muslim city with thousands of bicycles and another language made us feel like we’d changed countries instead of just regions. We stayed for a day in the city where we explored the leather market. We watched craftsmen making leather flip flops with car tyre soles. As I have large feet (size 8) I got a bespoke pair made, unfortunately the final stitches were made by a child. Which Zach enjoyed teasing me about after I had ranted the other day about child labour making his designer clothes.
After exploring the city we all piled onto a big orange bus to take us to Mole National Park (largest Safari park in Ghana). We luckily all managed to get seats on the 4hour bus journey which was packed with local farmers transporting their produce. When we arrived at the Park, we organized rooms and then enjoyed a nice dinner by the pool. The next morning we woke up early to go on Safari. We were accompanied by an armed ranger who took us further into the park where we saw warthogs, monkeys, antelopes and ELEPHANTS! The elephants were fantastic; we followed them through the forest as they knocked down trees and played with one another. It was amazing to be so close to wild animals in their natural habitat. After 2 hours walking we then returned to the hotel for breakfast and a swim in the pool looking over the savanna. As I was getting out from the pool, I heard a person shouting about an elephant. We all ran to see the commotion; it was a large elephant standing very close to the hotel. It was a little scary as there was no armed ranger present and we had been told earlier that if an elephant starts charging at you it will be difficult to escape.
In the afternoon Karem, Ifsa and I visited the Larabanga Mosque, the oldest Mosque in West Africa, it was a beautiful Western Sudanese designed mud structure. After a couple of hours looking around the village with our tour guides, we started to look for transport home. We initially looked for a taxi to take us back to the park however there was only one which was out of town. We then thought about waiting for the bus but it wasn’t due to arrive until 3hours later. So are choices were either bicycles or motorbikes. As it began to rain and we knew it was an uphill journey we decided to take the motorbikes. It was brilliant, Ifsa and I were a little scared as we jumped onto the large blue bike but it was brilliant. As are confidence grew we then started racing Karem until are engine broke and the bike swerved. Thankfully we were all safe and after 20mins pushing the bike the engine started and we were back on our way.
Nevertheless I did have a brilliant weekend. We travelled to the Northern Region to Tamale which was a refreshing change. A predominately Muslim city with thousands of bicycles and another language made us feel like we’d changed countries instead of just regions. We stayed for a day in the city where we explored the leather market. We watched craftsmen making leather flip flops with car tyre soles. As I have large feet (size 8) I got a bespoke pair made, unfortunately the final stitches were made by a child. Which Zach enjoyed teasing me about after I had ranted the other day about child labour making his designer clothes.
After exploring the city we all piled onto a big orange bus to take us to Mole National Park (largest Safari park in Ghana). We luckily all managed to get seats on the 4hour bus journey which was packed with local farmers transporting their produce. When we arrived at the Park, we organized rooms and then enjoyed a nice dinner by the pool. The next morning we woke up early to go on Safari. We were accompanied by an armed ranger who took us further into the park where we saw warthogs, monkeys, antelopes and ELEPHANTS! The elephants were fantastic; we followed them through the forest as they knocked down trees and played with one another. It was amazing to be so close to wild animals in their natural habitat. After 2 hours walking we then returned to the hotel for breakfast and a swim in the pool looking over the savanna. As I was getting out from the pool, I heard a person shouting about an elephant. We all ran to see the commotion; it was a large elephant standing very close to the hotel. It was a little scary as there was no armed ranger present and we had been told earlier that if an elephant starts charging at you it will be difficult to escape.
In the afternoon Karem, Ifsa and I visited the Larabanga Mosque, the oldest Mosque in West Africa, it was a beautiful Western Sudanese designed mud structure. After a couple of hours looking around the village with our tour guides, we started to look for transport home. We initially looked for a taxi to take us back to the park however there was only one which was out of town. We then thought about waiting for the bus but it wasn’t due to arrive until 3hours later. So are choices were either bicycles or motorbikes. As it began to rain and we knew it was an uphill journey we decided to take the motorbikes. It was brilliant, Ifsa and I were a little scared as we jumped onto the large blue bike but it was brilliant. As are confidence grew we then started racing Karem until are engine broke and the bike swerved. Thankfully we were all safe and after 20mins pushing the bike the engine started and we were back on our way.
Boycott Nestle please
I have succumbed to eating Nestle products after a life time of boycotting their brand. Since arriving in Africa, I have found it to difficult to avoid the Nestle logo. From milk to drinks their bold, blue label is easy to see. Not only are their products on every shelf, but many billboards advertising their ‘nutritious’ and ‘delicious’ products dominate the skyline.
My reason for boycotting? Because of Nestlé’s irresponsible marketing of baby milk products in the developing world. Where water is unsafe a bottle-fed child is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhea than a breastfed child (www.babymilkaction.org). An estimated 1.5million (WHO) infants die around the world every year because they are simply not breastfed. Nestle’s aggressive marketing encourages mothers that baby milk is best, causing many infant deaths.
I suppose your thinking, so why boycott? What’s that going to achieve? And when I was younger, feeling deprived that I didn’t get KitKats in my lunchbox, I asked the very same question…
A silent boycott probably won’t achieve very much. However if we put pressure on corporate companies that are abusing their power and encourage others to do the same then change can happen.
Take action today and join the boycott: www.babymilkaction.org
My reason for boycotting? Because of Nestlé’s irresponsible marketing of baby milk products in the developing world. Where water is unsafe a bottle-fed child is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhea than a breastfed child (www.babymilkaction.org). An estimated 1.5million (WHO) infants die around the world every year because they are simply not breastfed. Nestle’s aggressive marketing encourages mothers that baby milk is best, causing many infant deaths.
I suppose your thinking, so why boycott? What’s that going to achieve? And when I was younger, feeling deprived that I didn’t get KitKats in my lunchbox, I asked the very same question…
A silent boycott probably won’t achieve very much. However if we put pressure on corporate companies that are abusing their power and encourage others to do the same then change can happen.
Take action today and join the boycott: www.babymilkaction.org
Trip stats so far
Number of marriage proposals: 17
Number of mosquito bits: 21
Number of children offered to me to take home:3
Number of photographs taken:454
Number of birthdays celebrated: 3
Number of regions traveled to: 4
Number of mosquito bits: 21
Number of children offered to me to take home:3
Number of photographs taken:454
Number of birthdays celebrated: 3
Number of regions traveled to: 4
Baking birthday cakes
So far we have celebrated 3birthdays in the group already. This week it was Shana's 20th birthday so I decided to bake her a birthday cake. At home this usually involves dashing round tescos, quickly stirring the ingredients and relaxing infront of the tv while it bakes. However in Ghana, this is a little more taxing. First I visited the food market in Kumasi, I was greeted by some very friendly women pointing out the stores I should visit. After an hour walking around the market I finally had all the ingredients; flour, sugar, margarine, nutmeg, eggs and chocolate!
I had asked my Ghanaian mother and sister for help with baking the cake, I suggested cooking the cake the night before but they insisted that it would be better fresh so I woke up early. First we had to beat the sugar and margarine together until all the grains are smoothly beaten - taking nearly 2hours! We then mixed the eggs and stirred it in with the rest of the ingredients. After another half hour stirring we finally greased the heart shaped tins and poured in the mixture. Thinking the job was nearly over we then had to waft the fire while the cake cooked - for another hour! So 3hours later, we finally had 2 heart shaped cakes with chocolate chunks and a birthday candle. The next task was carrying it over to Shana's house, this was quite challenging as the heavy rain had made the ground wet. When I finally arrived the group sang happy birthday in the dark (yet another electricity cut) and then ate the cake!
I had asked my Ghanaian mother and sister for help with baking the cake, I suggested cooking the cake the night before but they insisted that it would be better fresh so I woke up early. First we had to beat the sugar and margarine together until all the grains are smoothly beaten - taking nearly 2hours! We then mixed the eggs and stirred it in with the rest of the ingredients. After another half hour stirring we finally greased the heart shaped tins and poured in the mixture. Thinking the job was nearly over we then had to waft the fire while the cake cooked - for another hour! So 3hours later, we finally had 2 heart shaped cakes with chocolate chunks and a birthday candle. The next task was carrying it over to Shana's house, this was quite challenging as the heavy rain had made the ground wet. When I finally arrived the group sang happy birthday in the dark (yet another electricity cut) and then ate the cake!
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