Report Tri-Continental Youth Exchange Ghana 2010

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e.p.a. Tri-Continental Youth Cooperation Project 2010

“A different Triangle Youth empowerment under a rainbow of hope” Youth Exchange in Ghana (17th-31st March 2010) ental ontin

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e.p.a. • european play work association Erzbergerstr. 3 • 22765 Hamburg Germany Tel. +49.40.433 190 epa@go-epa.orgtz www.go-epa.org/en/a-different-triangle

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

This great Youth Adventur e “The Different Triangle ” finally made it “Home” to Africa in March 2010. Young pe ople from 14 countries; from 3 contin ents came together in Accra / Ghana welcomed by their Africa n friends from “Theatre for a Change” our Ghana hosts.

The International Airpo rt of Accra was a cel ebration of international friendship and joy as more than 60 young people from Jamaica, Colombia , Dominican Republic, Brazil, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portu gal, Cap Verde, Liberia and Nigeria all but one arrived safely to begin two amazing weeks of discov ery, awareness and under standing.

Accra was a fitting pla ce to arrive in Africa, a centre of the Slave Trade with over 20 coastal forts where slaves were kept until the infamous midd le passage to the planta tions of Brazil, the Caribbean and the So uth of the United States .

Akwaaba!

Welcome in Ghana

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

Preparation

The Preparation was done by a trainer from Brazil (host of the 2008 exchange), a representative from Portugal (host of the 2009 exchange), an e.p.a. team member and of course our hosts in Accra. We discussed accommodation, transport, insurance, medical needs, risk assessment, programme and thematic workshops as well as budgets and financial procedures.

We visited and negotiated the venues in Accra and Cape Coast, agreed transport from and to the Airport, sorted out invitations and visa issues.

The “Theatre for a change� team made a typical Ghana bag for each participant and in it was a copy of the programme, a map of Accra, some words in the local coastal language Ga and Fante, a small note book and e.p.a. rainbow pen. During the first evening this was given to everyone in a splendid welcoming ceremony with lots of dances and songs.

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

uction As part of the introd each ed ask we y methodolog poster group to prepare a s as: including such question un ity “W e lik e ou r co mm the are ese “Th ”, … because ur “O ”, … e fac we challenges gle is idea of a different Trian of our …”, “Something typical ation community …”, “The rel ic of of our country to the top Slavery”.

Presentations

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

We were invited by our hosts “Theatre for a Change” to walk around their community of Jamestown. We saw the wild Atlantic Ocean and the fishermen and their boats mending nets and preparing for the next fishing trip, these boats are brightly coloured, are named and usually have a large eye to ward off evil spirits.

We saw women getting the fish ready for sale, which they put in big baskets and balanced on their head … the fish tails providing a welcome shade from the sun and heat. In a Tro-Tro (minibus) we traveled through the bustling noisy streets.

Discovering Ghana

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

Brazil House in Jamestown

We had the delight to visit the famous “Brazil House� dedicated to the Quilombos or free slaves of Brazil who returned after they where set free and came back to Ghana.

The house had been given by the Tabon Family, an important Accra family and supported by the Brazilian embassy. It was a celebration of the story of the slaves and their emancipation, freedom and return.

An amazing surprise for our Brazilian delegation!

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

zil House we were Whilst we were at the Bra of Ghanian culture invited to a presentation for a Change”. The and the work of “Theatre , the theatre and dancing and drumming by the ambassador drama and the reception Luís Fernando de of Brazil in Ghana Mr Chief Justice of Andrade Serra and the odora Wood (the Ghana Ms Georgina The y of Ghana to head first woman in the histor h point for us all. the Judiciary) was a hig House to display We also used the Brazil sters to the public. our produced project po

Brazil House Reception

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

Education through Theatre

We were able to participate in the methods “Theatre for a of Change� doing ro le play depictin the arrival of the white slav g ers and the pl the African ensl ight of aved people.

We also saw ho w they presente d the issue of and Aids, whi HiV ch they take to schools an communities in d awareness rais ing projects.

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

Workshops

For this exchange in Ghana, each group were asked to prepare a worksho p on the theme of this exchange and as we were in Africa it should take the form of a story. Storytelling has a great and vital history in African society, and there are special names for their Storytellers: Griot, Akewi, Maroka, Imbong i. They have been the keepers of history, the holders of truth, the spreaders of values for a thousand years.

During the two weeks each group took it in turns to lead a worksho p of discussion and creativity. The workshops would usually start with an energizer, a story, a short presentation by the group then into smaller groups for discussion and finally feedback to the whole group.

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

It was remarkable that the worksho p discussions could be had in either – language groups Portuguese, Spanish, English or Continental groups European, Caribbean, African. This gave a strong dimension to our outcomes and led to fascinating discussions that often went on long after the workshop ended!

Many of the workshops were insp ired by the young peo ple’ s own exp erie nce ... We won ’t forget the contribution of the group from Sto. Domingo in the Dominican Republic, when they shar ed their own story and their rejection at European embassi es, when they applied for visa to participate in our exch anges ... and we discussed these true stories with a focus on modern colonialism.

Workshops

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

the In our days in Ghana we saw t.

Coas Cape everyday life of Accra and its Especially in Jamestown (Accra) with ds goo of ner Fort, Brazil House, all man with s head on sold from baskets carried kets, great elegance and skill, street mar n ofte and dren noisy traffic, lots of chil our of ses hou we were invited into the for a hosts the young people of “Theatre our be to d prou Change� ... They were so hosts!

Ghana views

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

well into the e to socialise, we talked tim gh ou en ver ne s wa There oker tables ‌ Bar, which had many sno ke rao Ka a to nt we night, and to hear had voices like angels le op pe ng you r ou of some s amazing. a Celine Dion number wa Quateley and Linda sing ng pool ‌ not Coast provided a swimmi e Cap in ion dat mo om Our acc learnt to swim, for many children, who o als t bu s est gu for only ally very rough a, because the sea is usu an Gh in y eas t no is which ols are very rare. and public swimming po

Socialising

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

f Nii Aman Ki III, who It was a great honour to meet Chie wn. The role of tribal esto was the king of kings in Jam for most of us until tery mys Chiefs in modern society was a of the ancient horn and we met him. But with the sounding edure for “Stooling” proc the the greetings we learned about s onto the stool time e thre ly a Chief when he is pressed firm before he is named the Chief. legal right to the land The main role today is in keeping the . The Chief is elected utes of the Tribe and mediating in disp take it in turns to who , from between seven families provide the Chief.

The Chief’s reception

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

A poignant part of ou r Jamestown visit was seeing Ussher Fort.

Built in 1649 by the Dutch, this was the prison where many Slaves were kept un til being sold to Slavers and loaded onto the Slave ships.

UNESCO had helped ins tall a very good museum of Slavery, the young historian, who accompanied us was a wealth of knowledge and rectifying information.

Ussher Fort

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

the “Play nt in any e.p.a. activity: Always an important eve to the nts ipa rtic on of our pa Action” as a contributi local 0 50 r ove h this time wit hosting community … ! ng illi thr s wa Jamestown - it children, in the centre of the “Cat as the sun set the last of We played for hours and partner r ou of der guidance Walk” took place. Un d scrap use le op pe gal our young EcoEstilistas from Portu were ich wh s, the make designer clo and waste material to . area for all to see paraded around the play

Play Action James Town / Accra

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

in any e.p.a.

Food is always an important item specialties of Youth Exchange. We enjoyed the the dry fish Meat Pies, the very sticky FuFu and we found cakes, but as in most other countries t of the time.

Rice and Chicken a main meal mos and drinking Coconut milk was often available small sealed water was no problem as it came in and squirted plastic bags which you bit open into your mouth. venue, the A very special place to eat was our Coast. For “Hans Cottage Botel� close to Cape view into breakfast we could enjoy a nice ng their first nature ... observing crocodiles taki l birds flying sun bath in the morning or colourfu around and knotting their nests.

Food

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

Cape Coast Castle

In Cape Coast we visited the “famous” Cape Coast Castle, where just a few months befo re the new President of the United States had made his first visit to Africa. President Obama had toured the Castle and laid a memorial wreath at the ‘door of no return’.

Tri-continental Youth Exchange in Ghana 17th - 31st March 2010

Another literal “Highlight� was being 40m high in the trees in the Kakum National Park. It is the highest and longest tree walk in the world and almost everyone took part in the climb and shaky walk on the ropes. Magnificent views and strange animal noises greeted us. It was a great African adventure to be retold to our children’s children!

Kakum National Park

Preamble of our Global Passport created when European borders shut for our young people from the South

Todos os Homens livres e iguais compartem com a titular deste Passaporte Global uma visão de explorar o mundo sem fronteiras nem obstáculos.

Que a portadora deste passaporte receba o maior apoio e acompanhamento possível para se deslocar livremente e que seja tratada dignamente e apreciada, sempre que ela decida descobrir e viajar o mundo em paz. *** Todos los hombres libres y iguales comparten con la titular de este Pasaporte Global una visión de explorar el mundo sin fronteras ni obstáculos.

Que la propietaria de este pasaporte reciba el mayor apoyo y sea guiada en todo lo posible para desplazarse libremente y que sea tratada dignamente y apreciada cuando decida descubrir y viajar por un mundo en paz. *** All free and equal people share with the holder of this Global Passport a vision of exploring the world without boundaries or obstacles.

May the holder of this passport receive the most possible support and guidance to move freely and be appreciated in dignity whenever they choose to discover and travel a world in peace.

www.go-epa.org/en/globalpassport

e.p.a. Tri-Continental Youth Cooperation Project

“A different Triangle!”

2010 www.go-epa.org/en/a-different-triangle