Slideshow on the way! (Pt III)

In the lead up to our slideshow I'm posting excerpts from Wade's emails from his last visit to Ghana a year ago. I love this one:

"Today I will get into a metal tube with wings that will carry me to Canada. Bizarre and wonderful. I'm coming home rested and renewed, with more learning than I can fit in my bag.

Construction of all 15 rainwater harvesting tanks is complete. We celebrated with drumming, dancing, speeches, an official ribbon cutting, and a white man dressed in traditional Ghanian cloth, beads and sandals. It's important to say that there have also been some complications and confusion in the project, which is the nature of cross-cultural development work. I've been reading stories about international development that tell in a few brief highlights how a situation of poverty and struggle was transformed and peoples’ lives were improved. Something is lost when powerful and hopeful stories don't acknowledge the stumbling and uncertainty that are also part of the story, the times when the work doesn't feel hopeful or powerful. Over the years of the project I've often thought, 'Helping people should be easier than this.' The fact is that this work is hard, and in the end it has been completely worth the ups and downs.

Above all I'm grateful for the gift of being here - knowing that it is a significant privilege, and the absolute treasure of being welcomed by name into a village. I'm also grateful to have listening ears (and reading eyes) to share with. It helps me pay attention and reflect on what is important."

Notes from Ghana, Pt II

"It amazes me that being here increases my love for Ghana and also increases my love for Canada. One does not diminish the other. I also observe patterns of behaviour here that perpetuate poverty and contribute to their struggles, and I wonder why these patterns continue. Then I look at my own culture, and it is so clear the behaviours that lead to the stress, isolation and loneliness that are often the struggles in western society. I can see the patterns of busyness and consumerism, clutter and technological distraction, and know very well the results. But while trying to make life-giving choices each day, I still find myself participating in those behaviours more often than not. The gift of the perspective from here is that I am seeing these things with more clarity and less judgment. I feel inspired to return home and make life-giving choices in my own cultural context." -- Wade

Let's raise our glass!

This January 29, 2011, the people of Adexor will celebrate one year with clean water. Their community will gather in the village to sing, drum and dance -- giving thanks for the gift of water. We invite you to join this celebration in your own home, at your own tap! On January 29, take a moment to pour a glass of water and be refreshed as you check out the project’s celebratory slideshow - to be posted right here on our blog.

Leading up to the slideshow, I'll post a few excerpts from Wade's emails during the last visit to Ghana in January and February 2010. This one's pretty fun.

God Firts

"I'm back in Ghana, where taxis often have religious stickers on them, sometimes with spelling errors. This one was supposed to say 'God First' but ends up looking more like 'God Farts'."

A few thoughts and images from Adexor

"I am proud to mention that in the whole of Mepe Traditional area, we have the best quality of water and can host any visitor or event comfortably, a situation which used not to be the case."


"I no longer go into the rain to trap water from nearby zinc roofs for the family drinking anytime it’s raining because we now have good water collecting in our Tanks which serves us throughout the dry period."

"We students no longer go to school late or carry water to school because we are able to get water from our Tank for our domestic chores and in school, we have two big Tanks where we get water."

Help us fill their glass

A heartfelt thank you to Matt Politano of Oculus Design who came to our rescue! Matt donated his time and considerable design skills to produce a fantastic postcard for our donors. We moved well beyond my novice searches for "fundraising thermometers"...


Look for the real deal in your postbox soon!

A fundraising thermometer... ?

I'm looking for a good goal setting "fundraising thermometer". Ideas anyone? In search of a bit more flexibility than this one provides - but it does the trick:

Fundraising by Go Green Fundraising


Update Fundraising Thermometer Here

Things are shaping up well for the third and final phase of the project. Still a ways to go in fundraising - explaining my search for a thermometer - but we're quite proud of the work done to date!

Thanks! A wonderful story arrived by post

Songwriters Showcase

In the Correlieu Secondary School of Quesnel, B.C. there was a recorded concert with local songwriters on January 14th 2009. We made enough money to buy 200 CDs of the concert and sold many of them to gain the money back. We raised 500 dollars which we hope will help your project. The African theme of the CD cover is inspired from your project, and was painted by an artist here who had traveled to Africa.

The CD (enclosed) is for Wade Lifton,

You inspired me to dream big and so I created a songwriter’s showcase, and in return, I am giving the money to your project as a thank you and an encouragement to strive until the very end. Out of all the experiences at Naramata, my favorite part was the water project, and how you helped the people in Ghana who were very gracious to you. I’m glad that I’ve contributed to something that impacts so many people. I hope you enjoy the CD.

Thank you,
Lynne Penhale