ICV PERSONAL CASE STUDY NAME: LIVINGSTONE DELALI AGBO PROJECT: ADAKLU WAYA LIVELIHOOD PROJECTCYCLE: 1

“I WILL LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THAN TO BE UNDERSTOOD ALWAYS”

INTRODUCTIONMy name is Agbo Delali Livingstone. I come from Tefle in the Volta Region of Ghana. A graduate of the University for Development Studies, Wa in the Upper West Region of Ghana. I decided to join the ICS Program because of the positive feedback I received from colleagues who had the opportunity to volunteer in both the Cape Coast and Abrobiano projects.

PLACEMENTI was placed with other volunteers in a community called Adaklu Waya in the Volta Region of Ghana. This is

a farming community with the majority of people engaged in groundnut, maize, cassava, and vegetable cultivation. This was the first time ICS has been to the community, and I am glad to be part of Cycle 1 of the Adaklu Waya Livelihood Project which happens to be the foundational cycle for subsequent cycles to come. Our target groups were the women and youth, who were also our primary stakeholders. We also worked with the District Assembly (project partner), Anfoe Youth Network, the Chief, Queen mother, and elders of Waya. The objective of the project is to identify the challenges of the livelihood activities of the people in Adaklu Waya and suggest ways and ideas to improve their livelihoods. We also worked with registered groups that were successfully formed by the team in both Waya and Anfoe. Our focus community was Waya but we made success with most of our activities in Anfoe because of the relationship we built with the community folks for staying there.

PERSONAL GOALSSince personal development is one of the core areas of ICS, we were made to set personal goals for ourselves. The three goals I set for myself were;

1. to increase my knowledge, skills, and experience in community development2. to learn how to work with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds3. to provide more opportunities for possible employment

In terms of community development, I got a better understanding that it is not all about putting up physical structures but empowering and sensitizing people to develop themselves to change their world. “Being in a team with UK volunteers has given me the experience of working with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds”. I used to have a perception that, it is very difficult to communicate with people overseas especially if you have not stayed with them for a period of time. At the initial stage, it was sometimes difficult to hear some of the UKVs speak because of their strong ascent. This perception changed when I started getting along and

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could understand whatever they said. To provide more opportunities for possible employment, I know I have written my CV in the minds of colleague volunteers, who can recommend me when such opportunities arise. I will also add these experiences to my CV which will place me ahead of potential applicants in job interviews.

COUNTERPARTI was paired with Cameron MacFarlane Ovenell from the South of England. He is 19 years old, and has completed college. Despite our conflicting characters and differences, we were able to compromise to live together peacefully. He is friendly, able to start up a conversation, and accepts his faults whenever he is wrong. These, among other characteristics of him come into play to make him the unique person he is. We won “the star counterpart pair” in the 8th week of our stay in the community. This is done every week to

acknowledge counterpart pairs who through the thick and thin stayed, overcame and achieved together.

HOST HOMEI was hosted in the same home with my counterpart by Mr. Justice Edem Zorh. He is the liaison officer for the Adaklu Waya Livelihood Project, and also works with the Social Welfare and Community Development Department of the Adaklu Waya District Assembly. He was my host dad and coincidentally comes from the same village Tefle, where am from. I got along very well with him because I understood our Ghanaian culture and never hesitated in helping him out with the house chores. It was a compound house with various households so we had to share the bath room, and a place of convenience together. That wasn’t a challenge for me because it is the same situation back home.

PERSONAL DISCOVERY / REVELATIONOn the placement, I realized there was a particular positive attitude I was lacking. However, I was motivated and guided by a special quote I heard from some volunteers who presented during “Nyanukemenya” (Know what I know) Day. I wrote this quote “I WILL LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THAN TO BE UNDERSTOOD ALWAYS” and placed it where I sleep to remind me every morning before I step out for team meetings. This helped me to respect other people’s views and appreciated the brilliant ideas which made our work a success. I also discovered that I had a potential for acting because of the positive comments I received from volunteers and community folks who witnessed a role I played in a drama performed by the team during the second awareness event themed; “the importance of savings”.

PARTICIPATION IN GROUP ACTIVITIES

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I was in the monitoring and evaluation team as well as the groundnut team. As part of our work, we conducted a survey to identify the challenges of the livelihood activities of the people in Adaklu Waya. I was instrumental in the data entry and designed a database in excel from the survey. I also played a special role in our engagements with the groundnut groups in Anfoe and Waya to facilitate sessions because I was one of the few volunteers who could communicate well in the local dialect (Ewe). I also played the MC role in both Awareness Raising events which has increased my confidence level especially before a larger crowd of people. I used my talent in art to design the team’s banner and paint inscriptions to identify our new office in Adaklu Waya. I was also part of other volunteers to paint beautiful educational themes on the walls of a classroom in the Glory Be To God E.P. Primary School, Adaklu Waya. I also used my talent in music to compose a song for the team. As part of our side project to teach in a summer school we started for the primary and Junior High Students in Anfoe, I handled a section of the Creative Arts subject, where I taught the kids some basic knowledge in arts and colours.

PERSONAL CHALLENGEI used to find it difficult to be on time for group activities but being on the project changed me when I saw how serious colleague volunteers were always on time and I had to fall in. I used to have a problem with our meetings being scheduled in the evenings because it never gave room for my personal space but this changed after MPR (Mid Project Review) when all meetings except socials and open mic, were changed to the day time.

IMPACTThe presence of ICS in the community has had great impact on the people especially through our awareness raising events. The message reached them as we expected and majority of them participated in our activities. Although there were few challenges our short term outcomes were achieved. On the other hand, I was greatly impacted by the culture and hospitability of the people. Even though I am from the Volta Region the frequent cultural display by the cultural groups in the community, the dance and other festivals we witnessed from other communities, have enlightened me more on the culture of my people.

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