Welcome to YSI Utrecht

Personal Experiences: Yuka

The project in Ghana was amazing. When we arrived in the country, the first thing I felt was the culture and heart of the Ghanaian people＾＾For me this was the thing I missed most when I left Ghana. As the African staff expressed, “Wherever we go in Africa, it is still Africa.” There are a lot of places and aspects which are not yet pioneered but I found out that there is a beautiful culture in this country. I could see that some Ghanaian people took care of many kids in the community even if they are not their own. This caring gesture in the community makes the people close and it unites them. In Ghana, when people greet the elderly; they bend their knees and lessen their height for the elderly person. This is how they express their respect towards them and it seemed very familiar to me as an Asian^^ I could also see younger people helping and serving a lot for the elderly people; through this, I realized their respect towards the elderly. I felt peace in these situations and it was just really nice for me to see. Also, kids called me “Madam” and I felt respect from them, just as in Japan when the youth speak to the elderly with respectful words as well. I really miss the kids I played together with and the people whom we worked with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really had a precious time there and I want to visit Ghana again someday!

Yuka Sasada

“Dasuba! Antere! Aninwula!”

We’ve returned from Ghana, inspired from the experiences we’ve shared and filled with fresh motivation for our upcoming projects in the Netherlands.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those that supported us (financially, morally) in going to Ghana for those few weeks. Each individual’s contribution made it possible for us to have an experience of a lifetime. We were most fortunate to be able to harvest the fruits of the investment of the last few years’ partnership of YSI with CPYWD (Community Partnership for Youth and Women Development).

We worked with CPYWD to complete the construction of the Discovery Center which began during last year’s YSI project, with the foundation of the center along with two summer huts forefront of the entrance. The end of our project resulted in concrete flooring, interior and exterior painting, and re-painting of the summer huts. We were able to see the finished result and take part in the handing over ceremony of (the key to) the Discovery Center, a stirring event commemorating the physically laborious and united collaboration of the villagers, CPYWD and YSI to complete the center.

We also worked with youth in after-school programs in the local villages with CPYWD facilitators, took part in a character education workshop, and then followed up by organizing our own discussion forums for youth and community leaders.

With the launching of CPYWD’s innovative bee-keeping project in Bimbilla, we helped with the setup of the launching ceremony and took part in the festivities.

We’ll each write a blog entry about our personal experiences in Ghana which will be posted over the upcoming days. In the meantime, we’re growing increasingly busy with or personal projects!

Artsy Children *2

Art Contest PART 2
Bredeschool Hart Van Noord

Team project #3

Last Tuesday was the chance for the kids in the lunchbreak-group from 10–13 years to show their drawing skills and creativity.

The question given by us was:
What do you think you can contribute to your neigborhood Kanaleneiland/ school to make it a more peaceful place?

All of them got really into the topic and many children had innovative ideas on how to develop their environment and make it more “vreedsam” (peaceful). That made the decision for the 3 best drawings really difficult for us.

Ashyn and Nevra. Congrats!

Raphaela, our winner. Gratulations!

Today, Friday, we awarded the prizes to the 3 winners: Raphaela, Nevra and Ashyn. Especially those 3 were most original in their idea.

During the award ceremony we emphasized the potential of every child to become a peacemaker in their neighborhood by setting their ideas into practice.

Thanks to all the kids for taking part in the art contest and a big “Thank you” especially to the team of Saartje Kinderopvang for their admission and support to the project.

~YSI 2011

Artsy Children.

Art Contest PART 1
Bredeschool Hart Van Noord
3 March 2011

Team project #2

The Contest was aimed to make the participants think.

We gave 3 questions to pick from:
1. What do you think you can contribute to your neigborhood Kanaleneiland/ school to make it a more peaceful place?
2. How does a happy and joyful family look like?
3. What do you like about your parents?

The children came up with lovely ideas for Kanaleneiland and the local area, were showing us their image of their parents. Interesting was also that every child has his own way of expressing him/herself.

Thanks to all the kids for taking part and for the team of Saartje Kinderopvang.
YSI2011
PS: Also have a look at: Part 2 of the Project!

Getting excited.

This was the Ghana-experience of YSI 2010. Get an impression!

© Patrick German. thx.

Awesome new entry in our passports.

In our hands already. Christian, Hauke

Hey world!

We made it. We got our visas just yesterday. The Ghana-spirit is growing and we are getting more and more excited. Ghana here we come!

We got yellow fever-

– vaccinations and are again one step closer to Ghana!

first dosage...bursting with enthusiasm

Workshop-day Ghana. Amsterdam.

Mrs. H. Brouwers, pedagoge and writer talking about the education system in Ghana

16 January 2011
We participated in an preparation-workshop getting

• first information and further impressions on Ghana and
• how the projects of CPYWD is developing in Ghana,
• which work has been done in Ghana and
• also about the previous works, especially by the YSI teams since 2007.

Lectures

• about cultural differences, being just people’s different perceptions how to deal with 5 challenges in life: biological needs, religion, kinship/relatives, in/visible social differences, social charity, aid and globalization,
• about the education system in Ghana and
• cultural tips about Ghana

were incredible valueable and appreciated by the whole team.

WECF at Huis-houd-beurs Amsterdam.

17 February 2011
Stand “Een veilig nest” (= A safe nest) at the  Huis-houd-beurs (= Householding Fair, Biggest Fair in the Netherlands)
in RAI Amsterdam

WECF was promoting their project „Een veilig nest – Nesting Project“, raising awareness about taking care about children and setting up a good and safe environment and atmosphere for a newborn baby.

I was involved in preparing posters for the stand in advance.

Gelukkige Valentijnsdag!

Wholeheartedly working.

14th February
Bredeschool Hart Van Noord

Our first team project!!!

On valentines day we organised an activity for kids to make their parents valentines cards at our local primary school in Kanaleneiland!  It was a chance for them to express their appreciation for their parents through their artistic creativity.  It was incredible to see everyone getting involved; even the children that are usually more distracted and unsettled.

We were really happy to see that the children enjoyed the activity and we’re sure that their parents loved their amazing cards!

Thank you to all the staff members at Bredeschool Hart Van Noord who allowed this project to take place and who supported us!

~YSI 2011