Building a Community Center in Ghana

Yesterday ( 20 May) we spent most of the day driving around the city of Accra, usually from one exclusive area to another.

It is hard to imagine what an item has to go through as it is being designed/built. Or how a family tradition can change over time, but somehow remain true to its origins. Mr. Christopher Dozzi and his xylophones are a perfect example.

After driving about 20 minutes through a neighborhood of shabby 1 floor, tiny cubical houses and shops, we suddenly stopped in front of one such structure. Josephine told us all to get out and follow her around to the back of the house.

I love airplanes when they are all on the runway and tarmac. They look like big white beached whales lumbering across the black pavement. Well, at least the big jumbo jets and 767s do. The smaller express planes look like angry sharks trying to maneuver around their larger cousins. They seem to park haphazardly at the gates with wings and tails jutting out at odd angles. As they seem to sit so peacefully a whirlwind of activity buzzes around them.

Today we celebrated and danced with the village people of Abrafo-Odumasi and checked out the site where we'll be building a classroom that will eventually be equipted computers. It is HOT and right in the sun.... awesome. we will all be sporting nice farmers' tans/ burns.

After the celebration, we treked to Kakrum National Park and mastered the canopy walk - 7 rope bridges + 6 treetop resting places. it goes from 11 meters high to just over 40 meeters high... it was pretty sweet. i'm outta time on the comp. so more to come... if this website feels like posting.

lata

Well finding internet has been harder than expected, especially here in the capital city… at a university. But needless to say we have made it and I can finally post something. Unfortunately we are also about to leave for Cape Coast and our new home away from home, Hans Cottage Botel, so I cannot post all the great things I have been keeping track of in my journal.

Ghana so far:

well, here's the scoop. we took off from JFK towards Accra. 350 miles later? we turn back beacuse of mysterious "electrical problems" and have to get a new plane.

we finally get here. Josaphine (sp?) our guide/mother/favorite person on earth greets us with open arms and we cheers* with some cokes to what we are about to embark on.

places we've been:
-markets (crazy. haggling skills required. beautiful goods.)
-the university of Ghana
-Botanical Gardens (in the mountains...post rain. think mist. beautiful.)
-WEB Dubois Center
-the US Embassy (beautiful but scary.)

Wait where am I going tomorrow morning?! I still cannot believe I will be going to Ghana for 6 weeks. Sure I am ridiculously excited and day dreaming about what it is going to be like there, but I am also uncontrollably nervous. Have I over packed, am I bringing enough money, do I have the right visa, what if my camera stops working, what if my bag gets stolen? (Answers in order: yes, no, I am sure it is fine, others will be taking pictures, and I will cope)

So this is it. The group leaves Saturday. From our home cities we will depart and meet up in JFK Airport in New York where we will depart on a flight together for Accra, Ghana. (Hopefully) We've all packed our malaria medications, lightweight clothes, sun screen, and sketch books ready to experience something completely new. We are all ready or at least open-to a completely new educational experience from what we've experienced in past architecture studios. We are going to get our hands dirty and really get back to the basics of what it is to build. I can't wait.

Students from Miami University are brought together with the people of a small West African village to work towards resolving issues associated with daily community oriented activities by utilizing the nascent design skills learned in previous studios to design and then construct facilities that benefit community life.

The students engage the people of Abrafo-Odumasi to understand the needs of the community and then respond by designing to accommodate the program requirements established by the students and the village.

Since 1994 Miami University students have traveled to West Africa to take part in the Department of Architecture + Interior Design’s Ghana Studio and Summer Workshop. While the workshop primarily relates to the study of architecture, students from across many different interests and majors have taken part in the course to travel, learn and serve.