Global Brigades Ghana celebrated Global Brigades Month on February 29, 2012 through a mixture of activities designed to involve the community we live and work with in the Central Region of Ghana. We rented a flat bed delivery truck with a sound system loud enough to host a Brigades Fiesta. All staff and Brigade Interpreters loaded onto the truck and drove into the town of Mankessim, blaring music and chanting ‘Global’ (response) ‘BRIGADES!’. This party truck, o la Chiva para los Panamenos, was bound for the first community Global Brigades Ghana ever ran a Brigade in: Ekumifi Ekotsi.
We danced, laughed and sang together on the twenty minute drive to Ekumfi Ekotsi to be welcomed by mutually dancing, laughing and singing community members. Global Brigades Ghana staff performed a choreographed dance for the community’s delight. Children and market women recognized staff from Medical, Dental, Microfinance and Water Brigades, but couldn’t help laughing at our dance moves in the town square.
The party shifted to the soccer field as we played a staff game in Ekumfi Ekotsi. It was difficult to remember teammates as the whole field was covered with players in ‘Global Brigades’ t-shirts. The music played throughout the match- sometimes distracting staff into dancing to their favorite local songs instead of playing soccer. Ekfumi Ekotsi community members flocked to the field for the fun and dancing as we all announced that today was commemorate the activities of Global Brigades throughout the world.
Taking a moment to remind staff members and community member alike that today’s events were to remember all the hard work of students, community members and staff around the world was very special. Global Brigades is truly an international organization when we reflect on works from the United States, Canada, Honduras, Panama, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and Ghana.
Global Brigades Month was celebrated today in Ghana with many memories of past experiences and excitement for the opportunities all of our hard work can create in the future. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the incredible work done in Ghana through the power of international collaboration. Today reminds us all of why this movement, Global Brigades, is alive and well in Ghana!
