Originally published in 2020, we are republishing this piece to coincide with the upcoming issue of Take My Hand, containing updates from graduates in Sierra Leone. Get to know these four Participants during their time in Ghana.
by Yukiko Oyanagi, Associate Director
At the end of March 2020, when participants began to arrive in Japan, we heard the news, “Ghana closed the border. Four Sierra Leone students were left behind!”
Participants from overseas come to Japan after receiving a visa from the Japanese embassy in their country. Sierra Leone does not have a Japanese embassy; therefore, the Japanese embassy in neighboring Ghana also serves that country. It is customary for Sierra Leonean participants to go to Ghana first, complete the procedures there, and then come to Japan. However, this year, due to the influence of COVID-19, Sierra Leone closed the border just after the four participants traveled to Ghana, and then Ghana closed the border before they headed to Japan.
ARI staff sought help from Ghanaian graduates. Immediately, 2018 graduate John Yeboah raised his hand, saying, “If that is the case, come to me.” If they can stay at the graduate’s place …” is what we thought, but John was already looking ahead. He started a short-term training program for the four participants, including many aspects of the ARI program. It included cultivation of vegetables and crops (cultivation method, seedling management, weed control), organic farming training classes (Bokashi fertilizer, compost, agricultural materials using local resources), presentation skills, observation trips, training, leadership skills, etc. We were able to connect online for their interim report and listen to the presentation here at ARI. We were all surprised to hear a greeting and introduction in Japanese at the beginning of the presentations.
The four participants from Sierra Leone received training until the end of August and finally returned to their home country in mid-September. This shortened training seems to have been very meaningful for them, and they greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn these skills. Above all, we are proud of our ARI graduate, John Yeboah, who was able to carry out such a training program.
Many thanks to the United Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and American Friends of ARI, who funded this training.
In the top image, the four Sierra Leoneans are: 1) far left, Songu Philip Nabieu of New Life Ministries International; 2) third from right, Takieu Amara, Sierra Leone Correctional Service; 3) second from right, Magnus Foray Musa, Ndegbormei Development Organization; 4) far right, John Tucker, Methodist Church of Sierra Leone Relief and Development Agency. ARI Graduate from Ghana, John Yeboah 2018, is in the center in a blue shirt.
Want to know more about their work since returning to Sierra Leone? You can receive Take My Hand through a donation to ARI via our US-based supporters organization, American Friends of ARI. Read more and donate here.
