I just returned from my fifth trip to Akatsi, Ghana, and yes, I’m still wearing this fantastic leisure suit I had made. Anyhoooo, the Kekeli Program is 5 years in and so am I. I remember my first visit to Akatsi like it was yesterday. I stepped off the plane into the thick summer air, and met David and his charming, bright smile for the first time. He had a whole entourage of people waiting at the airport to welcome us to his wonderful country. Five years ago, on the first day of teaching the Kekeli curriculum, we walked into a classroom of 20 women staring at us quietly, serious and wide-eyed, not knowing what to expect just as much as us.
And now, five years later, David is still picking us up from the airport with his smile as big and warm as the sun. And the Kekeli women are still coming back. They wait for us wide-eyed but not so quietly. They are quick to cheer and laugh. They are hungry for knowledge, increased responsibility, and a challenge. Every year this blows my mind. These women all have families, jobs, cooking and cleaning and looking after the children to do, and yet they work so hard in their roles as Kekeli Community Health Promoters. They are working tirelessly in their villages. There are countless stories of the Kekeli women sending laboring mothers to the hospital, or sometimes delivering babies themselves, visiting all the pregnant women in their communities, and checking in on newborn babies. They are working with local drivers to have them “on call” for emergencies. They are teaching in schools and churches, dressing wounds, and being sought out for advice and counseling. This is just a snippet of all the things they do. We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and dedication for a healthier Ghana.
One of the most consistently hard working women for the past five year, who happens to also be the oldest, is Christiana. She has touched thousands of lives, and has the largest zone of communities to reach, by far, and yet she is determined to reach all of them.
These women are truly an inspiration to me. Sometimes I feel like I can barely work my 3 shifts in the hospital each week, and my responsibilities outside of my job are minimal. I have important relationships and friendships to keep up with, books to read for a couple clubs, and softball games to attend. So when I think of these women, with their lives already so full of responsibility, heaviness, hard work, and sacrifice, I am in awe of their energy, strength, resilience, and sheer motivation to bring health and brightness to Akatsi, Ghana.
