See the path we refuse is the path we should choose

I think I'm finally being placed in my community service site this week and I don't think it could have come at better timing.
This week I was starting to get frustrated with some of my classes. I was so annoyed that my African Women Speak class only has two people total in it, and how my Twi class just keeps getting progressively more confusing, and how complicated English grammar is, and how long my classes seem to be, and how I feel like sometimes I can't contribute much to discussions- until something last night just made everything click.
NYU hosted this Movie Night at the Academic center where they were showing student created documentaries as part of the Documenting the African City last semester. One of the films, On Post, was about the 24 hr security guards we have guarding our residence halls and academic center. I've always really respected the guards and always make a point to say hello to them, but I never really thought much about all the stories they carry with them. In the documentary, they interviewed each security guard, asking them questions about their families and working conditions. Later in the video they revealed that these NYU HIRED security guards are getting paid about .49 an hour. I'm just floored. One of the staff members interviewed in the film said something about how being a security guard is one of the least desirable jobs for Ghanians. People would rather be unemployed than be security guards. One of the guards, Richard, said how sometimes if another replacement guard doesn't come to take over after his six hour shift, he has to just stay and wait. He's had to sit through 24 hour shifts-more than once. The interviewer asked, well what do you do about food? And Richard just smiled and laughed it off. I just don't understand how NYU can hire a company that is very CLEARLY underpaying their workers. And I mean if it's a matter of the security company not having the funds- then they should charge NYU more! NYU a private university in the public interest- ??? One of the other guards was saying how he would really love to just be a driver but that getting lessons is too expensive. He's been a guard for two years now and has never recieved a bonus or more responsibility. In this other documentary we watched, it was explaining that Ghana will never be able to prosper like the Western world because there is no such thing as a middle class. The social divide is too deep. They were saying how because Ghana is constantly importing Western and Europeans goods- they cannot make and create things of their own. It's virtually impossible to act as a self sustainable country.
After the documentary, Richard happened to be on guard and we talked to him for a while. He confessed how he really wants to enlist in the army but that it costs over $300 for uniforms and materials. Considering he makes about a dollar a day, how could he EVER possible save up for that? And granted, the cost of living here is significantly cheaper than other places in the world, but still- there is no such thing as savings. He told us about how his father had passed away, so he had to drop out of school so that his two older sisters could go to school. This other man was then sponsoring him to go to school for a while, but then he passed away too. So now he's left without much of an education, and all he really wants to do is go back to school and eventally go back to the army.
So what do we do now? Well, my roommate is starting to read with Richard and actually just bought him a book and in exchange he's gonig to help her with Twi. And we're all collectively going to start bringing the guard on duty to-go boxes after our dinners. We're also going to try to bring over newspapers and other reading materials since NYU won't supply them with any. My roommate and I were talking about looking into the price of driving schools to help out the older guard... but I mean there is really only so much we can do. It's tough because we don't want to seem like the American girls who are coming to try to save the poor Africans. But I just can't stand to have people slaving away in front of me. I mean, when I wake up, there is a boy who couldn't be more than 2 years younger than me who is sweeping our floor. And yes, he has a job which is really difficult to find for many people in this country, but it's just like- what did I do to deserve the opportunities that I have? Why is their situation so different?
And so this is where I'm at. The more time I spend here, the more I realize how education is what can create necessary, positive change. It's absolutely necessary. One of the CRAs who works with us was telling us how the last party in power built a HUGE palace in an impoverished area. All the promises that they swore off of that helped them get into power were never accounted for. While the government kept buying newer cars, the poor kept- and keeps- crying. But no one will keep the wealthy accountable because the educated are too few. We are bit more fortunate in the states in that there are more people who are educated and can keep the government on their toes. I mean, we still don't have enough control to stop the government from spending billions on wars but we definitely have a strong media force that will defintitely start a commotion.





I miss you all a lot and love reading your comments! I got two dresses made by the seamstress that are BEAUTIFUL- I'll be uploading those pictures soon. Other than that, things are great here- the weather is just so incredible. I don't know why I ever chose to go to a school where it snows. I still sort of feel like I'm on vacation here, my days are so long and low paced. It's such a change. Not this weekend but next we're going to Cape Coast, which will be exciting. I'll add more pictures and fun things next post. Just had to vent for this one.

AMAY,
[We listen]

GMT