Hi! I'm Jess, one of the crew leaders out here in Ghana.

We've just completed a 6 week project up in the Volta Region in a beautiful village called Leklebi Duga. The main aspect of the project was to continue work on a teachers accommodation block. At the moment the teachers are all crashing at peoples houses - not ideal! The building was hard work, lots of long hot hours moulding bricks, mixing cement and laying bricks. But it was all worthwhile,especially when you could see the project developing each day.

Another large part of the project was to assist with the teaching in the local schools. Quite a scary prospect to begin with! But the kids are so fantastic and so eager to learn that you forget about being scared straight away! We taught from kindergarten right up to 18 yr olds at the senior secondary school. So the venturers could choose the level of teaching they thought was right for them. Within no time at all there were sport days, football matches, choir and dancing lessons organised.

Most afternoons were spent doing activities in and around Leklebi Duga. Some of these included, walking to the border of Togo, basket weaving, bead making, visiting the local waterfalls for a swim, watching the traditional kente cloth being woven in a nearby village or just chilling out in the village with our new friends!

Our food was cooked for us but the amazing Annie and Mercy. I have never eaten so well in all my life! Pancakes, omlettes and fresh juice for breakfast and a mixture of local dishes and some more western dishes for lunch and dinner.

Our evenings were often spent at Afrikiko or Vision Club, two spot bars in town, where we listened to very loud reggae and highlife, played cards and danced the nights away. None of our evenings would have been the same if it wasn't for all of our Ghanaian friends who kept us constantly entertained with their dancing, their jokes (who can forget John and Mavis!), there funny little phrases (Prince - 'THANKYOU', Stanley 'Oh my confidence is my downfall!', 'because why has a long tail and two short branches!', 'thats positive' and so many more!), and generally their friendship.

On the weekends Venturers explored Ghana. From beach partys, to walking in the hills, swimming in waterfalls, shopping in huge african markets, sunbathing, to catching up on sleep!

The final stage of the project is due to begin next week, so keep watching for updates and photos.

To all of you who have just left i have some big big greetings to send to you from Prince, Stanley, Mennah, Dennis, Emmanual, Ronnie, Charles, Nobel, Rose, Gifty, Mercy, Annie, Mr Valentine, Madam Grace, Togbe(!), Jimmy and everyone else i've forgotten to mention.

Big big thank you's to Chris (Christ Son) who raised enough money to have the junior secondary school renovated. It looks fantastic! Thanks also go to Holly (shiny slimsy), who has contributed some towards it and to Anthony who is currently fundraising to renovate the boys dorm's.

What else can i say except Leklebi Duga misses you. You will never be forgotten here! So come back soon. And if your trying to decide on whether to come or not all i can say is that we're waiting for you........

Jess