Emily Simpson - Ghana Overseas crew Jan/Feb 2011

So we have finally finished the first community project of the year in Ghana, having built a sanitary toilet block outside the Kindergarten in Sokode Gbogame. The toilets have now been painted inside and out, including the Mad logo and all the volunteers signing their names on the side of the wall to leave their mark... The past few weeks have been a lot of dirt shifting, which was lovely because the kindergarten helped us out - trying to carry a wheelbarrow full of dirt with children hanging off it is quite a challenge, in the end the team had to take it in turns!! The masons also put the roof on and the doors are due to go on this week before Cathy leaves. The children are very excited to see it complete and the other day one child pointed at it and said "finished" - Emily Simpson

Cathy Lopez Ghana Volunteer 6 week Jan/Feb 2011 Blog - "The first day at the building site was quite funny. We arrive first thing in the morning and they immediately direct us down a rickety ladder into an 8ft hole, place 5kg shovels in our hands and instruct us to start digging. This, coupled with 35 degree weather and about 15/20 local men surrounding you scrutinising our every move, as well as John (the Mad Chief) snapping away pics for the website made for some interesting banter. The only word I have learned so far in Ewe (the local language) is "Akbe" meaning "Thank You" but judging by the amount of laughter that followed each comment made by the locals I'm pretty sure I would not have been thankful for them so Emily and I trooped on and worked our butt's off! For the next 3 days, my neck, shoulders and back where in the most pain I've ever felt and I am currently nursing very sore thighs from making cement for the bricks yesterday. Loving every minute though, getting into a routine and have been welcomed into the community with open arms."

"Third week complete. I'm halfway through the Ghana project already! I am actually developing guns with all the heavy duty lifting I'm doing, yesterday I even carried sand back and forth in a pan ON my head! The locals were tres impressed....and so was I. (There will be pictures up shortly as evidence for all you skeptics out there)"

My Birthday was lovely...got a gorgeous hand-carved African mask from Tim and Meg and got a HUGE surprise of a home-baked cake (coupled with a bucket of water thrown on me - A Ghanian tradition apparently) Also received gorgeous traditional beads from a vivacious African lady whose shop we are constantly visiting. Spent the afternoon with the kids playing around which I enjoyed soooo much - I really am going to miss those kids...there's about 5 that I would adopt in a heartbeat! And went for a quiet beer in the evening as our stomach's would not have been able to handle anything stronger.

Today 6 of us piled into a massive Land Rover bright and early and made the bumpy journey to Shia - the village where the MAD Foundation started out in 1998. Had a tour of a Cocoa Plantation, visited MAD previous projects and got to meet the Village Chief! Never thought I would be formally introduced to an African Chief - that's definitely something off the bucket list :)

My Ghana experience is getting better by the day and this volunteer programme has most definitely given me a greater appreciation of how lucky we are back home!

GO MAD!"Cathy Lopez Ghana Volunteer Jan/Feb 2011