We arrived at the last of our Child Rights Sensitizations (bottom still hurting from the insane moto-journey, I'm not sure when I'll be able to sit down again!) to discover that here there are eight communities, spread out over huge kilometres of land, and not one single school. Not one.

We are here to talk about the child's right to education, so it's utterly ironic- how are we supposed to encourage parents to send their children to school, when there are no schools anywhere around?!

The reason this surprises me so much is that so far I have not come across so many communities in one are where the children all have to walk so far to attempt to go to school. In some places I have heard that some children do come from miles around, but not this many, and especially not over 6 or 7 km for primary school age children - I was really surprised. I was also shocked because in Zebilla town you can't move for schools, they are everywhere, even on our journey back we passed by a new school being built in Zebilla town, where there are already three of four within a half kilometre radius. It just doesn't seem right. The Assemblyman explained that they have requested to the Ghana Education Service for a school, and that they were told someone would come out and visited the, but no one came. These communities really are in the idle of nowhere, but is it really an excuse?

It was also a uncomfortable reminder of the perception of the white person here. As we sat down, and the chairman introduced us all, a rumble of claps were half heartedly dished out to each of the speakers. But when I was introduced, the community literally broke out into whoops and hollers, clapping in applause and standing in excitement. They think I have come to give them their much desired school. They think that because I am white this means they are finally getting some help. What an awkward and strange situation to be in.

The meeting itself was a good one, with the community discussing cultural practices they will change, such as the widowhood ropes and child dowries, but I just couldn't shift from that uncomfortable feeling that whilst the community is ready to make the sacrifices and send their children to school the government is simply failing to provide them with a basic need. Deprived rural communities like these need basic services even more so than others, yet they are left to fend for themselves, forgotten and ignored.

In a way I know that I can at leats attempt to do something - I can provide an extra voice, rally with my colleagues (who were equally shocked and frustrated at the issue in conversation, but what that will translate to back at the office I'm not sure) and I can add an extra layer of pressure to those structures and people who are hindering development. The challenge, however, is that the expectation placed on me because of my white skin is far more than I can live up to. All I can do is have a go. During the meeting I could see the young child in the photograph wandering around following cattle in the background, whihc is his job. Age 5 and he's working in the fields already. He's about 5 or 6 years old, the same age as my nephew, spends his days herding catle, and probably has no idea what the alphabet is. So it's for him and all his little brothers and sisters in these communities that I'll attempt to follow up and support the community to demand for their school. I don't think I really have much choice, cab I really just walk away from that? Oh dear, wish me luck.

With love

Em Xx