"Kojo Mensah"

 February 17, 2011
“Kojo Mensah”

For those of you that know the Ocean Breeze hill know that one must be very determined to make that climb. When an Elder climbs that hill to see Kojo Bey, they are on a mission. Thus is the case of Esi’s Grandmother, ‘Mommy Mensah’.

If you readers remember my journal entry back in October, you will recall the sincere ‘Thank You’ that Mommy Mensah gave me for assisting her Granddaughter, Esi, to attend cooking school. Esi was one of OYC’s first youth that we sponsored in school years ago. Once Isis decided to sponsor her in cooking school, it was yet another blessing to the Mensah family. To Mommy Mensah, it is one more step towards pulling the blanket of poverty off of the family. In that ‘Thank You’, Mommy Mensah promised me a special bracelet that she was going to make for me. I thanked her, and really didn’t think much of it again because I was on my way back to the U.S. that particular day.

When I returned in January, Mommy Mensah climbed that hill again. She climbed that hill at the end of a farming day and sat outside chalet 3 waiting for my return from some Yemoja work. It was dark by the time I climbed the hill that evening and her energy on the verandah was one to behold. She looked like a true Juju Worker that was ready to do some WORK. Those that climbed the hill with me saw her and kept their distance because of the energy. I approached her with a sense of purpose because that is my nature; but I was relieved once I got closer that it was Mommy Mensah. “Mommy!” I called out to her as I exhaled the breath that I was going to use to ward off the Juju. She doesn’t speak any English, so she went right in with her Fante; explaining her purpose for climbing the hill. She told me that she is finishing up the bracelet and wanted to confirm my wrist size. I smiled and instantly remembered her promise back in October. Nice. She completed another phase of her mission that evening and descended the hill towards the village.

One Sunday after church, Mommy Mensah climbed the hill determined to complete her mission. I saw her and called for a Translator because I could see that she had a lot to say this particular day. We sat down and she explained that she is giving me Nana Beads (Chief Beads); and that I am the Chief of our community on the Hill in Brenu. Also, that as the Matriarch Elder of her family, which is one of the oldest families in Brenu, she is going to make me an official member of her family. I reflected, “Wow, she came to conduct a ceremony to bless me as a Chief of our Hill and make me an official member of the Mensah family.”

I thought Mommy Mensah’s ‘Thank You’ in October was special…WOW! I was and still am honored. In this type of business that we do in Ghana we are EXPECTED to help people and give them hope of a better future. So unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of sincere ‘Thank Yous’ offered to us. I am not complaining because I know that I am living my purpose, so the ‘Thank Yous’ are not what we feed off of. But to have an Elder who lived during colonial times in Ghana, overstand WHO I am, just warms the heart. There are so many Ghanaians that have been educated and traveled outside of Ghana and STILL do not know who I am, historically speaking. We Africans born in the U.S. can’t help but to want to find our families in Africa when we visit. Some continental Brothers and Sisters prey on that, but still we walk with that dream.

Mommy Mensah’s journey up the hill expanded my consciousness about what returning home is truly about. I’m not sure if I will ever know how important our private ceremony was to HER, but calling me Chief Kojo Mensah was the most profound ‘Thank You’ that I have received in Ghana to date. Thank you Mommy Mensah.

Love Family.

"Charlotte"

“Charlotte”

January 28, 2011

There are times when I see an injury happen during a football or basketball game and can’t take looking at the replays over and over and over again. Why do they like to show you the injury happening over and over again? Even CLOSE UPS! I also find it a challenge to watch people on TV navigate life with their disabilities. But when faced with these same circumstances live and direct, I move through with no hesitations. I’m not sure why that is, but I do know that something turns on inside of me when I am facing new challenges in my life. There is a confidence and strength that jumps inside of me and moves me through with a very cool, calm and collected spirit. It also helps to have someone like Charlotte smiling back at you.

Kofi and I had to tour Benyadze this month so that I could meet the community. I was told by the Headmaster that one of our orphans needed immediate assistance. This is something that I am very accustomed to hearing, but this case was a bit different. Our youth is a 15 year old JSS girl named Charlotte Appiah. Charlotte was born with a deformity in both legs. Her legs are not functional below the knees. So she gets around by using flip flops on her hands and propelling herself with the knees. Other times, she uses a wheelchair. The Headmaster told us that she needed a wheelchair. He told us that others have to push her and even they find it difficult because of the status of the wheels.

We visited Charlotte’s class and met this beautiful and vibrant young lady. She had a smile that brightens the day and a very determined spirit about her. We took pictures of her and exchanged some pleasantries. We then asked to see her wheelchair. WOW!!! How could ANYONE navigate in that thing?! “THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!” I immediately got on my ‘CrackBerry’ and began soliciting for support. [We’ll get back to the ‘CrackBerry’ comment. I have the global plan so I just intensified my addiction.]

It was a no brainer, “GET THAT GIRL A NEW WHEELCHAIR!” So we told the Headmaster and the PTA President that we would return with her new wheelchair within the week.

I left for the States a few days after meeting Charlotte, but Kofi continued the search for the right wheelchair for her. He found one and was able to keep our word by presenting Charlotte’s new wheels within the week. This is one of those WIN WIN situations. We know the value of following through in a timely manner with situations such as this one. As a result of OBey presenting the wheelchair to Charlotte within the week, the PTA President, who is also the Elder in charge of land allocation, offered OBey land for FREE. Yes, you read it correctly…FREE! We need the land to establish a sustainable project to assist in funding the OYC program there. But of course, if you all have learned anything from my messages while in Ghana, then you all know that there is NOTHING that comes without a PRICE! All in all though, Charlotte is happy. The community is happy. OBey is happy.

I am once again reminded of how much I LOVE MY JOB!

Love Family!

Grandpa!

The Journey 2011
January 17, 2011
Grandpa!

Technically, I guess they are right when they say that I am a Grandpa now. If all of these youth that we have been caring for so intensely call me “Daddy”, then yes, their children would have to be my Grandchildren. WHEEEEEWWWWW…What a mouth full there. Our YOUTH having CHILDREN.

My Mercy has ascended the Ocean Breeze hill with her 2 month old Son. I called for her since I knew that she would not come up on her own. When our youth feel that they have disappointed me, they will not come up to see me; even if they are in need of something. I was somewhat prepared to give my Fatherly speech about Parenthood and what coulda, shoulda, woulda been. But once those lil’ eyes met mine, IT WAS A WRAP! I fell in love instantly and could only hug Mercy and tell her how blessed she was to have such a beautiful and healthy Son.

She told me that she plans to return to school which will still be JSS. She is still not too sure of her birthdate, but is more confident that she is about 18-19yrs old. She was one of our first true orphans when we first started and I instantly fell in love with her stature and shy smile.

As I watched her breastfeed the baby, I thought about when they first came to me with dreams of having all of their supplies for school and regular meals. Now she is providing for another being. Her son…my Grandson…Kwamena Muhammed.

Peace and Eternal Light Family…

OYC Expansion Report

 

OYC EXPANSION REPORT

OBey Foundation is pleased to announce its success in raising the funds required to meet the challenge grant contributed by Artha Capital, having raised a total of $51,224 to assist with the expansion of our existing program.

[The following summary and attached spreadsheet explain funding allocation to date.]

In September/October 2010, OBey Foundation set out to achieve a number of goals. Our primary objectives included the following:

 Expanding our OBey YouthCare (OYC) program to allow us to serve a much larger population;

 Initiating a sustainability project for continued support of our current programs as well as our plans for further expansion;

 Strengthening OBey’s presence, both domestically and abroad, by adding more influential Board Members; and

 Maximizing resources by partnering with other NGOs within our target areas.



 

OYC –Expansion of Program

  

OBey Board member, Yuhanna Edwards visits Brenu.

 OBey met with Chiefs, Elder Councils, Teachers, and community members in surrounding villages within our target area of the Central Region of Ghana, West Africa to discuss expanding OYC services to their villages. We were successful in establishing relationships with Brenu Akyinim, Benyandze, Mpeasem, Ankwanda, and Abeye.

We have significantly increased the number of individuals who benefit from OYC services by the following means:

 by establishing OYC Programs in 5 villages within the Central Region;
 by adding new services to its existing program such as clean water projects and by securing a Treatment Team for our OYC youth including a reputable Physician, a Laboratory Technician, a Social Worker and a Psychologist;
 by offering de-worming services on a larger scale; and
 by providing a safe haven for rescued children who had been trafficked into slave labor.

Dr. Cudjoe administering de-worming meds

Our OYC Programs now serve 10,500 individuals - 2,000 of whom are children. Of these 2,000 children, 400 are orphaned or in extreme need and will receive full OYC services which include nutrition, extra classes/tutoring, health care, school supplies/tuition, and counseling.

Each of the 5 villages participating in the OYC Program will receive de-worming kits, mosquito nets, and window screens. A need assessment will be conducted in each village with respect to the drilling of water wells.



OYC staff from the 5 villages

Establishing OYC Programs in 4 new villages required additional staffing. Therefore, we added more volunteers to our staff and hired Teachers to institute a program of extra classes and tutoring in the new villages. Having hired 12 new Teachers and 4 OYC Supervisors to manage the OYC programs in the 4 new villages, our total number of OYC Teachers on staff is now 15 and our total number of OYC Supervisors is 6.

Sustainability Project



OYC Caregiver planting Pineapple plants



OBey Foundation set out to initiate a sustainability project as a means by which to support the current OYC Programs and to support further expansion of services within the Central Region of Ghana. Based upon the resources available to us, a commercial farm project was determined to be the most efficient and effective means of generating income to help sustain the OYC program in Ghana. We anticipate annual revenue from this project to reach $50,000.

In planning the farming project, we solicited the counsel of Mr. Appiah Donyina, Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry who has acted as an Advisor for OBey for a number of years now. Mr. Donyina assisted us by securing a Farming Consultant, Mr. Kwame Boamah, who will work with us on our Agri project.

OBey was able to negotiate for two farming sites. We secured 20 acres for sugarloaf pineapple farming and have been encouraged by Mr. Donyina and our Farming Consultant to also plan for Mango Farming. According to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mango exporting is slowly becoming Ghana’s top business venture. Mr. Boamah has agreed to prepare a business plan for us for the Pineapple and Mango farming.


Addition of Board Members

OBey Directors had also been seeking to identify influential individuals native to Ghana to invite on as Board Members.



Mr. John Kwofie, seated on Kojo's left

 In their respective capacities as Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry and Director of Business Cooperatives for the K.E.E.A. Regional Office in the Central Region of Ghana, OBey decided to approach Mr. Appiah Donyina and Mr. John Kwofie to serve as Board Members for our Foundation. Mr. John Kwofie, Director of Business Cooperatives for the K.E.E.A. Regional Office in the Central Region of Ghana provided invaluable assistance to us with respect to our farming project and also assisted in securing the Treatment Team for our OYC youth as referenced above.

As OBey’s international chapter is based in Ghana and headquartered in the K.E.E.A. District, we felt it beneficial to have influential members of the governing bodies represent our Foundation. Both have accepted and will continue to assist with the expansion plans for OYC.

Partnering with NGOs to Maximize Resources



Chief of Brenu Akyinim and U.S. Volunteer

OBey established working relationships with other NGOs in Ghana to maximize resources and established partnerships with various individuals and organizations for assistance in carrying out our expanded services more efficiently.

Among the NGOs we have coordinated efforts with include World Vision, Sabre Trust, UNICEF-Ghana and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM will provide training to OYC staff in the area of child rescue and rehabilitation. OYC will receive rescued youth indigenous to the Central Region in February or March after the IOM completes its February rescue mission in the Lake Volta region of Ghana.



 





Transition

October 13, 2010
Day 27 – Transition

Transitioning back to the States now.

We are all moving around each other this morning, avoiding eye contact because of our departure from Ocean Breeze.

It’s 7am and the car is here to drop Kofi and I off at the Cape Coast Ford station (Ford Passenger van to Accra), and Jen to the Kumasi station. Esi had to get a few uniforms sewn for school, so she will leave on Thursday now. Of course, tears are flowing as Jen hugs Sis. Paulina and Esi goodbye. Kofi is cool, because he is rolling with me to Accra and we still have some business to handle before our goodbyes. Before I left the chalet though, Esi’s Grandmother came by to thank me for assisting Esi with her schooling. AND WAS IT A THANK YOU. She must have done at least 20 prayers for me and the family. She spoke of her role with counseling Esi and Kofi. She spoke out the blessings that will shower me, OBey and the family. It was a very special ‘thank you.’ PEACE OCEAN BREEZE!!!

We dropped Jen off at her van and said our goodbyes to her. She must have been holding on to her emotions, because her tears were flowing as I hugged her goodbye and put her on her van. She is a traveler, so she will be fine as she moves solo through the northern region of Ghana. PEACE JENNY TROTRO!!!

We arrived in Accra at about 11 am and I sent Kofi to the Registrars General Office to pick up our NGO forms that we had filed a few weeks back. I checked into my room and got on the net for a few to check on my emails. I didn’t get too far into my emails before I heard from Esther’s Sister, Sandra. Sandra lives in Accra and was assigned to me by Esther to take me around a few places to pick some items for the States. She is the middle child between Esther and Nancy. I never met THIS one and wondered why. As we moved through our day, I realized why Esther never really spoke about her. Sandra has a strong mind and spirit. When I spoke of Esther, I could tell that they have a ‘little thing’ with each other. I joked with her about it and she gave me the look like ‘please don’t start anything Mr. OBey.’ LOL!! I left it alone…FOR NOW.
I got a call from Kofi that the guy at the Registrar’s Office did not want to release the papers until Kofi gave him some money. I told him that I am on my way to go see the Minister and I will bring the Minister there with me to give him his money. Of course, he told Kofi that he will do it, but he has to give him something. I called Kofi back after riding on our THIRD TROTRO through this crazy busy city, to check on the status. I told him to meet us somewhere since he was close to where we were going to be. They met us and I had Sandra play the role of our Rep that deals with the Minister. She was to demand the guy’s Managers’ contact information for Mr. Appiah. We practiced as we were walking there. Once we met up with them, she got all DIPLOMATIC on me. Looking at me like, ‘maybe you should give him something.’ We got through it. He was trying to get GHC 50 from us and I ended up giving him GHC 6. He ended up being alright by the end. But I had to tell him that he needs to respect my Son more. My Son is a man, not a little boy. He told me that it is because of his character and good energy that he has gone this far with us. I smiled at him and we left.
We traveled to the art center to do some shopping and then back to the hotel for my 6pm meeting with Adeline, the UNICEF Representative stationed in Accra. We had a great dinner meeting. It looks like we are going to have a great relationship with UNICEF here in Ghana. It was also very good for Kofi to participate in the meeting. She liked Kofi and gave him a lot of encouragement to continue his good works.

TIME TO CHILL. Transition time. I had a full agenda as to what I was going to do to chill and transition back and ended up laying down for some quick meditation and FELL OUT! LOL! On my family to catch this flight. The shuttle is waiting for us to carry us to the Airport. PEACE GHANA!!!

“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”

Love Family.

Medase Ocean Breeze

October 12, 2010
Day 25 – Medase Ocean Breeze

And just like that, today is my last day at Ocean Breeze. In fact, it’s also the last day for Jen and Esi. Jen will ride with us to the station in Cape Coast and catch a van up to Kumasi tomorrow. Esi will gather up her things and head out to school in Takoradi tomorrow. It will be the beginning of a new era for Kofi at Ocean Breeze. There will be no Esi and he has a new position to learn and live with OBey.

I hit the beach to catch one more vibe before leaving our beloved Brenu. It’s always bittersweet for me. I miss the family terribly but I will also miss this family here as well when I leave. I will be back in a few months, so NO PROBLEM. LOL!!


I walked the shore this time allowing for Yemoja to give me my final instructions. After I finished with my stretching and meditations, I headed back towards the beach resort. I saw Jen walking in my direction. As she came closer, I thought about her journey here. How we linked back up on Facebook after not hearing from or seeing each other for almost 25 years. I thought about how “Little Jen” has grown into such a dynamic woman with the potential to impact many people with her work. When we finally linked on the beach, she asked if I would rather be alone and I told her that I am on my way out. She asked, “So how do you feel when it’s time to go?” I told her what I told you all above. “I miss my Family, Jen. So, I am always excited. But I do miss this family and the OB vibes here when I leave.” I also added, “We got a lot accomplished during this trip, so I have that to walk with as well.” She smiled. I asked her, “How do YOU feel leaving?” She sighed and said, “I feel sad. I really got used to being at Ocean Breeze in my chalet. I didn’t realize how much I had started feeling like a part of the family. I am going to really miss everyone. Everyone was so nice and warm to me. It was so hard to do my last day of school today.” I gave her a hug and smiled at her. She got the Ocean Breeze experience. Another Happy ‘Customer’.



So, Esther decided to give us ONE last feast tonight. Esther knows she can ‘burn’. Kofi and I had to make a run to Elmina to meet with the Rootsman to get the medicine for the States. He is an intense man with a family vibe about him. He has agreed to supply us with whatever we need. He has been sending packages to Germany and the U.S. and is easy to contact. He works at the University Of Cape Coast and is Property Manager of the house in between Kohain and One Africa. So, he is easy to find. BLESSINGS!!!!

We returned to a feast. Otwidom was cutting up tonight because of Mommy doing so much cooking. He was tired and wanted the breast to put him out. Everyone was holding him, taking him for walks, singing to him, playing with him and nothing was KEEPING him chilled. I was on the computer, and finally had them give him to me. I walked him while telling Jen my secrets of dealing with ‘Marathon Cryers’. I told her that I have plenty of experience with these cases. I took him by the window where there was a breeze and the sound of Mommy Waters. I hummed to him and slowly he began falling out on my chest. Goodnight Moon, goodnight Stars, goodnight Ocean Breeze, goodnight beach, goodnight Mommy Waters, goodnight Otwidom, goodnight Family.

“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”

Love Family.

Self-Transcendence

October 11, 2010

Day 25 – Self-Transcendence

You ever step out of your current ‘self consciousness’ and do things that you said you wouldn’t, couldn’t, or shouldn’t do? Like you have always believed that when it rains that it’s a bad day and therefore your mood is down; but you decide one day that rain is actually a good thing for life processes so therefore your mood is up. Could one say that by approaching life with a positive outlook one could actually create positive thought and behavior patterns within one’s self. I mean like mirroring the Universe. The Universe is always expanding beyond its own existence. Self-transcendence. Continuously moving beyond what one believed was the totality of oneself and never becoming content with one’s existence. I learned this concept a long time ago, but after listening to a lecture by a Cosmologist this year, I became ONE with the idea. The Most High has always channeled extraordinary visions through me. They are so real that I become one with the vision. To the point where at times I move past it even before manifesting because I felt that I have already accomplished and experienced the Divine vision. It’s truly more than dreaming some vivid dream. I LIVE these visions.

Today, I sent Esi, Sis. Paulina and Kofi to Cape to pick up the list of supplies for school. I also gave her the money for her fees. They left out of here HIGH as a kite. We are very happy for Esi and she more than earned this opportunity. Jen asked Esther if she could assist her in putting together a going away feast for Esi tonight. Nice Jen…We had a blast. Between the food, DJ Kofi, Esi’s permanent smile, and Sis. Esther falling asleep at the table, and of course the host cutting up all night, we had BIG FUN.

I also made it to Yemoja once again today. I wanted to just be open to the elements for whatever they had for me. I can feel for the farm vision what I felt from Ocean Breeze after channeling that vision. This farm thing is haunting me now. I have always loved the concept of growing your own food. When I was very young, I thought it required a God given talent to be able to grow your own food. I can remember the different gardens in Mount Vernon that I would come across and thinking at 5 and 6 years of age, how does that food just pop out of the ground. Anyone that had a garden in their yard seemed like an extraordinary person to me. I mean Mount Vernon had a lot of homes that owned gardens back then. Fruit trees and plenty of gardens. Tall and lush collard greens, tomatoes, lettuce, GRAPES, apples, pears. We ate apples from an apple tree in the backyard, which was on family land, but next door. But the tree was right up against the fence so we climbed it all the time. I loved the concept that we could just climb or throw a rock up and collect apples to eat from the TREE. When I traveled to the south in NC to visit family, I was introduced to an entirely different level of ‘pop up foods.’ THE FARM. WHOAH. Rows and rows of corn, pecan trees, string beans, collard greens, pigs, chickens, roosters. It was then when I got hands on appreciation for how those ‘pop up foods’ came to be.

That fascination grew into the desire to want to grow my own food one day. As I moved through college and began studying about nation building, the farm concept was a major component of the mission. “Stop relying on these scientist and corporations to feed you. Get land and grow your own food. Stop eating what others tell you to eat. Eat to live! Get land and grow your own food!” That was the rhetoric that we were subscribing to back then. I even came up with a proposal to bring FRESH vegetables and fruits to the desert. The concept was simple. I had lived with the concept when I small in Mount Vernon. Load up a produce truck with all types of vegetables and fruits and drive around different communities selling your inventory. My community at the time was Las Vegas. Fresh foods to the desert. I had my family in stitches thinking about me driving around in some truck, selling produce. I talked about that so much that to this day, I sometimes believe that I actually manifested that venture. I didn’t, but I should’ve…LOL!

But the vision never left me. Once I moved back to Connecticut, I saw my old home in New Milford in a totally different light. My family established LAND; and FERTILE land. All of this was at one time FARM LAND. Hmmmmmm. Let’s grow some food. That’s when I started working on gardening. Collards, corn, eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, peppers, hot peppers, squash, and whatever else I could get my hands on. At first I tried to plant everything in a small area, together. I didn’t know. I was learning as I went along. I would spend hours learning about the ‘pop up foods’ and then put designated hours into learning how to put these goat skins on wood. I worked on the garden each year in New Milford. I started to remember how Uncle J would bring down some BIG vegetables that he grew in his garden, Upstate. Oh my goodness, how could I have forgotten?! I started running Upstate to my new Gardening Consultant. Uncle J was not just my Gardening Consultant but he was also one that believed in ‘Self-transcendence.’ He was a BIG TIME Dreamer. I loved listening to his ideas and dreams, because I could see them. No, literally, you could see remnants of his dreams all around his 5 acre property. LOL!!! I loved Uncle J for being a Dreamer who would go beyond the dream and actually work to manifest it. I will never forget when Uncle J requested MY CONSULTATION about some of my gardening techniques. I was so flattered and knew that I was on to something. I was also very encouraged by Uncle J to manifest Ocean Breeze. Whenever we spoke, he would ask me ALWAYS, “How’s that project going in Africa?” Even when I knew I had no clue as to how I was going to start the building of Ocean Breeze, I would tell him my plans. He would patiently listen to me as if it were the first time that he heard the plans. It wasn’t until the year before Uncle J passed at a surprise party for Aunt Rene that I gave Uncle J some news. By this time he was declining in his health and mental capacity, but was tearing into those King Crab Legs. I went over and spoke softly into his ear, “Uncle J, we put up the first structure on the land in Africa!” He looked up and pulled my head close to his, smiled and then went back to eating his King Crab. It was indeed a touching moment for me and I do believe that it was for him as well.

So, here we are now family. We have Ocean Breeze with 3 chalets up; a pineapple farm on its way on the healing compound; 20 acres nearby, designated for our Youth Complex, which will be farmed on for the first phase of the plan; and plans to secure 50 acres of land to cultivate a mango farm on a commercial level. It seems as though there have been some wonderful seeds planted upon me throughout my years. From counseling from my bedroom in the desert of Las Vegas to counseling at Ocean Breeze, overlooking the ocean. From that first crowded garden in New Milford to the Sugar Loaf pineapple garden at Ocean Breeze. From the produce truck idea in the desert to the mango farm and processing plant business plan. Either my dreams have just grown up with my years on this earth or the Most High is moving me into yet another level of consciousness and existence. Whichever the case may be, I know that Uncle J is looking upon me waiting for the chance to let out one of his infamous pot belly throat laughs…Haaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!

“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”

Peace Family.