- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated August 7, 2005 at 12:30 pm by ZeRasta.
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August 6, 2005 at 6:03 pm #1036669
This is brilliant stuff, more old people should do things like this with their spare time…
Pensioner is made African chief
A Swansea pensioner has been made a chief of a village in Africa where he has taught English and raised thousands of pounds for the school. David Howells has been awarded the title of Nii Kwa Botwe the First, of the Ga tribe of Onyansnaa.The title which means “to hoot at hunger” was awarded in a ceremony in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
Mr Howells, from West Cross in Swansea, has visited the village twice as a volunteer teacher in the last year.
He travelled to the African village originally through the volunteer travel organisation i-to-i.
My eight weeks at the school gave me experiences which have undoubtedly changed me for the better
David HowellsHe was given the chief’s “to hoot at hunger” title as a mark of respect.
Along with the title, a one-and-a half hour long ceremony saw him gain a crown, a ceremonial cloth, necklaces, wristband and even a stool.
Mr Howells initially travelled to the small African village in June 2004 as an English teacher.
On that visit he discovered the most recent book the school had was from 1946.
He said: “My eight weeks at the school gave me experiences which have undoubtedly changed me for the better.
“Essentially I was expected to teach the lovely children of the school, but both they and the staff taught me so many lessons regarding the fundamental basics of day-to-day living.”
Famine
Back in Swansea the pensioner raised more than £4,500 for the school with a variety of fundraising techniques, including a series of 21 talks about his time in Ghana.
He said the project almost took over his life but the resulting money has enabled the school to build a new library – named after Mr Howells and his wife – and two offices and a classroom.
In his new capacity as chief, bestowed in June this year, Mr Howells has the duties of education and development of his tribe.
“I am expected to visit each August in order to participate in their festival of ‘Homower’, held to commemorate the defeat of a famine,” he said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/4126074.stmPublished: 2005/08/06 08:52:27 GMT
© BBC MMV
August 6, 2005 at 6:11 pm #1066639indeed a very valid way of spending your retirement never heard about that though and i live in swansea :confused: but i dont read thew local newpapers im more of a times man myself 🙂
August 6, 2005 at 6:28 pm #1066637I’m a self-confessed news junkie and originally wanted to work as a journalist (at least until I realised how corrupt and negative the media industry can be) …. so I tend to look out for interesting news stories to relay here..
However, if you’re interested in raves (particularly if you ever want to DJ or set up a rig) its always worth reading the local papers…
you can often see how other ravers have fared in your area (such as if their events have been busted or created a massive backlash), and also ascertain from reading crime reports what the local cops / magistrates are like about dealing with such issues as drug use / unlicensed events…
August 7, 2005 at 11:36 am #1066640lol yeah but chances are if its close enough to mae the local paper chances r i went to it. True but these days it seems to me the entire world is corrupt and it wouldnt surprise me to ifnd the media were being controlled. But then again politics are complty corrupt and without young new politicians how can it be reformed apart from changing the the elections proccess. Just simply trying to say that maybe if something is corrupt its better o have an inside knoledge of this rather than just be an on looker. Im quite intrested in persuaing a career in media but more of graphics and art in the media as appose to being a journalist.
August 7, 2005 at 12:30 pm #1066638ZeRasta wrote:lol yeah but chances are if its close enough to mae the local paper chances r i went to it.So you should read the local paper and see what their opinion on it was…as often they write of how the area was left in a state and how there were 4 systems playing for 5 days etc.
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