To make a donation please visit my JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/einir-young

The Queen Mother’s story!

IIt was January 1998. I had the most extraordinary experience of my life, captured on camera for all to see. I was installed as Queen Mother – Nana Ankama 1st of Gomoa Obiri, a small village on the South Coast of Ghana.

The story begins a few months earlier when, as part of a study of the coastal zone of Ghana, a colleague and I visited the village. We’d heard that they were charcoal makers and we wanted to know what sort of impact this was having on the environment and whether they were replanting trees or not.

The pictures speak for themselves. It was an extravaganza of African culture, filmed by Wil Aaron, Ffilmiau’r Nant for S4C.

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It generated lots of publicity – including a feature in the Express on Sunday Magazine and an interview with Angela Rippon on the Gloria Hunniford show.

I said at the time that I would provide support for the village – doing things with them not to them or for them. And so it has been. Here is a summary of progress since January 1998:

1. The clinic

I had NO idea how to go about helping the village without being patronising and creating a dependency culture. In any case, I had no financial means at my disposal.

Tony, Hefina and Llandygai church (see below) came to the rescue and we decided to start with a donation of £50. I thought perhaps they could hire taxis to take pregnant women who were in difficulties to the hospital in Apam (a few miles down the road).

When I returned a few months later they reported as follows:

•They thought my idea was unsustainable so they sought advice from the hospital in Apam..

• The staff there suggested they hire a hut in the village to set up a clinic.

• Two men were sent to be trained as first aiders

• The hospital provided medicines for common ailments – pain killers, malaria prophylactics, indigestion tablets etc. to be replenished as needed. traul ac ati a’r ysbyty i ail-gyflenwi yn ôl yr angen.

• People were asked to contribute ‘small small moneys` towards the drugs and they kept a register of patients.

• They purchased a bike for the two first aiders (who worked shifts) to visit the sick if needed.

This was SO impressive that Tony, Hefina and the church decided to extend the support.

The chiefs and the Development Committee came up with a plan. First, they needed electricity, second a school, third a new market place. We agreed to help them, bit by bit.

2. Electricity Poles

The first thing they wanted was to buy a complete set of 30 teak poles for their electricity supply. The Ghana government had a Self Help Electricity Programme (SHEP). If villages pooled together to buy the poles the government would pay for the high-tension wire and transformers.

Gomoa Obiri  had already managed to buy 9 but needed another 21 poles @ £50 each. This was achieved in 2009.

When Mike and I visited in 2010 they were pleased to give us a tour of the village at night, illuminated by the new street lights. The new lighting made it possible for small traders to operate later..

3. The School  

The old school was falling down, largely due to erosion by heavy rainfall splashing from the aluminium sheets on the roof (which had no guttering). They already had a foundation in place for a six-classroom school so wall by wall we helped them finish it off.

They have a great system  – a ‘Taboo day’. People don’t go to their farms on this day but rather use the time to do ‘communal work’. In the case of the school project they made the bricks and built it themselves. Because the village showed initative the local authority chipped in to roof the school. Having a decent building also meant that they could have another teacher.

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4. The Market

Thanks to the clinic, the village had more passing trade, so the development group thought that it would be good to have a better market place to enable small traders to sell their produce and products to the visiting patients..

5. Extra class for the school, water storage tank and a toilet block.

The six classrooms were not enough so they built an extra nursery space and kitchen..

As the old school had suffered from erosion this school has guttering with water flowing from the roof into a tank.

They also built a bloc of toilets outside

There is now a tarred road through the village and more trade so they think a bigger market and bigger clinic is required.

The money collected from my birthday campaign 2020 will go towards this

Tony and Hefina Chamberlain and Llandygai Church.

Following the programme on S4C dear friends of mine, Tony and Hefina thought it would be a good idea if we could support the village directly. As stalwarts of Llandygai Church they organised for funds to be raised every Christmas at the carol service. We are very grateful to the church for their support. Llandygai church retains an interest in Ghana but through the Bishop of Cape Coast.

Gomoa Obiri and Bangor University

I was in Ghana as a result of a DFID-funded project through the Centre for Arid Zone Studies (CAZS). Tony was a lecturer in Animal Production at the old Department of Agriculture and was founder member and former Director of CAZS. He and Hefina were involved with countless numbers of students and overseas visitors over the years. I hope the work in Gomoa Obiri is a fitting legacy to both of them. Tony died in 2003 and Hefina early in 2018. They were a huge inspiration to me and are much missed.

Mike and the Youngs. Mam, dad, Llinos and her troops have been very supportive. Mam and dad visited in 2000 to much fanfare. Mike and I visited in 2010 (Mike perfected his ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ impersonation, keeping a respectful few steps behind Nana Ankama I). This time, 2020, it’s Llinos’ turn to accompany me on tour.

Many thanks for considering donating towards this long term project. Llinos and I are looking forward to sharing our stories from the visit.

To make a donation please visit my JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/einir-young

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Mae’n bosib rhoi rhodd i’r pentref bach ar y dudalen hon: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/einir-young

Profiadau’r Fam Frenhines!

Ionawr 1998 oedd hi pan gefais brofiad rhyfeddaf fy mywyd ac mae’r lluniau’n profi hynny. Cefais fy ngorseddu’n Fam Frenhines – Nana Ankama 1af o Gomoa Obiri, pentref bach ar arfordir de Ghana.

Mae’r stori’n dechrau ychydig fisoedd yn gyn pan ymwelodd cydweithiwr a minnau â’r pentref fel rhan o astudiaeth o barth arfordirol Ghana. Clywsom sôn fod y pentrefwyr yn wneuthurwyr siarcol ac roeddem yn awyddus gwybod pa fath o effaith oedd hyn yn ei chael ar yr amgylchedd ac a oedden nhw’n ailblannu coed ai peidio.

Mae’r lluniau’n fwy huawdl na geiriau. Roedd yn sioe ryfeddol o ddiwylliant Affricanaidd, wedi ei ffilmio gan Wil Aaron, Ffilmiau’r Nant ar gyfer S4C.

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Cafodd y stori lawer iawn o gyhoeddusrwydd – yn cynnwys erthygl nodwedd yn y cylchgrawn Express on Sunday a chyfweliad gyda Angela Rippon ar sioe Gloria Hunniford

Gwnes addewid ar y pryd y byddwn i’n rhoi cefnogaeth i’r pentref mewn partneriaeth; yn gwneud pethau gyda nhw, nid iddyn nhw nac iddyn nhw. Ac felly y bu. Dyma grynodeb o’r cynnydd ers Ionawr 1998:

1. Y Clinig

Doedd gen i ddim y syniad lleia sut i fynd ati i helpu’r pentref heb fod yn nawddoglyd a beth bynnag, nid oeddwn yn graig o arian.

Daeth Tony, Hefina ac Eglwys Llandygai (gweler isod) i’r adwy ac fe benderfynon ni arbrofi gyda rhodd o £50 . Cefais i’r syniad efallai y gallen nhw logi tacsis i gymryd menywod beichiog a oedd mewn trafferthion i’r ysbyty yn Apam (ychydig filltiroedd i ffwrdd).

Pan ddychwelais ychydig fisoedd wedyn, adroddwyd fel a ganlyn:

• Roeddent o’r farn bod fy syniad yn anghynaladwy ac felly aethon nhw am gyngor i’r ysbyty yn Apam.

• Awgrymodd y staff yno eu bod yn llogi cwt yn y pentref i sefydlu clinig.

• Anfonwyd dau ddyn i gael eu hyfforddi fel swyddogion cymorth cyntaf

• Darparodd yr ysbyty gyffuriau addas ar gyfer salwch cyffredin – lladd poen, tabledi gwrth-falaria, tabledi ar gyfer diffyg traul ac ati a’r ysbyty i ail-gyflenwi yn ôl yr angen.

• Gofynnwyd i bobl gyfrannu ‘ arian bach bach ‘ tuag at y cyffuriau a’r cyfan wedi ei nodi mewn cofrestr o gleifion.

• Prynwyd beic ar gyfer y ddau gymhorthyn cyntaf (oedd yn gweithio sifftiau) i ymweld â’r claf os oedd angen.

Fe’n plesiwyd yn fawr iawn gan y mentergarwch yma a phenderfynodd Tony, Hefina a’r Eglwys ymestyn y gefnogaeth.

Y cam nesaf oedd i’r Penaethiaid a’r Pwyllgor Datblygu lunio cynllun. Yn gyntaf, roedd angen trydan arnynt, ysgol oed yr ail ddymuniad ac yn drydydd roedd angen datblygu safle marchnad newydd. Cytunasom i’w helpu, fesul tipyn.

2. Polion trydan

Y cam cyntaf oedd gorffen prynu set gyflawn o 30 polyn o bren Teak ar gyfer eu cyflenwad trydan. Roedd gan Lywodraeth Ghana raglen hunan gymorth trydan (SHEP). Pe bai pentrefi yn casglu digon o arian i brynu’r polion byddai’r Llywodraeth yn talu am y gwifrau.

Yr oedd Gomoa Obiri eisoes wedi llwyddo i brynu 9 o’r 30 ond roedd angen 21 polyn arall @ £50 yr un. Cyflawnwyd hyn yn 2009.

Ghana21polyntrydan

Pan aeth Mike a finnau yno yn 2010 roeddent yn falch iawn o’n tywys o gwmpas y pentref yn y nos yng ngolau’r cyflenwad trydan newydd. Yn sgil hyn mae’n bosib i siopau bach aros ar agor yn hwyrach.

3. Yr ysgol  

Roedd yr hen ysgol yn dadfeilio, yn bennaf oherwydd erydiad yn sgìl glaw trwm yn sblasio o’r to alwminiwm (oedd heb gwteri). Roedd sylfaen ar waith eisoes ar gyfer adeilad chwe ystafell ddosbarth felly fesul wal fe wnaethon ni eu helpu i’w orffen.

Mae ganddynt system wych yn y pentref -‘diwrnod tabŵ ‘. Ar y diwrnod hwn (dydd Mawrth fel arfer) dydi pobl ddim yn mynd i’w ffermydd ond yn hytrach maent yn defnyddio’r amser i wneud ‘ gwaith cymunedol ‘. Yn achos y prosiect ysgol roedden nhw yn gwneud y brics eu hunain ac yn eu defnyddio i adeiladu’r adeilad eu hunain. Oherwydd bod y pentref yn dangos mentergarwch gyda’r holl syniadau daeth yr awdurdod lleol i mewn i helpu rhoi to ar yr ysgol. Roedd cael adeilad pwrpasol newydd hefyd yn golygu y gallent ddenu athro newydd.

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4. Y farchnad  

Oherwydd y clinig, roedd mwy o bobl yn dod i’r pentref, felly roedd y grŵp datblygu o’r farn y byddai’n dda cael marchnad well i alluogi masnachwyr bach i werthu eu nwyddau a’u cynnyrch i’r cleifion a oedd yn ymweld.

5. Dosbarth ychwanegol ar gyfer yr ysgol, tanc storio dŵr a bloc toiledau.

Ymhen dipyn nid oedd y chwe ystafell ddosbarth yn ddigon felly bu’n rhaid adeiladu gofod meithrin a chegin ychwanegol.

Gan fod yr hen ysgol wedi dioddef o erydiad penderfynwyd rhoi gwteri ar do’r ysgol hon gwteri a chasglu’r dŵr o’r to i gronfa.

Roedd angen tai bach ar yr ysgol hefyd ac adeiladwyd bloc o dai bach tu allan

Erbyn hyn mae tar ar y ffordd trwy’r pentref ac mae mwy o brynu a gwerthu felly maen nhw’n meddwl bod angen ehangu’r farchnad a’r clinig.

Bydd yr arian a gesglir o’r ymgyrch pen-blwydd 2020 yn mynd tuag at hyn.

Tony a Hefina Chamberlain ac Eglwys Llandygai.

Yn dilyn y rhaglen ar S4C cafodd cyfeillion mynwesol i fi, Tony a Hefina, y syniad y dylem gefnogi’r pentref yn uniongyrchol. Roeddent yn bileri’r achos yn Eglwys Llandygai ac fe aethant ati i drefnu casglu arian bob Nadolig yn y gwasanaeth carolau ar gyfer y pentref. Rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn i’r Eglwys am eu cefnogaeth. Mae Eglwys Llandygai parhau i gadw cysylltiad â Ghana ond trwy waith Esgobaeth Cape Coast.

Gomoa Obiri a Phrifysgol Bangor

Roeddwn yn Ghana yn sgìl prosiect a ariannwyd gan DFID drwy’r Ganolfan Astudiaethau Tir Cras (CAZS). Bu Tony’n ddarlithydd Cynhyrchu Anifeiliaid yn yr hen Adran Amaethyddiaeth ac ef oedd un o sylfaenwyr a chyn-gyfarwyddwr CAZS. Bu ef a Hefina yn ymwneud â niferoedd dirifedi o fyfyrwyr ac ymwelwyr tramor dros y blynyddoedd. Gobeithio bod y gwaith yn Gomoa Obiri yn etifeddiaeth addas i’r ddau ohonynt. Bu farw Tony yn 2003 a Hefina yn gynnar yn 2018. Yr oeddent yn ysbrydoliaeth fawr i mi ac yr wyf yn gweld eu heisiau’n fawr iawn.

Mike a’r Youngs. Mae mam, dad, Llinos a’i theulu wedi bod yn gefnogol iawn. Ymwelodd mam a dad yn 2000 a chawsant groeso tywysogaidd. Ymwelodd Mike a minnau yn 2010 (oedd yn gyfle i Mike berffeithio ei ddynwarediad ‘ Dug Caeredin ‘, yn cerdded ychydig o gamau parchus y tu ôl i Nana Ankama I). Y tro hwn, 2020, tro Llinos yw hi i ddod gyda fi ar daith.

Diolch yn fawr i chi am ystyried cyfrannu tuag at y prosiect hirdymor hwn. Mae Llinos a minnau’n edrych ymlaen at rannu ein straeon maes o law.

Mae’n bosib rhoi rhodd i’r pentref bach ar y dudalen hon: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/einir-young

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