On 2/2/2013 6:43 AM, DanG wrote:
On 2/1/2013 9:21 AM, Joe AutoDrill wrote:
(The metal content is contained in the area concerning the well)

This might be my very last trip to Ghana, Africa as most of the
infrastructure I was tasked with setting up is now in place and the cost
of going is high. ...The resources can be redirected here in the states
to do more good so it was both the best and the worst trip ever for me.
Extremely emotional. I found myself staring off into space quite often
considering the fact that I may never see the people and places again.
But when I wasn't traumatizing myself, I was having a blast doing what I
love to do.


What a great story. How did you first get interested, Joe?


Dan,

That is a very good question! My friend is actually from the village we
serve. He's in his 50's now and is the founder of the Adopt One Village
organization. He often tells the story that he didn't have his first
pair of shoes until he was 16 and is embarrassed to admit that well into
his 50's he had trouble typing shoe laces.

Check out his profile he
http://www.adoptonevillage.org/about/about-the-founder/

Most of what you read there happened prior to my involvement. But here
is where I come in...

A few years ago, he invited four of us to join him in Ghana to see what
we might be able to do to organize customized trips and efforts for a
local charity in NJ. I was heavily involved in the charity and had
never met Emmanuel prior to the trip. The AOV effort was kicked into
high gear by the follow-up from that trip and we launched the
www.AdoptOneVillage.org site on the web, Facebook, etc. We have a board
of 7 people (site is outdated in that regard at the moment) and around
100 volunteers working behind the scenes here in the states to make this
stuff happen. A few minutes each day by a great number of people adds
up to some really, REALLY cool trips and progress for the people we serve.

....When I first walked into the village, the kids were all barefoot and
many had festering sores. Most had never even seen a BandAid. ...We
wanted to make sure we gave them a hand up rather than a hand out so we
focus on sustainable efforts there rather than cargo containers full of
'stuff" only. The adults there didn't really have any trust of the
Obruni (outsiders) beyond being cordial and kind. Now, we have an
extended family atmosphere that goes way beyond what any of us had
imagined. Our top education leader was recently given the title of
"Queen Mother" of the village. It's a title that will not pass away
when she does, etc. The title can never be taken away or reassigned to
someone else... Quite an honor. ...Why did they do this? Because her
efforts in organizing and leading the educational charge have lead to
the village sending about a dozen kids to the next level of schooling.
....Something that had essentially never happened before in the history
of the village.

The village is about 9 miles from a main town that has electricity and
most major amenities yet the village is about as poor as you can find in
the southern half of the nation with most families making between $1 and
$15 per week.

If I could move to the space between the village and this town, I'd be
there tomorrow!

Education is at the top of the list followed by simple things like
creating clean water options that they can maintain moving forward, etc.

So my involvement was initially a "check this out and tell me what you
think we can do to serve them and the local charity that wants to send
folks" and turned into a passion that runs so deep in my being that I've
been literally thinking and dreaming about what to do in Ghana for three
years straight. It takes more of my "brain space" than the business I
run on a daily basis. ...Some day, maybe the doors will be open for a
life direction shift. For now, I do what I can where I can when I can.

Every time I go, I post a follow-up here with the metal-related content
and more. I hope folks enjoy it.

--
http://tinyurl.com/My-Official-Response

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022 x113
01.908.542.0244
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V8013-R