Popular Education
Trip Start
May 16, 2007
1
11
25
Trip End
Jul 28, 2007
Accra,
Ghana
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A most remarkable attribute.
Monday, I call this organization called Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, and the guy who I spoke to sounded kind of distant and rather apprehensive.
It took a couple of phone calls - and I finally got a meeting set up for Tuesday at lunch. Normally I tell them what we're all about right away - that we'd like to film etc, but I had such a funny feeling on the phone that I just told him we were another non profit organization and we wanted to talk to him about some of the programs his non profit was working on. He sounded so scattered - he was mumbling - I just didn't have the impression that the whole things was legit. So while we're waiting at lunch, I mention it to Leslie. We'd both been so impressed, we'd so liked the mandate of Popular Education, and I just wanted to prepare her for the worst, for the possibility that this video might fall through.
Anyway. The guy walks in - nervously, anxiously.
And in moments, everything becomes clear.
He's nervous because he wasn't sure about us. On Monday he thought it was Joy FM calling - a radio station that makes prank calls.
He was nervous to meet us because he's a target - and wasn't sure what kind of meeting this was going to turn out to be.
He actually travelled with a second person - who stayed behind in the parking lot - just in case he needed help.
"I was fearful. Really. I'm scared," he kept saying.
He didn't need to tell me, I could see that he was relieved.
His organization deals with different aspects of human rights. With a big section of it dealing with gay and lesbian rights in Ghana.
An issue that has a lot of weight to it when 70% of the population in Ghana is christian, and 15% is Muslim.
The stigma attached to the topic doesn't allow for the majority of the religious to see that the organization is not about flaunting sexuality, or saying it is 'right' or 'wrong'.
It's about basic human rights. That gay and lesbian people should not be punished by law, austrisized, or stoned to death. It's about the right to talk about it, understand it, participate in it and not be beaten up.
So, I thanked him for his courage. Told him it's exactly that challenging dynamic that drew us to the organization in the first place.
He was honest enough to say that he didn't think there would be a great use to make a promotional video for public use. They already have enough attention, and most of it is harmful. But, we're going to make an internal promotional video - something they can use to encourage those who are already participating.
And I'm tempted to go beyond what the Good Evidence mandate is here.
Our deal is - we don't assist the organizations other then by telling their stories - and (eventually) putting them up on our website.
But this organization has so very little local help, and it takes so much courage to address the topic.
And to me, the idea that people are in physical danger because of this misunderstood issue - is sickening.
Comments
courage you couldn't come at a worse time
gags.
i detest hearing stuff like this... my jaw will prolly be clenched for the weekend.
though i thank you for telling truths that need to be told. the hard truths that most won't touch, for fear of moral contamination.
i pray your feet will continue to know their steps, and your eyes will continue to observe those often overseen details. the parts of the story western media never tells.
i bid you, brave woman, strength and safety.
s
S
... you have an incredible way with words