CREATING CROSS-CULTURAL FAMILY: IPAC CONSULTANTS BECOME ‘AUNTIES’ TO GHANAIAN CHILDREN
By Leslie Shimotakahara
When Judy Cavanagh first accepted the position of Canadian Project Director to IPAC’s Ghana Central Governance Project in 2003, she didn’t think that by project’s end, she would have become “Auntie Judy” to two families of Ghanaian children. During her first year in Ghana, Cavanagh was so busy launching this six-year project – aimed at strengthening the decision-making policy process in the Office of the President, Cabinet Secretariat and key Ministries, Departments and Agencies – that she barely had time to catch her breath. She recalls being moved by the needy, struggling children all around her, and wishing that she had time to help. While driving to her office through the bustling streets of Accra, she would often be approached at a busy intersection by kids selling gum. Soon, she found herself leaning out her car window, and getting to know them.
One boy in particular caught Cavanagh’s attention, because he “seemed different than other kids” – shier and more reticent to approach vehicles. His name was Jacob Azure, and she guessed his age as about twelve. In fact, he turned out to be fifteen, but short for his age, thanks to malnutrition. That his teeth were in horrible shape, Cavanagh would later find out, was due to iron deficiency.
Jacob gradually warmed up to Cavanagh, disclosing that he had been on the street for less than six months. He expressed a strong desire to return to school. His mother, Mary Awuni, who ekes a living by selling corn and water, had been compelled to pull him out of public school, because she had been ill and used the money for medical purposes. Moved by the feeling that “I wanted to do ‘something,’” Cavanagh sent a note to Awuni. The note read: “If you’re interested, I am interested in funding your child’s education.” Within a day, Cavanagh received a phone call.
The two women arranged to meet at the popular hangout, Nando’s Chicken. Awuni arrived accompanied by Jacob and his two younger brothers, Moses and Robert. “The boys were all quiet,” Cavanagh recalls, and Awuni didn’t speak much English. Fortunately, Cavanagh had brought along her friend, Aku Tarras-Walberg, the manager of a local gym, to translate. Impressed by the fact that Awuni had managed to keep her sons in school until recently, Cavanagh decided to assume full responsibility for the boy’s education and health. The role she assumed is typically called “guardian” for purposes of education and health.
Since Jacob hadn’t thrived in the public school system, Cavanagh set about finding a private school. She wanted to find one with boarding facilities at the Junior Secondary level – not an easy task. Finally, she heard about Galaxy International School, which specializes in providing quality day and boarding education. Pleased by the pupil-teacher of 20:1 (or less), she enrolled Jacob in JSS2 (Junior Secondary School, level 2), after he passed the entrance exam. He has been there since 2004, and has two more years remaining.
As part of the entrance requirements, Jacob had to have a medical. According to the doctor, Cavanagh recalls, “if he collapsed playing football he would have died.” His iron level was dangerously low. He was immediately started on supplements. Shortly thereafter, he saw a dentist for the first time; he had to have thirteen teeth pulled out, and two partial plates inserted. But the pain and expense were well worth it. As Cavanagh reminisces about their celebration lunch after Jacob had his new teeth, he was “beaming, a full smile.” Moses leaned across the table and said, “You are so handsome.”
Within months, Cavanagh started thinking about how she might help the two brothers. Assuming responsibility for the health and education of thirteen-year-old Moses (he is now seventeen), with the assistance of her friend, Marg Arthur, Cavanagh enrolled him at Galaxy in JSS1. He has now has advanced to SS1. When two other IPAC consultants in Ghana, Naomi Alboim and Susan Waterfield, heard about what Cavanagh had started, they volunteered to support the youngest son, nine-year-old Robert (now thirteen). Alboim recalls that Robert struck her as a “very sweet little boy” whose “potential to improve with intervention” was significant, because he was still young. Another friend of Cavanagh, Hanne Jensen, also wanted to help out. Thus Alboim, Waterfield and Jensen collectively assumed responsibility for Robert’s education. Robert passed the entrance exam for Jack and Jill Primary School, and started in Primary 2. He is now completing Primary 5, and has one more year to go.
Although the “aunties” no longer live in Ghana full-time, Cavanagh and Alboim return on business periodically, and always visit the kids. “Every time I go to work in Ghana,” Cavanagh says happily, “We have a lot of fun just hanging out – pool side, playing with gifts I bring, eating chicken and rice.” Alboim is known as “the book auntie,” because she brings boxes of books in tow. The boys tend to be “fascinated by reference books – hungry for knowledge,” Alboim says. It isn’t difficult to see why the Azures’ neighbours think that the family has been “blessed.”
But Cavanagh insists, “I am the one who is blessed!” She reflects on the emotional rewards of seeing “the kids develop and grow with confidence,” and become “hopeful” about their future. While Cavanagh had long ago developed a love of Ghanaian culture and food, she now feels as if she is contributing to that culture in a new, meaningful way. At the same time, her Ghanaian experience has reinforced the notion of “family” as a supportive network that she first acquired from her own family.
Parallel to her involvement with the Azures, Cavanagh has also done much to help Aku Tarras-Walberg, who had served as translator at the initial meeting with Jacob’s mother. Tarras-Walberg was interested in pursuing a career change from managing a gym to pastoral counseling. Thus Cavanagh agreed to support her education in Sweden, while Tarras-Walberg’s mother took care of her three-year-old daughter, Aseye. When the grandmother suddenly died, Aseye fell into the custody of her teacher’s family. Although Cavanagh was initially “frantic” about Aseye’s wellbeing, she “checked out the situation,” and could see that the foster family was “wonderful.” All has worked out remarkably well – Tarras-Walberg got married in 2008 in Sweden. Two months before, her daughter was allowed to immigrate, and Cavanagh accompanied her to Sweden. “What a wonderful reunion, mother, child and new stepfather and a new sister,” Cavanagh marvels. She hears that Aseye has adjusted well to Swedish culture, and is quickly picking up the language.
Asked whether she would recommend this form of guardianship to others, Cavanagh enthusiastically says yes, but then pauses to qualify her answer. Her only reservation is that the amount of money spent might have done more to help more children. She wonders if her annual expenditure would be better spent helping a village, rather than two families. But her hope is that her investment in particular individuals will have cascading effects, as those individuals become leaders in their communities and help others.
Judy Cavanagh is a former Deputy Minister in the government of B.C. She now works with governments interested in maximizing the expertise of their civil service to improve executive decision-making. Leslie Shimotakahara is a Program Officer for IPAC International Programs.
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