Joining peers in Ghana to build dorm

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A group of Scarborough youth are about to depart on the experience of a lifetime.

The 2nd Highland Creek Venturer Scouts are heading to Ghana, Africa next month to help a fellow Scouting group and experience a different culture.

The group, seven Venturers and four leaders, are leaving Aug. 1 for the northern Ghana region near the city of Tamale.

Peter Aspery, one of the leaders going, said the idea for the trip came from one of the other members who had been to Africa 10 years ago with Scouts. He wanted to go again and the Venturers were enthusiastic about the idea. That the scouting group in Ghana could use assistance sealed the deal.

"We'll be helping them finish off construction on a sleeping dorm and meeting place (at the Scout Village)," Aspery said.

The assistance from Scarborough has been ongoing for months as the Venturers have been fundraising to send money to Ghana, as well as to help cover the cost of the trip. The planning began two years ago and the fundraising started last year.

The youth (Venturers are young men between 14 and 17 years of age) have done bottle drives, popcorn and chocolate sales, and sold Christmas trees. They've also approached donors and received some sponsorship.

The organization in Ghana has been working hard building everything for the structure on site, including the bricks. The addition of some extra hands will help the building get finished, but the trip isn't going to be all work for the Scarborough youth.

"We'll be doing some day trips and sightseeing while we're there," Aspery said. "And also just taking in the local culture."

There is a national park in the area where they'll have a chance to see elephants, antelopes, monkeys, warthogs and other animals. They also plan to visit the water falls at Kintampo.

"The cultural experience that they'll get could certainly be a life-changing experience," Aspery said.

The lead up to the trip, as well as the trip itself, fits in well with the values of Scouting and is providing a valuable learning experience for the youth. Aspery said Scouting aims to focus on the physical, spiritual and social side of a person.

"All the things we do in Scouting, we're trying to tailor them to all of those sides to let the youth grow," he said.

In planning the trip and fundraising the youth have learned a lot about Africa, such as the inoculations they'll need and the equipment they need to bring, for example netting to keep mosquitoes away to protect themselves from malaria.

The youth will be gone for nearly three weeks with the group returning Aug. 20. They are still looking for some help before they go, including new or nearly new laptops to take with them to donate to the Scouting group in Ghana. Anyone who wants to help can e-mail 2hcvents@gmail.com