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I was very happy to discover that a group of young Ghanaians who were very serious about staying healthy had formed a “hiking club” that would take them on hikes, sometimes 10 or 15 kilometers away from the meeting point.
There’s nothing surprising about this, even though the self-centered attitudes of modern urban life make those who manage to rise above the demands of “keeping up with the times” seem more ordinary (today). Of course, recreational groups are everywhere. Gyms have never been more valued.
What’s peculiar (and welcome) about this group is that as they hike, they let the scenery they pass by speak to them about the local way of life.
Even stranger, they analyzed their observations in group discussions, and at one point they let an abstract observation motivate them to take practical action to improve the problem.
Their focus was on a school near their hiking route. It was an “ordinary” Ghanaian junior high school. Like many other schools, it looked a bit desolate.
“I don’t know if they have good toilets!” (one member ventured).
“It’s the computers that I’m worried about!” another chimed in. “No matter what we say, by the time they graduate, IT and AI will rule the world. Even if they pass their exams, without computers to help them absorb the information they need, they will enter the vast world of unemployment, threatening the survival of young people in developing countries. What chance will they have to compete with their peers who have smartphones filled with apps?”
The discussion was almost getting depressing. Then someone blurted out, “Maybe we could buy them a few computers if we suspect they don’t have any!”
Everybody laughed at the suggestion.
“us”?
Some of the team need to buy new running shoes. Others need to bravely take their smartphones to the phone repairmen who won’t hesitate to “slit” the throats of any unfortunate user whose phone “falls into their hands”!
“Let’s send a delegation to the school!” someone suggested. Many members volunteered to find out what was going on at the school. They reported that the school did have a computer room. But there were no computers in it! So what did they do in IT class? Answer: The IT teacher had to show the students what she was talking about by passing around her personal laptop.
“What if some naughty student reads her private emails?” someone said.
“Yes – I would not trust some youngsters today to take my laptop. No one would be tempted to memorize some information on the laptop and use it to do ‘sakawa!’ (engage in online fraud)”.
“So what are we supposed to do? Put our arms up and squeeze our faces?” one angry member asked.
Another person asked: “Or pray for divine intervention and bring computers into the school?”
“Submit a petition to the Ministry of Education on behalf of the students?”
Everyone laughed. Which minister/senior official would receive a
A group that has no connection to any educational institution?
to be continued…
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