Ben and his associates installed two merry-go-rounds this week.I received these pictures in the night and decided to share.
The merry-go-rounds generate electricity.
The kids love them.
Ben has worked for 5 years to develop the technology
so these are fun -- not work.
If you can imagine, the students have never seen a MGR before.
I never saw playground equipment at all while we were there,
although I was told a few well-off schools had some.
Ben has teamed up with an American playground company,Playworld Systems,
who built these latest merry-go-rounds.
Their motto is: The world needs play.
Isn't that great?
The villagers have a huge celebrationwhen a merry-go-round is installed.
Lots of poetry, speeches and dancing.
While I was in Ghana during our mission,little kids would often rub my skin.
It was clear they were trying to rub the white off.
I couldn't believe it at first, but it happened so often that
I became sure that's what was happening.
When my nephew Chris Owen first went to Ghana last spring,
he brought home pictures of dancers with this white paint.
And then I suddenly understood a little better.
The electricity from the merry-go-roundscharges these lanterns designed for Ben by Energizer.
They will hold a charge for a month.
It's dark at 6 every night in Ghana,
but now the students have light for homework.
Test scores are rising.
Kids are reading.
All I can say is, what a retirement for Ben!
(Thanks, Chris -- for these photos!)
