Young farmers’ African adventure

It’s fair say visiting Ghana has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for two members of Staindrop Young Farmers Club.

Rachel Dent, who grew up on her parents’ farm in Lunedale, and Rachel Atkinson, who’s from a Forest-in-Teesdale farming family, spent two unforgettable weeks in sub-Saharan Africa.

The National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs regularly organises trips abroad and when the opportunity arose to visit Ghana, both Rachels applied immediately.

Following an interview process, they were chosen along with nine other Young Farmers.

Explaining the purpose of the visit, a spokesman for the organisation said: “The trip gave members the opportunity to support rural communities, experience a completely different culture and gain valuable personal and practical skills, while representing Young Farmers Club overseas.”

The Rachels, who had to self-fund their trip, were both particularly intrigued by the prospect of visiting a country that definitely isn’t on the tourist trail.

Rachel Dent, who works at Castle Farm Vets, in Barnard Castle, said spending time in the country was a hugely rewarding but also something of a culture shock

“I’m so glad I went,” she told the Mercury, “so pleased I’ve been and seen Ghana, it’s taught us all to appreciate things a bit more.

“It’s a one-hour round trip on foot for water and we saw how poorly they eat,” she added.

“One thing we all noticed is that all the hospitals have a graveyard next to, or opposite the hospital because the survival rate’s so low.

“The children in the school have never seen outside of their village and their houses are made out of clay and water and bamboo sticks.

“They kept asking to see photos on our phones of what our families and our houses looked like.”

The young farmers weren’t just there to sightsee, however, they had to get their hands dirty and were glad to do so.

“We planted crops, all by hand, at a school, which will be used to feed the children at the school when they grow,” Rachel D explained.

“Cassava, cocoa, yam, coconut, local crops, nothing you would see here in Teesdale.

“Then, in the school on the afternoon, we were teaching the children in classes.”

Rachel D revealed that money raised by regulars at Middleton Sports and Social Club was used to help the children in Ghana.

“The club gave me £300 to spend over there, so with that money I managed to put a roof on a classroom of a school that didn’t have one.

“It also paid for all of the exercise books for the children in the school for the next academic year and supplied them with first aid boxes as well because theirs were empty.”

The young farmers were based in the Akwapim Hills, but a weekend trip to the Cape Coast, which was a major slavery centre, had a huge impact.

Like her namesake, Rachel Atkinson, who works at PFK Estate Agency, in Penrith, found the trip life-changing.

“We came back feeling very lucky for what we’ve got here and not to take anything for granted,” she said.

“It’s definitely a lot different from what we are used to here and it definitely opened your eyes to different ways of life and how they do things differently.

“It was great meeting everyone in the community,” she added.

“The people who lived there were so friendly and couldn’t have been more welcoming to us.

“Going into the school was really fun, as was learning about their culture and their country.

“Another highlight was when we did African drumming and dancing lessons!

“Everyone got on really well and I’ve made friends for life.

“It was just such a good experience, one I’ll never forget.”