Voice 1
Hello, and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
And I'm Ruby Jones. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. it is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
"What is the real Africa? Is it a badly-built, dirty shelter with no water supply or toilet? Or is it a room with a pleasant bed and running water? Is it a dirty child with no clothes - a child with a dirty nose and an empty stomach? Or is it a happy child full of food and wearing enough clothes? Is the real Africa the one where village people perform for money in front of foreign visitors? Or is it the one where a female African leader fought bravely against invading forces?"
Voice 1
These questions come from Chioma Ogwuegbu. Chioma comes from Nigeria, in West Africa. She is very proud of her country. From a young age, Chioma wanted to travel around Nigeria to discover more about it - and about the whole continent of Africa.
Voice 2
In 2008, Chioma decided to leave her job. She was now ready to go on her trip of discovery around Africa. Her plan was to spend one year visiting twenty-two [22] different countries across the continent. Chioma told her sister Oluchi about her idea. Oluchi grew very excited at what she heard! So, she decided to travel with her sister.
Voice 1
The young women left Nigeria at the end of 2008. However, the aim of the trip was not just to enjoy themselves! Chioma and Oluchi wanted their trip to change people's opinions about Africa. They believed that newspapers and television usually presented only one image of Africa - and that was a bad image. Oluchi explained:
Voice 4
"So many times when there are news reports about Africa, they are negative. There is not that much positive news. There are few positive stories about what is going on."
Voice 1
The sisters wrote down their goals for the trip. They wanted:
Voice 5
"To celebrate all that is beautiful on the continent of Africa - its peoples, its cultures, languages and religions. To help to change the negative image of Africa. To encourage Africans and the world to begin to see the beauty in the continent..."
Voice 2
Before they left, Chioma and Oluchi started a website. Here, they planned to write about the countries they visited. The website is called "Celebrate Africa". The sisters tell the stories of people they met and places they visited. These present a positive image of life in Africa today. In this programme we hear about two countries where the sisters made some amazing discoveries!
Voice 1
The sisters' travels started in the country of Ghana. And, right in the heart of the country, they found a surprising project! Breman Bedum is a small, quiet village. For years, the people there survived by growing their own food. But these crops used up much of the earth's goodness. And this left the soil dead and useless.
Voice 2
However, many of the people are now growing a very different sort of crop. They grow plants that produce useful kinds of oil. People call them ‘essential oils'. You can use these oils in many ways, The oils can make health products, such as soap to wash with. Or, they can become a kind of medicine. People rub some oil on their skin. This may help them feel less tired and worried. Or some people turn the oils into perfume. A small amount of this liquid on their skin makes them smell nice!
Voice 1
A company called Greendreams started the essential oils project in the village. This organisation is concerned with social farming - working the land in a useful and responsible way. Wellington Baiden is the head of Green Dreams. His grandfather owned a large piece of land near Breman Bedum village. And Wellington wanted to put it to good use. Wellington Baiden explains:
Voice 6
"This project started as a way of reclaiming the land. It was a way to stop the damage to the environment and turn it around. It was also a way of creating a major supply of jobs and pay for the village people."
Voice 1
Greendreams supplies the farmers with seeds. These seeds will grow into the plants that provide the flowers for essential oils. They also provide experts. The experts advise on how best to grow the plants. The learning process normally takes about six months. Greendreams then buys the plants back from the farmers. This depends on when each plant has enough flowers to produce its essential oil. But normally, farmers start to earn money within a year.
Voice 2
Wellington and his company have plans to help people grow essential oils plants in other areas of Ghana. And, their future aim is to send sweet smells from their country right across the world!
Voice 1
The sisters moved on to Burkina Faso. People say this is one of Africa's poorest countries. But here too the sisters were surprised. They came to the Domes of Fabedougou. These are huge, strange, and ancient rocks. Their tall, unusual shapes have turned this place into a place of wonder. The sisters did not expect to find such an amazing place in this quiet corner of Africa. Chioma wrote:
Voice 3
"You get to the Domes of Fabedougou and the first word you say is, ‘wow'. Even this word is not enough! You are seeing what has to be one of the Wonders of the World..."
Voice 1
The sisters also visited the nearby Waterfalls of Karfiguela. They watched the clear water fall over the smooth rocks. And they swam in the pleasant water that gathered at the foot of the rocks. Chioma and Oluchi had found one of the treasures of their continent. And they felt sad for people who had not yet discovered it!
Voice 2
Chioma and Oluchi believe that the stories they share will help to change people's opinions for the better. Oluchi says:
Voice 4
"I find that many young Africans - they want to leave Africa. I am not saying that Africa is perfect... But many of the people do not know about the positive things. There are so many things we can be doing here as Africans to make this continent a better place. So our aim is to... tell Africans what is here - what we have here."
Voice 1
The writer and producer of this programme was Ruby Jones. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. To find out more about Chioma and Oluchi's trip, follow the link on the script page of this programme.
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