OUT OF SCHOOL

It been quite some time now posting on my blog. It has never been easy. However, things are under control. Sorry to my readers. I have successfully graduated from University of Cape Coast. On may 19th, I took my last exam paper and exited peacefully from the university campus. Thanks to Late Kees and the entire SmartKids Foundation both nationally and internationally. Your supports and prayers has brought me this far. Love you all. Our graduation was held on the 23rd of september, 2012. Unfortunately, I missed the graduation because of some ailment.I Was recovering from malaria attack. I was awarded Second Class, Upper division. It would have been great time to be with colleagues and my SmartKids counterparts;Elizabeth,Isaac,Frederick. All the same everything happen for a purpose. I’m grateful to God. Anyway, I was very happy in the house not withstanding my ailment. I have started my national service. I’m working at the Dept of Culture, Konongo Municipal Assemby, Kumasi. It interesting , few weeks of work experience.

In Memory of founder of SMARTKIDS FOUNDATION,KEES HOOGENDIJK..

Eight years ago (2004), a very great man, Kees Hoodendijk left EUROPE for the shores of AFRICA. His great mission was to help Africans reduce poverty by given education to brilliant but underprivileged kids. He always said “ The African must be taught how to fish rather than given a fish”. This he did by looking for brilliant but underpriveleged and highly motivated kids from all over Ghana and give them the best of education. This is how we ( SmarKids,Ghana) met Mr. Kees Hoodendijk. Over the years He has devoted all his life trying to carry his vision. Kees has given education to 98 underprivileged kids in Ghana. When He is asked 'do you have children?' yes, I have 98 kids in Africa. It’s indeed a great achievement to have such a number of children.
KEES was not only interested in our education but also our general welfare. He visited our family and helped in all our endeavors of life. He has transformed our lives forever,given us the best of education,helping us gain knowledge.

Kees your sudden death has left deep pain in the heart of your children in Africa.your memory continues to linger in our heart.The Ghana Chess Board will never forget you. You have been a father that we will never forget. KEES, you said that in 2050 we will say goodbye to poverty in Africa but you have left us in the middle of the journey. You never saw your children fish. You have left a very great pain in our heart.We are so grateful that we met you. May your soul rest in perfect Peace,KEES.

enjoy this short story from me

WHY BABIES CAN’T TALK. Very long time ago, babies were able to speak as soon as they were born. They did not cry when they wanted food, or when they were too hot or too cold or uncomfortable in any way. They just opened their mouths and told their mothers what they wanted. This made it very easy for their mothers to look after them. Unlike nowadays when babies just cry and their mothers have to guess what their babies want. In fact, it was very easy to take care of children by parents that way. However, the babies were not very wish. They never reasoned like adults. Wise people do not talk about all that they see or hear. But the foolish babies did not know this. If someone comes to the house with only one leg or any other physical deformity, a baby would definitely react by saying,’ go away, one-legged man!’ The man would be angry and the baby’s mother would be ashamed. She has to apologise to the person, and she would begin to wish that babies did not know how to speak after all. It was such an unbearable character of babies. They caused a lot of troubles with their foolish talk. They often created disharmony between neighbours. During those days, a certain woman used to steal from people but never caught. She often did that when nobody is seen in the house. She does her stealing through very clever means. One day, she decided to steal from a nearby house as usual. She entered the house as if she was going to take some burning wood from the house to light hers. The owner of the house was not in. only her little baby was lying on a mat in the room. The woman saw some money on a table. She went closer and touched the money. She said ‘I can take this money since there is no one here, only a little baby, no one will know that I took the money ’. She quickly made it to her house after hiding the money under her clothes. When the baby’s mother returned, she shouted, ‘who has stolen my money?’ The baby at once told her. He said, ‘Mother, I know the thief. She is the woman in the next house.’ He described how the woman took the money and hid in her clothes and made it home. The story of the baby spread like bush fire. Everybody wanted to hear his story. They cheered him. They clapped their hands and shouted’ Thief! Thief!!!! at the woman who had stolen the money from the house. She was very ashamed. She pleaded for forgiveness and took a vow not to even steal a pesewa from anybody again. Oboadeέ, Maker and owner of All Things (GOD), heard the story. He also heard that babies often made rude and foolish pronouncement because they were not old enough to be wise. He planned to do something about that to prevent babies from doing that. So, He took some water yam, cut it into two equal parts and scrapped some of the raw yam with knife. He put the scrapped yam into the baby’s throat. Since that time, babies have not been able to talk. Whenever they try to say something, a little raw scrapped yam comes out of the mouth instead. As they grow older and wiser the white substance becomes less and lesser in their throat, they begin to talk little by little. When they are old and wise enough, they can talk as their parents. ALIU ALHASSAN.

SITUATIONAL REPORT

Academically, I am very optimistic of success. lectures have been very vibrant. And indeed very good causes. For the past eighteen months, I will say that I am making it. I am in the second class division and sure that I will complete the BA. SOCIAL SCIENCES programme with second class upper division. . I have combined Economics and Sociology. I will finish with these two courses. There is improvement in my results as compared to my level 100 performance. Also, during group discussions on campus, I make very great impact. I have been group leader in almost all group assignment and discussions. My group is always successful. However, last semester, my group performed poorly in one group assignment. We scored as low as 8 out of 20.
During last semester break, I undertook industrial attachment with a newly established Vodafone office in my locality. I was assisting my friend in the ICT section. I provide technical support to them. For this Xmass break, I had offered little because the break is very short. School will resume in a week time.
Financially, SmartKids foundation has been my backbone. I have received full financial support (scholarship) from the foundation since I started my SHS education and also my tertiary education. They have taken me through the educational ladder. My school fees, accommodation, books and other expenses are taken care by SKF. I am very grateful for such support. I always make sure that all money received is spent for the intended purpose and it is the secrete to my financial success in school. I have learnt to manage money in all in all aspect of life.

I am never socially poor. It is only that I very careful with people I associate. I study people and devise appropriate method to associate with them. So far, I have no problem with any individual or group. Even when problems come, we make amendment and we get on the move again. The fact is that I can’t always be right to people. I do attend few social programmes. Indeed some of them are very educative.

However, there have been some major setbacks in my degree career trying to carry a lot of weight on my head. I am soon to start the last semester in school. I am going to finish hard.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS.
THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME ON MY BLOG.
LOVE YOU ALL.

XMASS BREAK

I have successfully completed the end of semester examination. The exam was cool. Just that things have become more demanding. Not withstanding that I am making a good sail through. Though my quizzes yielded poor results, the exam was comparatively better. I am Sure of good results.
Recently, I am at home trying to put one or two things in order. It is a very short break and i have Very little to offer.

ENDING TERTIARY LIFE

SO FAR SO GOOD. I'm into the last but one sgemester in the university. It has been a long way. Soon or later, I'm going out of the university. What is the way forward for me? My SHS teacher ones told me “the world out there is very rough”. I did not get the actual meaning of that. The discipline sociology has broadened my understanding of the world we dwell. That is the real world for man. I have had lot of personal, psychological, social and mental experience. After school, I have to do my national service. Get myself job and definitely pursue my career, NGO’s Management. I want to impact much on society. I am going to start the end of semester exam in four weeks time. Preparing for five courses: Advance Economic Theory, Economic Growth and Development, Rural Micro Finance, Sociology of Education, and Problems of Theory Building. I am in love with Rural Micro Finance. I will establish my own micro finance institution after school. It is to empower poor people, especially women in my society.
Last semester I scored grade point average of 3.2 out of 4.0. Working hard this semester too.

2011 SMARTKIDS ANNUAL MEETING

We are done with this years annual meeting.It was a nice one. Everyone was happy about his or her presence. We discussed very important issues pertaining the SmartKids foundation. Parents and dignitaries were also available at the meeting.we had interactions with one another.You can have a look at some of the pictures during the meeting by clicking this link.or click '2011 SMARTKIDS ANNUAL MEETING above' The pictures are contained in our picasa albulm/link.

FINAL EXAM,THIRD YEAR.

I am about to end my sail through third year in the university. Just one week to end up such a task. You know, it not just ending but to end up making what is called ‘a remarkable sail’.
Already, I have taken three exam papers. Anyway, they were manageable papers. Two more papers to run up. Both of them would be written on 24th of this month (May). There is the need for me to finish hard. At least, I have one week to prepare for the two papers.
Just after my exam, I have to go to Kumasi to help organize the SmartKids annual meeting, 2011. The scheduled date is 4th of June. At the moment, invitation of other SmartKids is in progress. We are trying to reach everyone for the meeting. In facts, I’m very happy to get the opportunity to see everyone again as a family. Mr. Kees is about to come to Ghana. I wish him safe journey home. I see Ghana to be his homeland.

LEADERSHIP

This semester has been marked by lot of activities; campaign, hall weeks celebrations, and presentations. Early this semester, lot of students vied for the student leadership/administration. In facts, some of them conveyed very good messages. Others were also building castle in the air. I was much interested in voting on the students represented council (SRC). Other positions included local NUGS, Hall executives etc. It was the first time we did electronic voting (e-voting). It was very efficient and reliable. It allowed no room for rigging. Most of my favorite candidates carried the day.
While the political campaign was ongoing , various hall week celebrations were also in progress. It was very unfortunate that I couldn’t attend any of them. I even felt reluctant to attend that of my hall.
Academic activities are also in progress. It is severe as usual. I made very good presentation for my group in one of the courses (ECONOMY OF GHANA). It was a controversial presentation. Our lecturer could easily disqualify a group. Four presentations carried out that day were disqualified except that of my group. We impressed the lecturer. That was my initiative as a good group leader.
The first step of the SmartKids selection, 2011 has taken place. Letters have been sent to the regional directors of education of two regions: Western and Central region. We are communicating with them on regular basis in order to get things done the way we want it. I hope that there is going to be very good selection.

SMARTKIDS JUNIOR BOARD@ BARCAMP 2010 MEETING

Last year,November, 2010, the SmartKIDS junior board attended a meeting organized by some investors in Ghana. It is organized each year to bring together investors and resourced persons from all the sectors of the economy to help others to cope with the ongoing economic situation of the country,Ghana,to generate ideas for development through partnerships and networking.We were there to make presentation of the SmartKids FOUNDATION. We had the opportunity to meet so many caliber of people from almost all sectors of the economy including NGO's who had similar missions as SmartKids foundation. They showed keen interest in the foundation especially the headmaster of Takoradi Technical institute,representative from UNICEF, resource person from the oil industry, business men, students and invited guest.
It was such a successfulness meeting. We took pictures of the event.The pictures can be accessed from this link.http://picasaweb.google.com/SmartKidsFoundation. or click on the picture above to link you to the rest of the pictures.

SmartKids Documentaire 2005 - Het tegengaan van braindrain.

This is SmartKids foundation documentary.I'm always inspired whenever i watch it.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Another semester has begun. Back to academic work. Last week, I registered the courses I’m going to read for the semester. Five courses summing up to fifteen credit hours. They are nice courses indeed. I have to work hard to make good grades in all.

The just ended vacation was remarkable. I attended SmartKids Junior board meeting. We discussed issues of concerns. Dealt with the issue of getting SmartKids Foundation bank accounts, SmartKids handbook, business cards for the junior board, programme of activities(annual to do list) of SmartKids foundation and other pertaining issues. Mr. Kees is yet to receive answers.

ON VACATION BREAK

I have really had a good but tough semester. Even though I enjoyed some strike break but multiply paid for it. Few weeks to prepare for the exam. I wrote three out of five papers in three days. It was such a tedious task. For good three days I never had a good sleep because I had too much to read. I completed the exam in eleven days. However, not withstanding that, the exam went well. I did my best. I know it will yield good fruit.

I am already in the house. I came home on the 14th of December. That was also the day I completed my exam. I am resting for some few days so that I will make it to Kumasi to deal with SmartKids issues. There are lot to do; untackled and unfinished task to accomplish, decisions to be made, etc. Also, I have personal issues to attend to. School resumes within the first week of January next year,2011.

RESUMES TO CLASS

Much work to do after we resumed class after the strike action. Hum! There is always something to put in good shape. Workload is more than doubled. I'm almost always in class. Lecturers are trying to wrap up the course outline even though I see it to be impossible. The student are bearing the greater part of the total effect of the strike. There has also been extension of the academic calendar. More cost to bear.

We are going to have our end of semester exam in two weeks time. however next week is a revision week. i only have to prepare to face the exam. I have started that already. I'm still left with some quizzes to write. I wrote two of them just this morning. they were much demanding.
Today is a holiday.An Id Adha holiday. I get this day to browse.I will be much busier after today.

SUFFERS FROM STRIKE ACTION

Lectures have been more successful for the past one month. However, very sad issue is happening. Our lecturers are on strike. We no more attend lectures. I don’t actually know when they will attend to the classroom. Why this strike action is a question that blows into the minds of students. But it seems students do not bother much about the decision of our lecturers. Maybe the lecturers want to enjoy Ghana’s new salary structure (single spine) which it implementation is in the pipeline. Indeed, it’s very pathetic. Any way, we are also relieving ourselves from attending too much lectures. I can know relax but to keep learning to keep up good pace with my lecture notes. Get enough time to tackle my assignment and to prepare for impending quizzes.

MADE GOOD GRADES IN THE UNIVERSITY

Wallowing on campus in another semester. Intensive lectures have started. Anyway I’m doing good. I have not found any problem with any of the courses. I get to make it this semester too. I have registered for the following courses this semester: Intermediate Microeconomics 1, Project Appraisal, Economics of HIV/AIDS, Sociological Theory, and Socialization. Last semester, I made the following grades in the various courses:
Social Structure of Ghana B+
Social Statistics A
Research Methods for Social Scientist B+
Element of Economics (MACRO) B+
Mathematics for Economics 2 B+
GPA 3.6
I know I can still do better this semester. I’m not content with these results. Hm! it never easy. Anyway, are the results okay?


This semester, I have done one assignment. I had to move from book to book, internet cafe to internet cafe finding answers to the question. The question was, Analysis of actual food consumption function suggest that some particular individuals may not be consistence in their choices. Under what conditions might people find in their own interest to demonstrate some irrationality in their choices of food item? I think you might have helped me solve this question. Already, I have presented my solution.

Yesterday, I got bored in the lecture hall. Nine hours continuous lectures. I think I should not enjoy such displeasure with continuous lectures again. Our time table should be adjusted to favor some of us. I think every course mate will be happy too if there should be any adjustment in the timetable especially, on Mondays.

SEMESTER BREAK

I had great moments this time around with my former school, SmartKids, family and colleagues. In fact, I have loved just ended vacation. I re-united with my juniors and teachers in my former school. The annual SmartKids meeting gave me the opportunity to get into contact with Kees, Mad. Comfort, Dr. Ross and almost every SmartKid during the annual SmartKids meeting. You know being at SmartKids annual meetings is a great turn in my life.

During the vacation I had a good stay at Kumasi. I have never regretted going back to my former school to help prepare the students for their impending examination. I met my teachers who taught me when I was in the same school for my S.H.S education. School authorities welcomed me with great pleasure. They were happy to see me come back and not just back but to help them as well. I was the assistant Economics teacher. I was given three classes to handle and did the job with great recommendation. I had good rap ore with the students I taught. Anyway, they were my juniors who never met me in school.

The SmartKids annual meeting organized on 26th June, 2010 and ended on 29th was a memorable one. It was a colorful annual meeting which everyone enjoyed much. We had a good attendance. Mr.Kees (international coordinator), Madam Comfort (Board chairperson, Ghana), Dr.Ross (coordinator, Ghana), Marc (web designer, Holland) and other dignitaries as well as almost ever SmartKid was present. We were happy to see Kees returned to Ghana after a year of departure from us. We also enjoyed Marc’s presents.
We are yet to begin another semester. I’m even on campus for my courses registration for the third year first semester.I think I’m going to have another good semester.

On vacation

Good to be back from school after a successful semester. Everything that has a beginning has an end. The semester was good with few setbacks. Lecturers were more punctual. Classes were very effective. However, some students were referred in some courses. It is often sad to see students fail in some courses. Among such courses include Economics. It is more or less demanding at University of Cape Coast. Not withstanding that, general performance was relatively good.
I wrote twelve quizzes, six assignments in five courses for the semester. My assessment was okay. I had an average score of 29 out of 4o marks for the assessment. I hope the examination will as well be okay.
Being in the house is the beginning another project. I have enjoyed four days out of 120 days of the vacation duration in the house. I ought to rest for a while. I have interacted with more friends and families in the house. They are happy to see me again from school. Anyway they are very proud of me. I will travel to Kumasi on Monday to start my attachment. I will teach Economics in the senior high school. I will stay on the school’s premises for three months. I will get back to school at the beginning of August My family and friends are also going to lose me once again.
I will attend smartKids junior board meeting at the end of this month at Kumasi. This is to plan for smartKids annual meeting that would be held on 26th of June and to plan effectively for Selection of new kids for the SmartKids Foundation. This year’s selection will cover two or three regions in the southern part of Ghana. Already, we have sent Letters to the Regional Directors of education of two regions about the Foundation’s intention to select kids from such regions. The old selection process still holds. As soon as we are done with the general meeting, the selection theme will travel to the various regions to start the selection. For more regular update of information you can follow my tweets,www.twitter.com/smartaliu1
I have to visit other smartKids in the junior high school (Joystandard international school) on regular basis for my three months stay in Kumasi and also working effectively forsmartKids Foundation. Some of them recently graduated from the junior high school. They will proceed to senior high soon. Those who graduated from the senior high last year are soon to be enrolled into the tertiary. Indeed,SmartKids Foundation is growing.
At the moment, we are waiting for Mr.Kees’ (Founder, SmartKids Foundation) arrival from Holland. It been a long time we had face-to-face interaction with him. We missed his absence. He is to arrive in Ghana with other Board of directors on 12th of next month. I wish him a safe journey to Ghana

PROGRESS, APRIL

It is never easy offering a degree program. However, it is a nice investment. Nice investment in the sense that one will probably reap a good profit. It is not an individual’s profit but the society and the nation as a whole. It works like the snowball. It is always good having this sort of investment. The world wouldn’t have survived without that. I’m very happy forming part of the world’s investment.

I was very busy last month. I was working hard on my quizzes. I wrote more quizzes than expected, I’m still left with more quizzes before the end of semester examination. I’m to better my results this semester. It wasn’t so bad last semester. I have written a proposal on low level of education in villages around the University of Cape Coast. It was an assignment. I had 7 marks out of 10. The average class score was below 6 marks of a class of 549 students. I choose this topic because there seems to be poor response to education in the Central Region of Ghana and especially villages around the university. It was indeed a difficult task writing the proposal. It is time consuming and more demanding. However, it has provided the basic knowledge i will need in writing my project work during my final year.

I have made the necessary arrangement to teach in my former school as my end of semester attachment. I have already discussed that with the school authorities. They have granted me the opportunity to teach in the Senior High School. I will teach Economics in the school of business. In fact, I want to help my juniors. Indeed the students are very happy about my decision. At the moment, they are waiting for my service.
We have started enjoying our hall week (Oguaa Hall). I went for the procession yester night. It was great. Almost everyone present was happy. We danced to the tune of good songs. It is a seven-day program. Tomorrow will be a mega jam. Good musicians will be present to perform. However, I do not have to be absorbed into the numerous activities of the celebration. I still have other quizzes to write.

FEBRUARY,2010

We ended last semester in good fate. The semester was okay with much curricular activities. Every student was very busy with his or her books as it was becoming more and more difficult as student climbs higher the academic ladder. Every student tried to better their grades. As much as I could, I spent more hours on my academic work. Did lot of research works, I performed well in four courses but did not do well in principles of economics. I had as low as D+, the rest included Mathematics for Economics1 B, Foundations and Issues in Social Science B+, Basic Statistics A., Social Psychology A.

As soon as last semester ended, I paid a visit to my grandparent, they were very happy to see me. I had to help them prepare little household chores. I also met few friends in the village. I spoke to them the need to be in school to be able to coop with the challenges of the global world. Most of them had little or no education. They were ever ready to be in their peasant farming. They promised to be in school after speaking to them. I set myself as an example as having negative attitude toward education when I was young. I enticed them to have a proper goal and work towards it. I also spoke to them the need to have a good role model in the society. They were very happy after my good speech.
I had the chance to attend meeting held by Tertiary Student Association in the district. The association is trying to improve the academic welfare of people in my district.

To plan effectively for this year’s smartKids selection and to help our junior smartKids in the J.H.S to make good grades in their final B.E.C.E examination and to have better choices of S.H.S, we organized a smartKids meeting in Kumasi. The meeting was held in their new school (JOYSTANDARD J.H.S). The Junior Board met to discuss issues concerning this year’s smartKids selection. We also deliberated on how we can get everybody to attend the smartKids annual meeting. We planned of doing this years selection in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions. We gave more priority to Eastern region. Other matters were also discussed. Before the arrival of the smartKids national coordinator, Dr Mariama Ross, the junior board had already finished with the junior board meeting. We discussed with her what had pertained in the meeting. She made her submissions before we finally had a general meeting with the student, Headmaster and the Proprietor of the school. The Headmaster, Proprietor, the SmartKids Coordinator and older smartKids spoke to the pupils on the need for serious academic work. More emphasized was on the performance of the J.H.S. 3 pupil. Students were advised to desist from any act that will bring the name of smartKids foundation into bad reputation. To be frank, the kids are doing well in their new school (Joystandard J.H.S). Most of them are getting good grades in the terminal examination. We ended the meeting successfully in the evening and some of us have to stay in Kumasi for the next day before going back to our various destinations. It is our fervent hope that the pupils will get first class schools.

I’m at the moment in school. Lectures have already started. I’m offering five courses this semester. They include; Element of Economics (MACRO) II, Social Structure of Ghana, Mathematics for Economics II, Social Science Research Methods and Social Statistics. I have planned to attend two seminars this semester. The first one which is I.T seminar will be organized on 20th of this month while I’m also working hard to better my results.