We are Humanism at Work

The new volunteers for our third Humanist Service Corps team have arrived in Yendi, and orientation has begun. After introductions, Baako Alhassan began their training with Dagbanli language lessons. Lukeman Domba then facilitated a session detailing the history of the Northern Region of Ghana, land demarcation of Ghana, and cross cultural differences. In this photo on the left, Lukeman is finishing his lecture on the land divisions among ethnolinguistic groups in Ghana.

Here, on the right, we see Baako giving lessons in dagbanli, covering basics like greetings and making purchases in the market. Later lessons included information on chieftaincy and politics in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Outgoing volunteers Warren and Jude also had a discussion of The Humanist Service Corps and the meaning of humanist service. To learn more about humanist service, please click here to read this earlier piece by FBB's Conor Robinson.

On the HSC team's most recent day of orientation, they moved to HSC coordinator Cleo's home for the day. Here we see Lukeman talking about festivals in Ghana. Last year the fire festival was one of the group's favorite experiences. There will be many opportunities this year for the incoming team to experience the various festivals and get to know the vibrant culture of Ghana even more!

Congratulations to Sunday Assembly Los Angeles (SALA), our Beyond Belief Network Team of the Month for May! SALA began getting very active as a BBN team last year and has already established some wonderful relationships with Los Angeles area nonprofits like Baby2Baby and Safe Place for Youth. In May, SALA had its first event with Tree People, another organization that may become a regular service partner for SALAmanders. SALA volunteers helped the organization plant trees to replace dead Sycamores in the community of Cheviot Hills. As a group, they dug holes to the proper specifications, planted the trees, and did their best to set up each tree for a healthy life. Volunteers learned how to plant stakes to help the trees grow tall and straight, and how to provide the trees with the most advantageous blend of mulch and dirt for LA's current drought conditions and the heat of the coming summer. Thank you, SALA volunteers!