A shining star

Mavis is enjoying some time in the workshops now that we have less kitchen work at this time of
year.

She is really enjoying the pace and challenges of working with steel.

Here she is removing dross from parts for a Christmas star.

Feeding the troops....

Feeding the hungry mouths at the airfield is a task given to Mavis. She embraces it with joy.

Mabel , our hearing and speech impaired apprentice is based in the kitchen with her.

Today tuna was on the menu. Interestingly it is one of the more affordable fish options here. However, preparation is a little different to what those in other nations may be familiar with.

Providing a balanced diet is part of teaching our apprentices and we are pleased to confirm that they are all looking and feeling healthier than when they arrived.

Cooking up an interest in Airplanes

Mavis decided she wants to learn about the workshop. What better starting project than the new drop tube assembly. Cleco work, filing, deburring, degreasing and pulling rivets. With a smile as wide as the Atlantic she engrossed herself fully, knowing that the part she is making will help us to change even more lives. ... one flight at a time!

Meet Mabel

Mavis, our site catering queen has a new assistant, Mabel. Mabel was one of the disabled students from our recent disabled fly me day event.

Mabel is for all intents and purposes totally deaf. Although we get the occasional glimpse of some sort of sound appreciation, until we can arrange testing and potentiallly some form of hearing aid, communications are limited.

Mavis, however, has spent time learning how to communicate with Mabel and spent time with her family. Mabel does not know how to sign, yet her family have invented their own system. ... which Mavis is learning.

Mabel works only weekends, for the moment, until we can afford to give her a full time job. We hope to be at the point of making that a reality by the middle of August.

Today Mavis (left) taught Mabel (right) how to pump diesel for the site generator.

Changing lives comes in many forms and we are pleased to say that Mabel is clearly discovering positive changes here at Kpong Airfield.

When Mavis is away ...

When Mavis is off, catering forcibly becomes a time limited activity. Noodles and eggs are not only quick, easy and cost effective, but they are both available locally!

With the girls on break, Patricia and Jonathan have to take on extra roles. It is also a time when they miss the hustle and bustle of a busy airfield people wise. All the same, it its good to have a change of schedule...

Mavis, Fueling the troops

Where would we be without Mavis our wonderful cook – making delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner for MoM staff and guests!

Good nutrition plays a critical part in maintaining our health, and we know it is a problem in many parts of the world including the USA, China and rural Ghana. When young girls join the AvTech Academy for their training, they get healthy meals, and we can already see improvements in their health within a few weeks. For pilots and engineers, who have to think clearly and make important decisions that can affect the lives of others, good nutrition is particularly important. Just as we need well-formulated and uncontaminated fuel for our aircraft, we have to to have good food including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals to ensure that our bodies and brains operate at peak performance. The girls are learning to tell others about the importance of good nutrition – food is medicine and they are ready to spread the news!

So, thank you Mavis for making sure that our fuel is always of the very best quality!