“On March 7th we are flying to Abidjan, and then we plan to follow Kinga’s and Malaika’s footsteps to Accra, to the place where Kinga started her never-ending journey...  We are going to Ghana, to the village of Moree, the place where Malaika currently lives. (...)
I am so happy that I can finally go to Ghana to see all those places that are so distant, but at the same time so close to me...”

This is what I wrote in the beginning of March on the www.fundacjafreespirit.pl website and now...

And now, having so many new friends and being so full of African experience derived from this trip I want to share my thoughts with you and invite you to join us to face the new challanges.

7 March 2007  Warsaw – Paris – Abidjan
So it is not a dream, even if I am over the clouds now. Here is a place for special dreams. The sunshine’s always here. I am flying to meet people, who were destined to stand on Kinga’s way, to see these special for me places already well known from pictures seen so many times. I am so happy! (...)

8th March - Abidjan
(...) After breakfast we take a taxi to Trashville – the district where Kinga lived. Finding a street from the picture is not a problem. It looks almost identically, even the same old collapsed table still lies under the wall.

We are not sure if Rasta lives somewhere here, but he is so characteristic: besides long dread hair he rides a bicycle, so I hope finding him will not take long. And I am right. Rasta is well known all over the place.
The narrow gate… I recognize the courtyard at once. It looks exactly as I imagined – a few families, most of them with a bunch of children, on a tiny space. Much staff scattered around, somebody is hanging laundry, somebody else repairing a bike, in the other corner a woman is washing…
All of them do remember Kinga. They are full of excitement with our appearance and eagerly show us places:
– Kinga lived here with us
– Here she used to eat, there she would wash herself, on this chair she would sit…
– Here, at Rasta’s she slept – they point to the door. Not difficult to recognize, a bicycle is hanging just by. (...)

14th March, Moree – meeting with Malaika
(...) We arrive in Moree. I recognize the first school of Malaika. The asphalt surface of the road finishes, the streets are uneven, stony, bumpy, in the middle or at sides sewage waters flow in narrow or wide streams. In the middle of streets, closer to houses in various groups there are standing clay constructions for fish smoking, some goats, chickens, and children running here and there…
I look around trying to spot Malaika somewhere. We enter the courtyard. It looks they are waiting for us. The blue shirt and light trousers known already from pictures, short cut hair and smiling face – so here she is! Hugs, hugs… (...)

25th March – Accra
( ... ) Every day Malaika surprises me with new words or short sentences in English, and when she is not able to say something in English, she does it in other creative ways. Going with us to Accra was the best school for her.

This time she asks me to buy her a skirt and a swimming suit. There are a few stalls offering such stuff at the beach so we look for something suitable.  Finally instead of a skirt she decides for jeans shorts. I pay 5$ for all. Malaika changes in new clothes and runs to the water. Smiling, playing and dancing she splashed me with water ( ... )

1st April – Accra
With my mind full of memories, plans, dreams as well as with so many new friends in my heart I come back to Poland. I am very glad that it was here, in Accra, Ghana, where the “I’m free” song came into being. It is my gift – our gift to you all from my “Following Kinga’s Footsteps in Africa” trip.

Our beautiful dreams
They give us wings
Then we fly...
We fly

And now I’m free
I’m free
Now
I’m free to love

All my dreams are real
I love the way I feel
I’m so free...

I hope you will like the song too and soon it will be associated with the Freespirit Foundation by everybody. I hope it will give us energy and power as well as courage to face various challanges.

Krystyna – Kinga's mum 

 
P.S.
The entire text about the “Following Kinga’s Footsteps in Africa” trip can be found on the Freespirit Foundation website:  www.fundacjafreespirit.pl