环球英语 — 191： Comfort’s Shoes

　　Voice 1

Hello, I’m Mike Procter.

Voice 3

I’m Marina Santee.

Voice 2

And I’m Ruby 1 Jones. Welcome to Spotlight 2. 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

In a child’s mind, one problem can control the world. It was late in the day. Children were still playing on the dusty streets of Benaba, Ghana. But one little girl sat on her own. Sadly, she looked down at her feet. Why was she so worried? She was no different from all of the other village children. But, she was worried. She did not feel that she could ask her mother and father for help. They loved her and her sisters very much. But they only seemed to be interested in one thing - the future, not the present. Her mother and father could not help to solve her problem. And the little girl needed an answer - quickly!

Comfort was 14 years old. Soon, she would leave her small village. Why? Well, she was going away to school. And one thing especially worried her - Comfort did not have any shoes. She had never had any shoes. She was like most children in her village of Benaba. She had hard feet. She did not need shoes - until now. She was sure that all the other children at the new school would have shoes. And they would make fun of her.

Finally, the day came for Comfort to leave. She kissed her mother and father goodbye. Then she got onto the bus. After some time, the bus arrived at Comfort’s new school. Usually, children feel excited at starting a new school. But Comfort just felt very afraid. She could only see a few new girls like her. All the rest of the students were boys! There was an army of them. Comfort had never seen so many boys in one place. And they all seemed to be looking at one thing - her feet! Some of the boys started to say unpleasant things about Comfort. Some of the boys laughed at her. Comfort felt so sad. She did not know what to do.

Suddenly, she heard a warm, kind voice speaking to her. “Where are your shoes, Comfort?”

A tall, beautiful woman was now standing 3 next to her. “I do not have any shoes, madam,” Comfort said quietly. She looked at the ground. She did not have enough courage to look up at this friendly person next to her. But, the woman spoke 4 to her. “Here - take this money. Go quickly and buy some shoes. It is not good to have no shoes at school.”

Comfort could not believe it - how kind this person was! She thanked the woman many times. Then she took the money. She hurried away quickly. She was going to buy her first pair of shoes! Not many people remember their first pair of shoes. But Comfort will never forget hers. Nor will she forget the kind woman who gave her the money to buy them.

Voice 1

But who was the kind stranger who had helped Comfort? Her name was Rebecca Hawa Ayebo Ogede Yakubu. This woman played an important part in many children’s lives in Ghana. In fact, her life affected 5 the whole country. She was a woman of power and authority 6. Yet her own life began in a similar way to Comfort’s. Rebecca Yakubu had been one of the few girls to come to Navrongo Secondary 7 School. At that time, not many girls in Ghana received an education above junior school. And in the beginning, she too had felt afraid. So Rebecca Yakubu knew exactly how Comfort felt. And she wanted to help this young girl to have the best possible time at school. In fact, this became one of the main purposes of Rebecca’s life - to help improve the position of all women in Ghana.

Voice 2

Rebecca Hawa Yakubu was a young girl when her country experienced 8 great political changes. In 1957, Ghana was the first black African country to win independence from the United Kingdom. Kwame Nkrumah became Ghana’s new leader. He had some big ideas - but not just for his country. He had big ideas for the whole of the African continent. He wanted all African countries to be free to decide their own future. And he also wanted to see the countries of Africa share the same political values. Rebecca Yakubu learned 9 about Nkrumah’s political ideas and opinions. They influenced her own ideas about the world. Later, she decided 10 to enter the world of politics.

In 1979, people voted for her to become a member of Ghana’s parliament 11. But this government only lasted two years. Some military leaders took control of the country by force. Many members of the government went into exile 12 - including Rebecca. She went to live in London.

Voice 1

Slowly, the situation in Ghana improved. And in 1991, Rebecca returned to her beloved 13 Ghana. The following year, the people of Ghana elected a new, democratic 14 government. And Rebecca was part of it. At first, she decided not to join a political party. Instead, she chose to stand as an independent candidate 15. Rebecca had a strong faith in God. She believed that God had made everyone with equal value. And she wanted to be in a position to treat every person she met with honesty and fairness.

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Rebecca Hawa Yakubu remained part of the government until 2004. She fought hard for women’s rights. She was the champion of the poor and weak in society. She treated people the same - no matter where they came from. One newspaper writer said this about Rebecca:

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“She cut across all divides - political, religious and tribal 16. She tried very hard to have an effect on the people’s lives - even if she only spent a little time with them.”

Voice 1

Sadly, in March 2007, Rebecca Hawa Yakubu died. She was suffering from cancer. Many people attended her funeral. They gathered in her home town of Pusiga. The women of Ghana felt especially sad at her death. Rebecca had done so much to fight for their rights. The president of Ghana is John Agyekum Kufuor. He understood the feelings of those women. But he was sure that other women would continue the work that Rebecca had started. He said:

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“Ghana has lost a fearless voice. Many people liked her willingness to hear different opinions. But Rebecca always made up her own mind. She was a positive influence and great role model for women.”

Voice 2

And people like Comfort would agree. Rebecca Yakubu’s care and concern greatly influenced her life. And the effect of her influence will live on, for many years to come.