VOLUNTEERS IN GHANA

Name: Ditte Jensen

Age: 21

Nationality: Denmark

Lenght of stay: 1 month

WHAT PLACEMENT ARE YOU IN?

I am here for the Care project. I work at the orphanage and in a school where i assist the teacher and i help people who has problems with schoolworks.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE GHANA FOR VOLUNTEERING?

I know some people who has already been in Ghana and they liked it so much. It is also an occasion for learning english and improve it!

WHAT WAS YOU FIRST IMPRESSION?

It was hard to start this experience, being part of a school and of a new culture. At the beginning it was a little bit boring because you don’t know people yet, but after some days, the country, the project and the whole experience become fantastic and amazing.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE VOLUNTEERS?

Give to the projects and culture some time to get used to it.

Name: Jodi Kane

Age: 23

Nationality: Australian

Lenght of stay: 3 months

WHAT PLACEMENT ARE YOU IN?

I am in the Care project. I work in Hope and Happiness orphanage in Cape Coast. I also do sports at the school before the orphanage and the next week i start the medical project one day a week.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE GHANA FOR VOLUNTEERING?

I choose Ghana because of i heard from other volunteers good things about this country. I don’t really have a strong reason why other than i wanted to come to Africa.

WHAT WAS YOU FIRST IMPRESSION?

I was very scared because there were people everywhere and everyone looks at you all the time.

You only have to get used to and than you begin to love ghanians. That i love the most is that everyone is so nice and smiling.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE VOLUNTEERS?

I have only been here for three weeks, so no advise yet other than to have an open mind and want to help as much as possible.

Name: Lea Buettner

Age: 18

Nationality: German

Length of stay: 3 months

WHAT PLACEMENT ARE YOU IN?

I am here for journalism project, working at Cape Coast Polytechnics for the Eagle FM Radio Station.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE GHANA FOR VOLUNTEERING?

I been travelling around for a while and i met many people that were in Ghana. I always wanted to go to Africa and when those people told me how beautiful Ghana is and how much fun they had, i decided to go there.

WHAT WAS YOU FIRST IMPRESSION?

The people here are the nicest people i ever met. They seriously care about you and they want you to feel welcome. I felt home from the first day on.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE VOLUNTEERS?

Just be open-minded and try to adopt the ghanaian culture. Be in contact with your host family, they can show and teach you a lot.

Name: Yvan Whomsley

Age: 19

Nationality: British and French

Lenght of stay: 2 months

WHAT PLACEMENT ARE YOU IN?

On Tuesday, Wensday and Thursday mornings i work at Queen Elizabeth school as a teacher. Every afternoon i work at Aseibu for the sports program.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE GHANA FOR VOLUNTEERING?

I choose Ghana because i wanted to discover an african country for the first time and because Ghana offered the best sports program.

WHAT WAS YOU FIRST IMPRESSION?

I liked Ghana straight away because people are friendly and welcoming! I like the way everyone is happy and joyful. What i also admire is the way they help each other. For the moment i like everything about Ghana!

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE VOLUNTEERS?

Volunteers who come to Ghana should be open minded and they should trust the staff and host families for anything. Adjusting to life here is easy if you try new things and embrace a new culture!

Name: Sofie Roth

Age: 17

Nationality: Dutch

Lenght of stay: 2 months

WHAT PLACEMENT ARE YOU IN?

I am doing Care and Sport project. I work every morning in a school next to the orphanage where i work for the rest of the day. Two days a week, in the afternoon, i go to Asebu for the Sport project.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE GHANA FOR VOLUNTEERING?

I choose Ghana bacause i wanted to see Africa and lot of people told me that is one of the best and nicest countries of Africa to start with and because of ghanaian speak english and i wanted to improved it.

WHAT WAS YOU FIRST IMPRESSION?

It is really a different world from one that i come. There are taxi everywhere and a big crowd all day long, but people is very friendly and is nice to meet so much other volunteers.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE VOLUNTEERS?

If you feel homesick just think about what you are doing here! Not everyone can get this great  opportunity and, after all, you should be proud of yourself. Give it time and try to dive in the ghanian culture.