THE IMPORTANCE OF PROJECTS ABROAD IN GHANA

By Frances Black - Projects Abroad

The charity and gap year organisation Projects Abroad has a large and significant presence in Ghana, and is responsible for bringing thousands of volunteers to Ghana and numerous other developing countries around the world, for projects as diverse as orphanage and television work. 

In Ghana it has bases in Accra, Cape Coast, Ho, Koforidua, Kumasi and the Akuapem Hills, and is constantly working hard to expand as the influx of volunteers increases.

Ghana is one of the most popular destinations for Projects Abroad volunteers, and according to Grant Appiah, Regional Coordinator for Cape Coast, this is due mainly to its political stability, its friendly and welcoming reputation, and the fact that it is an English speaking country.

Volunteers at the Asiebu clean-up

 Appiah also explained that many organisations, such as schools, orphanages and newspapers rely strongly on the time, hard-work and enthusiasm of volunteers, who receive no payment for the work that they do. In Central Press Newspaper, for example, the editor Kwamina Bamfo estimates that approximately 90% of the articles are written by volunteers, showing how vital they are to some organisations. Many orphanages can have up to 9 volunteers at a time, which is also a demonstration of how much help some places need.

Eric Ekow Ewusie, Assistant Regional Coordinator defined the benefits of volunteer work as achieving a cultural exchange between Ghanaians and foreigners, whereby volunteers can bring new teaching strategies, techniques and styles, and they can also learn from Ghanaians. He noted that volunteers also bring new equipment previously unavailable in Ghana, which help to broaden the horizons of the organisations, so they can develop and evolve their teaching methods. Eric also emphasised that the children learn a lot from the volunteers, as their presence, enthusiasm and hard-work instils in them an understanding of the vitality and importance of education.

An example of the effectiveness of volunteers working together was displayed on Friday 15^th April, when the majority of the Projects Abroad volunteers in Cape Coast came together to clean up the Asiebu orphanage.

Volunteers of all ages and occupations got together and worked hard to give the orphanage an overall restoration by moping floors, scrubbing tables and surfaces, and reorganising the children’s clothes, among other activities. After the clean-up, the volunteers joined the children in a number of races on the sports field nearby.

Projects Abroad began in 1992 when students wanted a break from academic study in order to travel and gain some work experience. Their teacher, Professor Dr. Peter Slowe, subsequently contacted some academics he knew in Romania and organised for these students to go and teach English in Romania, marking the birth of Projects Abroad.

Since then Projects Abroad has grown and expanded to become one of the biggest volunteer organisations in the world, offering placements in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Since 1992 more than 35,000 volunteers have used its services, and this number of volunteers is constantly increasing. Projects Abroad now have 2 North American offices in New York and Toronto, and offer over 100 generic projects.

Volunteers tend to range from 16 to 75, consisting of mainly university students or young people taking gap years before starting university. As well as this, many people take career breaks or summer holidays with Projects Abroad, and there is even an increasing demand from those who are retired.

Gap years first gained popularity in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, when students took a year out usually between finishing secondary school and beginning University. General reasons for taking a gap year include desiring a break from formal education, wanting to experience a different lifestyle and to travel to exotic places, and also wishing to help others by doing charity or volunteer work. Gap years are hugely popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and are also growing in popularity in America, however are discouraged in countries such as Denmark.

Organisations such as Projects Abroad give people of all ages the tools to access a lifestyle and experience that might otherwise be hard to organise or come by. In Ghana alone, there are teaching, care, medicine, conservation, sports, journalism, human rights, veterinary medicine and building projects, which offer prospective volunteers a wide range of choices, so that anybody can find something they would enjoy. Rather than spending days in a hotel, volunteers live with a host family and get to experience Ghanaian lifestyle first hand, through the people that live it. Most volunteers find that immersing oneself into the culture of the where they are staying is an enriching and educational experience.