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Project: Orphanage Work, Ghana
Volunteer: Rachel Boyce
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How was your experience in Africa?
I love Ghana because:
- Everyone's very friendly
- It's easy to eat cheaply from street sellers and it's quite yummy too
- It's relatively safe compared to other African countries
- Their local music, hiplife, is fab!
- It's nice and warm…
My project was in the Eastern Region (about an hour or two from the capital) in the country's bead making area. It's really beautiful with lots of mountains around and farming going on. I managed to visit lots of areas in the region - it was great to be away from the tourist trail!
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After my project was over, I stayed an extra week to travel about. I managed to see elephants in Mole National Park in the north of the country, visited friends on the northern border and then did a trip to Cape Coast to learn about the slave trade and walk along a rainforest canopy at Kakum national park. Definitely not to be missed!
What did you think of the Project?
The orphanage houses about 35 children at a time (although there are over 150 other children in the community who need somewhere to stay as well) between the ages of 4 and 16.
My job was to help the orphanage with some admin for fundraising and cooking for the children as well as helping them study for their exams. When all that was done, there was time for playing.The boys love football, whilst the girls were more interested in singing and talking - be prepared to be asked some very odd questions!
I had no experience with children before I went to Ghana and it's really helped me to relax and enjoy working with them. You couldn't work with a nicer bunch of kids. They're so grateful to be in the home with all their ‘brothers and sisters' and glad for a volunteer even to know their names let alone play with them! |
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It's been a totally eye-opening experience seeing first-hand what some of the children have had to go through and if all you do as a volunteer is to make the children smile then I reckon you've done a good job.
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I was sad to leave but I'm keeping in touch with the home and my new friends and I'm planning to go back and visit one day!
What was the accommodation like?
During the orientation we stayed in a youth hostel, which was a great way to make friends with other volunteers from all over the world.
At the project, I lived with a Ghanaian family, it was an amazing experience. I had my own room and was cooked breakfast and dinner (which I'm sure was always double portions!). |
At the beginning I used a bucket to shower (surprisingly refreshing), but by the end, the family had gone to the trouble of building a western shower and toilet for me and future volunteers which was very cool of them.
A home stay might seem daunting, but it's the best way to feel at ease in a new country. I was able to taste all sorts of foods, meet lots of different people and experience things like going to an African church in my best Ghanaian clothes!
Were you pleased with Real Gap?
I was really chuffed with Real Gap. I liked the fact that I knew what orphanage I was going to and where I would be staying before I left the UK. I was really last minute in deciding I wanted to go to Ghana but they managed to work it out for me in time.
Thanks for all the help and enthusiasm - I had an amazing time! |
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 Further information on the Community Volunteer Projects Ghana
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